This review is for the Nintendo DS game, Solitaire Ultimate Collection, developed and published by Koch Media. The game consists of a wide range of different card games which you can play on your own.
There are 101 different solitaire games in this collection which are placed into various categories, so it will take you a while to work through them all. There are instructions from them all, so learning the games doesn't take too long, and tutorials are there if you need them. There are a few games however which are quite complex, so they do take a little while to understand.
As you play through each game, you're able to keep statistics on your performance, which does give you an incentive to keep playing a game to improve your average score. As you would expect though, some of the games are a lot easier to win at than others.
The displays are clear, with the top screen used for information and statistics, and the bottom screen used for the actual cards where you play the game. This is usually fine, but sometimes you need more space for the columns of cards, and it's a shame that you don't have the option to let these spread across the two screens. The controls are generally based around the stylus and touch screen, and these make the game accessible, and this works well.
The graphics in the game are sufficient, and are nice and clear. The sound which consists of repetitive sound effects and a small range of background music is very limited, but although the graphics and sound don't add much to atmosphere of the game, this isn't really the sort of game that demands such features. You can also change the backs of the cards, which are available in a range of different designs.
There is a very good multi player, where you can load games onto other Nintendo DSs using the Nintendo's wireless function. This is a valuable addition to the game, and it's good move from the developers to try to add some additional features and functionality to the game.
The game retails for 19.99 pounds and is currently available on Amazon for 11.96 pounds. If you're happy with a second hand copy of the game, at time of writing, these are available for around ten pounds on sites such as eBay and Amazon. The game is rated as 3+, so is suitable for children of nearly all ages.
In summary, this is a well produced game, which although unlikely to appeal to the usual hardened games players, does achieve what it sets out to. The Nintendo DS suits this game perfectly, with the stylus and touch screen and with it being portable. The game does have some limitations, but there's lots of game play in this, and it's well worth considering.
(also on dooyoo under same user name)
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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