‘Mahjong Artifacts: Chapter 2’ Review
Intro
Believe it or not, there are games that aren’t based on zombie apocalypses, doodle cartoons and 3D shoot-em-ups on the app store. I know, it sounds crazy. Mahjong Artifacts: Chapter 2 is a game based not on violence or quick reactions, instead, is something more soothing and relaxing, something you can enjoy after a stressful day at work.
Gameplay 9/10
When you start the game, you are presented with a randomized tower of tiles with images on them. The aim of the game is to match tiles of the same image or basic theme. Once two matching tiles have been bonded they disperse and reveal tiles beside or beneath them. The aim of the game varies depending on the game mode you are playing on, but mostly involves matching up and getting rid of all the tiles on the level. You also accumulate small green balls which you collect via pairing certain tiles and can be used to activate certain powers, such as mixing up all the tiles if there are no pairs left, or to highlight a pair on the level.
There 3 game modes to choose from when you start the game: Quest, Classic, and Endless. Quest involves the same gameplay but with a story. Even though the story has nothing to do with the gameplay itself it is intriguing, but hard to understand considering it being a follow on from the first chapter.
Classic includes 99 different levels (different from Quest mode) which you can select to play. Each level has its own inventive shape and it is fun browsing through and choosing a particular map. In this mode you also have the option to choose the theme of the images on the tiles and the background.
Select two similar tiles to match them and reveal tiles beneath.
Endless, much like the title suggest, is an endless version of the game. Once you complete a row of tiles a new row forms and your score is measured in how many rows you have completed.
The gameplay is surprisingly fun and very relaxing. There are no time pressures (unless you are aiming for a time medal) and you feel you are able to play at your own pace. This may seem like a simple concept, but images get more detailed and harder to match as you progress, meaning you have to observe more carefully. Also, if there are more than two similar tiles you will have to match them in the right order to prevent yourself from getting stuck with no pairs left. Thankfully, you are able you use your green balls to execute a power that mixes up the tiles. The satisfaction that you get once you complete a level is great, and therefore I found Endless mode not to be as good because it can’t be completed.
Graphics 10/10
The graphics are silky smooth. The tiles are detailed and vibrant and I especially love the varied background images which look amazing, but refrain from clashing with the foreground. The game ran extremely smoothly with no issues and the attention to detail makes this an amazing game to look at and play with.
Controls 9/10
Selecting tiles can be inaccurate at times, but this doesn’t affect gameplay in a negative way. Other than using auto-zoom which fits the whole grid of tiles onto the screen, you are able to pinch and drag to zoom in and out and navigate the board. This decreases the risk of eye strain which I found a problem on large levels. The controls overall worked well and didn’t hinder the game.
Sound 10/10
The music in Mahjong Artifacts: Chapter 2 is simple yet atmospheric. It matches the theme of the game well and keeps the game interesting. The sound effects are simplistic also but work well. Overall the sound is professional and effective.
Menus 7/10
The graphics are smooth and detailed.
The menus look great but unfortunately I found the options quite unresponsive and hard to select. I would like to see a more touch friendly menu system, taking into account that a finger is much less accurate compared to a mouse. They are good enough, but need some tweaking to make them perfect.
Longevity 8/10
With 3 game modes, over 99 levels and many artifacts (achievements to you and me) this game will keep you hooked for a while. It is a shame that there isn’t any network integration (like OpenFeint) and gaining a highscore in Endless seems almost pointless. Furthermore, there is only so much of Mahjong Artifacts one can take, and after a while I felt the need for something more adrenaline pumping, but that might just be me. The chances are that the concept will get tiresome. I would have liked to see some more varied gameplay to keep the game interesting.
Cost 10/10
$2.99/£1.79 is about right for a game packed full of content.
Conclusion 63/70 – 5/5
This games seems perfect for a mature/adult audience who will get much more out of this game than teenager. With such great visuals and sound, this is not one match-tile puzzler to miss. If you are unsure, then why not check out the lite version?
