Shanghai
System: SMS
Release Date: October 1988
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Genre: Parlor Games
Alright, with a name like Shanghai, I’m expecting some kind of action shooter hard-boiled detective type game! Wait… Mahjong? What the hell do I know about Mahjong other than it’s a favorite of groups of Chinese ladies the world over! The answer, nothing. Guess I have to learn a new type of game.
Mahjong is actually pretty easy to learn. It took me one game to understand what was a legal maneuver and what wasn’t. There are 144 tiles on the board stacked in what is referred to as the Dragon. There are four of each tile, split into different suits. You have to remove matching tiles on any given turn. In order to be legal, there can’t be a tile on top of what you want to move and there must be an opening to the left or right of the tile you want to move. Keep removing tiles until you clear the board or are left with no moves left.
There are three modes of play. Solitaire, which is where you’d likely spend most of your time. You play against the Dragon, attempting to clear the board. Tournament Play, which allows any number of players to try and get the best time to clear an identical board. And Challenge Play, which allows you to play against another player, with the goal to get as many pairs as possible. To make it interesting, you set a time limit for each turn. I played against my wife, who I learned used to be addicted to Mahjong many years ago. You think you know someone…
Graphics: 1.0
The graphics are fine. I like how the tiles can be concealed by stacks of tiles and shadows.
Sound: 2.5
I liked all three different music selections available.
Gameplay: 3.0
I’m not totally sure how you can make a smoother Mahjong game.
Difficulty: 2.0
You’re really playing against the rules of the game. There’s even an undo feature if you need it.
Fun Factor: 3.0
I played a lot more of Shanghai than I have some of my more recent games. That should tell you it’s enjoyable.
Overall Grade: 2.3
Shanghai earns a C+. I never thought I’d have a lot of nice things to say about a Mahjong game, but here we are.