When I think of Mahjong, I typically imagine my Mother and her friends, huddled around a card table staring at funny looking tiles and trying to combine them into predetermined groups (and just to complicate things, the winning hands change every year).  I never really understood that game at all .  Fortunately, Real Dice Mahjong is not that game.

Instead, Real Dice offers a common computer variation of classic Chinese game.  I think I first encountered it on Windows 3.1, however, there may have been an earlier DOS version.  In this variation, which may be more aptly called Puzzle Mahjong, you are faced with an intricately arranged pile of tiles.  Your job is to remove matching sets of tiles and clear the board.  This puzzle version of the game has become so commonplace on computers around the world, that I think it has far surpassed the classic Chinese variant (at least in suburban America).

[Note: Before reading on, you should read my review of Real Dice World Launcher, which will give you an overview of the environment in which this game exists.]

Installation and Registration: There are two ways to download the game. First, if you have subscribed to the full Real Dice Service, then you can download it over the air using the Real Dice Launcher. Additionally, you can download the desktop installer and install it via ActiveSync. If you are not a Real Dice member yet, there is a limited trial which you can use to test out the game.

MahJong Overview: Like I said, this is not the strategy-based tile game your mothers used to play.  In fact, the only similarity between that game and this one are that they use the same tiles.  So, forget everything you thought you knew about that other Mahjong game.

In this game, which I think is more aptly called Puzzle Mahjong, you will be faced with an intricately arranged pile of tiles.  Your goal is to clear the tiles off the board by finding matched pairs.  A pair can only be played if both pieces are completely uncovered.  Remove all of the tiles to win the game.

Single Player: I was extremely impressed by all of the single player options in this game.  It is, by far, the most robust of all of the Real Dice games I have reviewed thus far.  In fact, the single player game is really three games in one.  In all three games, the object is the same: clear the tiles from the board by finding matching pieces, however, the layout and gameplay changes in each mode.

In Story Mode, your goal is to clear each of the 15 levels.  Each level relates to a different historical culture, which adds some context and just a little education to the game.  The tiles are arranged in a manner which is symbolic of the culture represented by the level.  For example, the tiles in the Ancient Rome level are arranged to represent the Roman Amphitheater.  Clear each level in order to advance to the next one.

In Time Trial, you will need to race against the clock.  Clear all of the tiles off the board before time runs out.  This is a great way to play when you know you will have a finite amount of time.  In this mode, when time runs out, the game is over…whether you have finished or not.

Finally, Real Dice offers the Score Challenge.  This is the most common mode of play.  Earn points for clearing the tiles off of the board.  Play it as often as you like, because each time you start a new game, you will face a new assortment of tiles.  Additionally, by completing the challenges in this mode, you can unlock additional layouts.  So go ahead, try to beat that high score and unlock all of the layouts.  But be forewarned, this can be quite an addictive challenge.  Once you begin, you will be loathe to put it down before unlocking that next level…and the next one…and, well, you get the point.

Head 2 Head Internet Game: I was really looking forward to checking out the head 2 head game.  I have played dozens of MahJong games, but, I have never seen a two player, head-to-head game.  This looks fantastic!  Unfortunately, it just was not meant to be.  I logged onto the online game on numerous occasions, at different times of day.  I even tried creating my own game (above).  Regardless of my tactics, however, I never found another player with whom I could share a game.  This is an unfortunate trend I have found as I have reviewed my way through the Real Dice library.  It upsets me because these are games which are designed to be enjoyed as a community.  The quality of the game is significantly diminished without the participation of the community.  I am really not sure why the online community has not caught on the way it should.  Hopefully, that will change soon so I can finally check out the head 2 head Mahjong game.

Game Of The Week: When I reviewed Astraware Sudoku, one of the most innovative features I found there was the Puzzle-Of-The-Day.  This offers a fantastic way to keep the game fresh by ensuring a new puzzle is regularly dropped in your inbox.  Real Dice has followed that same approach with Mahjong.  When you log into the online game, in addition to the standard head-to-head game, you will also be provided the option of playing the Mahjong Game-Of-The-Week.  This allows you to compete against the entire online community, with all of you playing the same game over the course of the entire week.  The top three scores are displayed for all to see.  I absolutely love this feature, as it really goes a long way toward keeping the game fresh and exciting.  I would like to have seen, however, an online archive or downloadable archive of previous weeks’ puzzles.  This would ensure a never ending library of puzzles would always remain at your disposal.

Conclusion: I was more impressed by Mahjong than any other Real Dice game I have looked at so far.  It is, by far, the most robust package they offer, featuring three different single player modes and two online modes.  I was disappointed by the lack of community involvement in the Head 2 Head game, however, this was more than balanced by the fantastic Game of the Week.  I love the fact that at the beginning of each week I can look forward to an original puzzle to play.  This is most definitely NOT your Mother’s Mahjong!  And you can thank Real Dice for that.

Vital Statistics:

Name: Real Dice Mahjong

Platform: WM 2003 SE, WM6

Also Available: WM5, Palm OS, Blackberry, Symbian, PC, Windows Mobile Smartphone,and more… 

Developer: Real Dice

Price: $14.95 or free with a subscription to the Real Dice network.

Available From: Real Dice

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