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Shanghai Dynasty Activision It's tough to put a new twist on an old game, especially one as ancient as Shanghai. The game even predates Pong by at least, well, two or three years. Activision does a great job updating tile-matching game, which has become as common as solitaire. The basic concept - match stacked tiles until the pile is gone - is the same. But Shanghai Dynasty brings a lot more to the table than any other in the series. The most immediate difference between Dynasty and its predecessors is in the presentation. The graphics, sound, and animation are great. The tiles are beautifully rendered in 3D to make finding matches and distinguishing tiers a lot easier. Once you find a match, the animations spring to life. And Dynasty gives you the option of switching animated tile sets, styles ranging from Egyptian to Astrology. Match tiles with the heads of three Egyptian workers, and the characters will dance for you. Even the background music changes with every tile set. Since this series has already seen several incarnations and changes, Activision had to step up push for something different with Dynasty, even beyond the cosmetic changes. Their answer was to include new multi-player capabilities, time tests, and competitions against computer opponents. For good measure, they even through in the game that originally inspired Shanghai - Mah Jongg. The easiest way to explain Mah Jongg is to relate it to poker. You get fourteen tiles and try to make matches or runs before the other three players. You can collect numbered sequences or like tiles. When your hand has the best sets, you go out. Seems simple enough, but so does poker. You need patience and luck. Be prepared for a lot of frustration when at first trying to master Mah Jongg. If you want a challenge with a quicker pace, try some of the computer matches. One game pits you against three opponents on the same stack of tiles. You have to be quick to make your matches, because as soon as the pile is gone, the game is over. Whoever made the most matches after the match is over wins. In another game, you go up against four computer players, each with an abbreviated stack of tiles, and rush to finish first. Hitting the right match can wreak havoc on your opponents, blinding them temporarily or rearranging their tiles. But beware - they can do the same to you. Shanghai Dynasty isn't likely to grab the same press as Quake II and Unreal, but it's likely to last a lot longer. When new gaming engines and faster processors are making those faster-paced games obsolete, I'll be enjoying this game. A simple idea, wonderfully executed. -Nick |
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