Shanghai

"It's a good puzzle game...just don't buy this version"

Game Play-10/10

This game is probably the best puzzle game of all time. I’m surprised I actually still had this. I thought I had sold it to Game Trader, but I found the cartridge last summer. I’m so glad I found a great game. The game is where you have 144 mahjong tiles to match up with each other. There are 4 of each tile in the puzzle, and you have to match up one of those tiles to another. But, you can only match up selected tiles, meaning ones not surrounded by other tiles, or ones not located under other tiles. You can use either the mahjong tiles, or numerical American tiles. Either way, it’s pure fun. But, what would a puzzle game be without difficulty. You can lose, by matching up a wrong pair of the same tiles. There are tons, and I mean TONS, or different puzzles to do in this game. Personally, I’d rather use the mahjong tiles. It’s just more of a challenge that way.

Graphics-8/10

While the graphics aren’t the greatest, you can easily tell one tile from another. The tiles do look alike, with some of them only being different because of minor alterations in design, like just one line being different. There are many puzzle layouts, each being a good challenge. The game’s graphics aren’t anything to applaud at. The American tiles are much easier to determine.

Audio-4/10

There are only three tracks to this game, and it takes me about ten minutes to finish each puzzle. The music isn’t the worst on the system, but I suggest turning the volume off. The tile sounds are good, though. They don’t sound like they belong there, but they sound good. Turn the volume off if you want to play this, because it will be best for your ears.

Overall 7/10 (Not An Average)

There are many versions of this game, so you probably shouldn’t get this version. Then again, this was one of the few versions to arrive on our shores. I’d say, get a different version. And also, this game is one of the more rare Game Boy carts. Don’t get this version unless you have to. I’m not saying it’s a bad game, I’m just saying that there are better versions of this game out there. There is another U.S. portable Shanghai out there, that one is Shanghai Pocket. You should probably get that instead.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 06/16/01, Updated 05/20/02