Update: November 16, 2006
«©NCSX» Virtual mahjong isn't much fun with two people... unless the other person is an idol of some stripe and stripping is involved. To make mahjong somewhat fun and avoid the skin trade at the same time, Magnolia unleashes a 4-player MJ game where gamers challenge three CPU controlled players. On paper, the game sounds like a barrel of laughs but given that this is a budget title being released near the end of the PS2 life cycle, things aren't as fun once the action begins. First impressions of the mahjong game: Public domain software released by a high school student with 2 years of programming school under his belt. The presentation isn't bad but the execution is amateurish and there's a strange camera feature included in the game: You can look at every other player's MJ tiles with the camera rotation function. Press the trigger buttons and the camera pans around the table and all of your opponent's tiles are revealed. Janpai Tori is better known as Shanghai in the States and players are prompted to click on matching tiles to remove them from the screen. Again, the game doesn't look bad but the execution is poor with a hand pointer that moves as slow as molasses... View the back cover and screenshots on the main NCSX website. NCS Game Notes
» 3D Mahjong + Janpai Tori features 2 games in 1 which are selectable on the title screen - a 3D mahjong simulator and a Shanghai matching tiles game » The Shanghai game is primitive with a yellow-handed cursor which moves only with much effort in pushing the d-pad around. It snaps to each block as it meanders across the screen in a friction-filled roll. To view the next match press the TRIANGLE button and the two next tiles are highlighted in light-blue. » The mahjong action is decent and the table shows 4 sets of tiles at each player's side. As the tiles are thrown out, soft clacking noises may be heard. Despite the low-key visuals, the mahjong game isn't bad and is fairly challenging. » To rotate the table and manipulate the view, press and hold the trigger buttons on the Dual Shock 2. We're guessing D3P wanted players to cheat in the game because by rotating and manipulating the views, you can view all of your opponent's tiles. This document is ©NCSX 2006. All rights reserved. No reproduction in whole or in part of this document may be made without express written consent of National Console Support, Inc.
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