"14 Favorite Board Games On One Disc"

INTRO
Hoyle Board Games is a very fun PC title that will provide you with hours upon hours of great gameplay. There are 14 different games contained on the disc and everything from characters, backgrounds, music, gameplay is fully customizable.

CONTROLS 10/10
The controls are quite simple. 90% of the games are all based on pointing and clicking so everything you do will be done with your mouse. The remaining 10% of the games require you to use your keyboard arrows and spacebar. In terms of navigating around the cabin (If you select the cabin as your main menu) you can simply click in the direction you wish to go and presto the new screen appears. Each game has little pop up menu windows that allow you to do customize the gameplay experience, difficulty settings and opponents with a simple click.

GAMEPLAY 9/10
Gameplay is pretty straight forward as you have the ability to play 14 different board games. Depending on the game you choose and the variation thereof you will find yourself seated at the table. From that point forward you simply play through the game whenever it is your turn. There are numerous computer characters that can also play against you if you wish and although they are all there at your sole discretion, they have an endless array of amusing commentary that you can listen to as the game progresses. all of these features are customizable as well so that you can shut everybody up if you so choose. In addition you also have the ability to roam around the cabin as well to explore the various games on the various shelves. The board games themselves are: Chinese Checkers, Dominoes, Mancala, Zen Bones, Checkers, Pachisi, Backgammon, Chess, Yachtzee, Snakes & Ladders, Battle Ship, Placer Racer, Line 'em up and reversi. There are also 3 bonus card game demos available on the disc although they are not that good.

GRAPHICS 7/10
Considering the type of game and the year it was released (1999) the graphics are decent. The environments all look realistic enough and several games like Checkers for example offer you the option of using animated leaping frogs instead of the customary checker pieces. The other characters however are somewhat cheesy looking and unfulfilling.

CAMERA 8/10
The camera is really a non issue in this game as it is simply positioned as a top down view on any table game and a stationary first person view for games like Placer Racer and Battle Ship. some games offer you the choice of 3D views but otherwise camera modifications are not possible but really not necessary.

FMV's, MUSIC and SFX 6/10
There are no FMV's in the game and in all honesty there is no need for them. The customizable background music is pretty cool because not only can you change it, you can also shut it off completely. In terms of SFX they are decent and appropriate in my opinion. Rolling the dice, the Battle Ship explosions and other gameplay sounds all sound realistic and the characters all have their own personalities complete with a small vocabulary of witty, sometimes irritating commentary. Luckily you can control exactly how much they are allowed to talk.

REPLAY VALUE 10/10
Hoyle Board Games has excellent replay value simply because of the fact that there are 14 different games to choose from. you are bound to fall in love with at least a few. There are also intensive help menus available that will truly make you a much more knowledgeable player in the harder games such as Mancala and Zen Bones. It is a very easy game to pick up and even easier to enjoy.

OVERALL 9/10
Overall this game is a very fun and long lasting game. Sure there are newer versions out by now but I still find myself playing this game after all these years. If you find this game in the discount bargain bin anywhere then I would definitely recommend you buy it..

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/29/04