An Old Man's Journey
With Mah Jong Quest III: Balance of Life, we catch back up with the series' leading man, Kwazi. Kwazi is now 72 years old and is trying to find the meaning of his life. Upon questioning an old wise man, Kwazi is sent into a strange vision where he reverts back to an infant.
You must guide Kwazi through each of his 72 years and help him discover his purpose in life.
One of the best things about this series is the entertaining and well-told story that fits very well with Mah Jong thematically. The tile game has been around for ages (and in computer form for years) but the "Quest" games have breathed new life into it and given us a very likable protagonist. Through well-written dialogue and beautifully illustrated artwork, we're quickly wrapped up in Kwanzi's life.
It's no longer just about matching tiles; it's about helping a friend along on his journey.
For the Uninitiated
Mah Jong is less complex than Chess, a little more complicated than Checkers. You're faced with a pile of decorative tiles and tasked with clearing them all out. You clear the screen by matching tiles, but you can only select tiles that are exposed and not blocked on both sides.
That's pretty much all there is to it. It will take a little getting used to as sometimes it's tricky to see if a tile is free or not, but the learning curve is short and easy.
Keep in mind that it's entirely possible to run out of matches before the tiles are gone. You'll have to think ahead if you're going to win.
Variations
This product features a handful of twists on the classic formula. Original Kwazi and Kwazi II will allow you to sample puzzles from the series' previous offerings.
Brain teasers are smaller puzzles that place an emphasis on thinking ahead.
Extreme Mah Jong pits you against the clock in a fast and furious game. You start off with 1 minute and you'll get 1 extra second per match you make.
Mah Jing is possibly my favorite of the bunch. The tiles are numbered domino style and you must match colors. However, each match must equal seven.
Finally, Half and Half splits Mah Jong right down the middle, literally. A brick wall separates the tiles and each match must consist of a tile from each side.
Multiplayer
Curious to try my luck online, I clicked the Tournament selection on the main menu and was almost instantly matched up with a player from Bangalore. I play games online quite often and I was surprised by how quickly the game came together.
I don't play too often, so I figured I was in for quite a beating. While I matched tiles, I could see a small representation of my opponent's board at the top of my screen. We were pretty much tied for most of the game, but I pulled out a surprising win in the end. It was a fantastic experience and something I plan to return to often.
Mah Jong Masterpiece
Any fan of the classic game should have this in their library, hands down. It's the best package out there and the game itself is the product of a series that just got better and better. A must have if there ever was one.
