This latest version of Hoyle Board Games is a delightful collection of well-designed board games for the PC. From a light-hearted game of Dominoes or Snakes and Ladders, to more involved strategy-based games like Chess and Mancala, there’s something here for almost every member of the family.
There are sixteen games altogether: Backgammon, Battling Ships, Checkers, Chess, Chinese Checkers, Dominoes, Line Em Up, Mahjong Tiles, Mancala, Master Match, Pachisi, Placer Racer, Reversi, Rummy Squares, Snakes & Ladders, and Yacht.
Most of the games are well-known board games that have withstood the test of time. A first glance at the program’s list of games might suggest there are a number of unfamiliar games included, but some of the names of these games are slight variations of the popular names, like Yacht (better known as Yahtzee) and Master Match (popularly known as MasterMind).
First, players build an identity with the program’s fun Facemaker option, and then are taken to the main menu from which all games can be accessed. A Getting Started screen opens each game (and can be bypassed if desired). This screen allows players to learn the rules of the game and to adjust player and game settings.
A fair amount of options are available that allow users to not only adjust difficulty levels, but also to customize the way a game is played. These are mostly minor details, and include things like an option to use a timer in Mahjong Tiles, adjust the required winning score in Dominoes, and change the number of stones in Mancala. In some games, options to adjust the appearance of the board are available, and in the case of Chess, the perspective can be customized to players’ liking.
While all the games in this collection are enjoyable, kids might especially like the program’s easier games, such as Battling Ships (more commonly known as BattleShip), Chinese Checkers, and Snakes & Ladders. An arcade-style game called Placer Racer should also hold plenty of appeal. Though it is the only game that seems a little out of place in a board game collection, it is very addictive and requires quite a bit of strategy to master.
The graphics are rather appealing, and special effects can be found in some of the games. For example, Battling Ships, in which players try to sink their opponent’s ships before their own ships go down, is hugely more appealing to play than the real-world counterpart. Players get to see the missiles landing in the water with a splash or hitting their ships. Still, what truly makes the program shine is the attention to detail evident in game-play itself.
This program is ideal for solitary play, but can also be played head-to-head. Multi-player options are available for most games, and can involve opponents taking turns in front of the computer or over the Internet. Those seeking to play alone (against the computer) will have a great time with the wacky computer opponents. Kids will find some of these characters quite funny. Take the pale green alien Gax, for example, who morphs into famous people and makes wisecracks throughout the game. These characters serve to enliven the games with their mild teases and taunts and even some valuable game-play feedback. The main benefit of choosing to vie against these computer opponents is the player’s ability to adjust their attitude (from "serious" to "talkative") and their level of skill!
New to this 2002 edition is a version of Backgammon for Palm OS handhelds.
