Archive for the ‘Cards’ Category

Magic Stones Review

Action, Adventure, Cards, RPG | Posted by Meg
Mar 13 2010

magic-stones
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Magic Stones is a well planned and thought out RPG and card Mac game.  The mixture of this game makes it unique from straight RPG games.  It is based on Celtic mythology that in itself is captivating and intriguing.

This game is set in Avavorn, the land of many druids.  There are hidden treasures in the unlikeliest places like abandoned temples, enchanted forests, cursed islands.  These valuables can be anything from magic formulas, amulets to runes.  Each object will increase your druid’s power and experience.

To start the play you must select your druid and its own unique characteristics.  This part is important later in your dueling matches.  You will need wisdom, strategy, artifacts and magic in order to succeed in your battles.  There are many options to choose from and if you choose wisely, it can make a difference in each outcome of this game.  If you experiment a little with the features, you’ll be able to figure out the most appropriate one for your druid.  It’s to the developers’ credit they include a female druid to choose from and that she is equal to the male.

There are 3 modes of play in this Mac game.  The first is the Gather Artifacts section where you search for the artifacts in the different areas of the land:  Frozen Lands, Slimy Swamp, Green Plains and Lava Mountains.  This is the mode to build your druid’s character, experience and gather artifacts.  The second mode is the most interesting one called the Challenge Druid.  This section may be the most action-packed part of the game.  In this section the druid must fight other druids in the Black Tower to the death.  Quest the third mode is a new section.  You play a custom story with new avatars.  There is a quest released every 3-4 months for free to registered users.  A big plus and a great savings for Mac gamers.

Magic Stones is not your typical RPG game because of the card game aspect.  It changes the play somewhat from your usual role playing moves with more strategizing than movement.  However, I think diehard RPGers will be able to play this game and enjoy it.  Casual gamers will be able to pick it up from the excellent step-by-step tutorial at the beginning of the story.  I was muddling through some of the confusing parts of the card game, and the help came on to address my mistake.  The hint made a big difference in the play. 

The imaginative features of Magic Stones with its detailed artwork and the creative druids were all well done.  The sound effects and music were appropriate for the game, but some of the moans were disturbing.  I didn’t feel the story drew me into the game as some other RPGs, but that can just be me.  I’m not a big RPG or a card player.  All in all it was a good experience, and I’m glad I ventured into the world of Magic Stones and would probably try more of their games. 

 

Features of Magic Stones:

-3 Modes of Play

-20 Different Avatars

-17 Spells

-Over 15 Enemy Druids

 

Rating: ★★★☆☆

The Three Musketeers Review

Adventure, Cards, Puzzle, RPG | Posted by Zeke
Jan 27 2010

Three Musketeer 8
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Three Musketeers is a classic novel and now a RPG Mac game. The play starts with d’ Artagnan leaving home to pursue a life as a Three Musketeers 2Musketeer. He travels to Paris to begin his training. He has a letter of introduction to Monsieur de Treville but it is taken from him during a scuttle with a rogue.

The game is to follow the yellow footprints for d’ Artagnan’s quests. You can veer off the yellow prints to search barrels and crates for loot and mana for health. The story is moved along in conversations and cartoon strips. You duel with just about everyone who challenges Three Musketeers 3you. The main thing to remember when dueling is to wait to see your opponent sweat and then take them down. D’ Artagnan’s father had told him to never sell the horse he gave him, but to get money and avoid embarrassment (the horse is a different color than most horses) d’Artagnan sells it right away. Other methods of earning money is to take on quests that will pay you and sell your loot to the blacksmith. Some of the loot can be coins, peasant shirts, berets with or without feathers, collars and more. The blacksmith also will repair things, and he can sell you firearms. It’s important to collect the health potions in case you get injured in a fight.

You will eventually come across Athos (aura of mystery), Aramis (true calling is the priesthood), and Pothos (great strength). They will help Three Musketeers 5you along the way. They like to party and play games so be ready for the side games. Tennis anyone? Cards and dice are also favorites of the musketeers. You will meet the evil cardinal and you will pursue the man in the purple outfit who stole your letter.

Your quests will take you all over France and England and back again helping good people and fighting the bad. You will encounter Three Musketeers 6civilians and soldiers.

This RPG play follows the novel in a close adaptation. The artwork is simple and flat but works for this type of play. The game is easy Three Musketeers 7enough for new and casual players without being frustrating like some other more difficult and violent RPGs. I never advocate not reading a book, but this game makes it very tempting not to read the original novel. Find out what happens to d’ Artagnan and his fellow musketeers. All for one and one for all.

Features of Three Musketeers:
-17th Century France and England
-Thwart Cardinal Richelieu
-Defend Queen Anne

Rating: ★★★½☆

Pirate Poker Review

Cards | Posted by Zeke
Jan 19 2010

Pirate Poker
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If you like to play poker or if you don’t even know how to play, Pirate Poker will engage you in its addictive play whatever your level of expertise. However, be forewarned, ye mateys, for this is an habit forming play once you get started. Without losing your shirt or walking the plank, this game is easily playable for an enjoyable time.

There are 6 video poker plays in this game: Deuces Wild, Jack or Better, 2 Pairs or Better, Joker Poker, Aces and Faces and Tens or Better. Deuces Wild, as the name implies, is a play that makes the 4 deuces in a deck wild so do not discard any of the 2s. Jacks or Better, Tens or Better and 2 Pairs or better is just that. Anything better than the title suggests will win you the hand. Joker Poker is when the one joker acts as a wild card so do not discard it. Aces and Faces wins when you have a pair of jacks or higher so do not discard any face cards or aces. As you play, you will get used to what the winning hand is, and your play will move faster. To begin your play you decide how many hands you like to play at a time. It can be from 1, 3, 5 or 10 hands. If you are a novice, you might want to start out with 1 hand until you get your Pirate Poker2sea legs. After making your bet, click on the deal button to view your hand. Depending upon which mode you choose, click on the cards you wish to keep or hold. Hit the deal button again to receive new cards. The computer will automatically show your winnings or losses on the right side bar. That’s basically all there is to it except you can change the card deck from your standard cards to the pirate theme to any other decks available.

The only side game is when the computer flashes the bonus button for you to win double or nothing. It is the coin under the cup game. The 3 cups will rotate around quickly to trick you, and you must decide which cup has the coin under it. Pirate Poker5 Not a difficult game if you keep your eyes on the cup. This mini game will help you get back some of your money.

Pirate Poker is a relaxing, fun, addictive card game for experienced players as well as the uninitiated. Play this game in search of buried pirate treasure by winning as many hands as possible.

Features of Pirate Poker:
-Six Video Pokers
-Color Graphics
-6 Decks

Rating: ★★★½☆

Jewel Quest Solitaire 3 Review

Action, Adventure, Cards, Match, Puzzle | Posted by Zeke
Nov 10 2009

Jewel Quest Solitaire 3
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Jewel Quest Solitaire 3 is another interesting Jewel Quest game. This time it’s a solitaire play with match 3 games in between levels. You can choose either full quest or just cards (forgoing the adventure story).

In the quest mode you are assisting Ratu Edward Kadanu search for his lost treasure (I didn’t play 1 and 2 so I have no idea what the tale was for the first 2 games). Rupert and Emma Pack (from the Jewel Quest series) commissioned Ratu for this expedition starting in the deepest jungles of Cambodia. Ratu Kadanu is more than qualified to research every aspect of this exploration and successfully complete it. He is a Fijian born Oxford professor hungry for new adventure and dangers.

In the Klondike format of solitaire there are platforms (initially 4) at the top of the screen with the dealt cards below. The top card of each row is faced up. The object of the game is to place cards of the same suit in ascending order starting from the ace (Ace, 2,3,4…). Below the platforms in the game board area you move any available card on to the cards in descending order (King, Queen, Jack, 10,9…) with each touching card in alternating suits. The deck at the bottom of the screen is flipped through to get additional cards, however each time you flip, the meter on the right will go back down. The only way to increase the meter is to place a card on the platform at the top. Once the meter reaches the top, you get a power-up. Some of the power-ups are the wild card, x-ray (you get to view the faced down cards for a limited time) and shuffle.

Buried cards are flipped when cards on top are moved to a different spot. When all the cards are removed from a row, you can replace the empty spot with a King or wild card only. When the computer determines you will win the game, it will ask you if you want the computer to automatically complete the level. This is an added plus because you do not need to do the mundane mechanics of the play unless you want to.

After winning your hand you will get pieces of a photograph to put together in a jigsaw puzzle fashion. This picture will reveal a precious Jewel Quest Solitaire 3 3artifact of your search. In addition there is a match 3 game to play for bonus points. The match games are basically identical to their other Jewel Quest match games, and although easy to play, the break from the cards is a welcome diversion.

Jewel Quest Solitaire 3 is a straightforward and addictive Klondike game with some great power-ups to advance your play. The extra games are an added bonus from the solitaire play. The graphics as always is well executed, however the story line is not as engaging as when the Packs are the main focus of the game. Enjoy this solid Mac card game Jewel Quest Solitaire 3.

Features of Jewel Quest Solitaire 3:
-100 Solitaire Boards and Match 3 Gameplay
-8 Power-ups
-Unravel the Mystery

You may also like Jewel Quest, Jewel Quest II,  Jewel Quest III and Jewel Quest Mysteries.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Ancient Tripeaks 2 Review

Cards | Posted by musicaltrack
Oct 21 2009

ancient tri peaks 2
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Ancient Tri-Peaks II is the equally fun and sequel to the original Ancient Tri-Peaks, but this time there is a change in the story. Instead of the original ancient societies of South America, the creators have decided to focus this game on Ancient Greece. Learn mythology along the way, as you try to find your way across the ancient Mediterranean Sea toward the capital of Athens.

Like most Tri-peaks games, the object is to remove all the cards from the board in the allotted time. The catch is that you can only remove a card that is either higher or lower than the one currently in “your pile.” This means that it takes some quick thinking and strategy to remove all the cards without using up the reserve cards that are available to reset what is on top of “your pile.” That being said, the only way to lose the game is to use up all the reserve cards and still have other cards left on the board.

Ancient-Tri Peaks II does have an objective besides the game. While you play, you reach certain roadstops that allow you to continue to build a marble statue of your subject (you learn about Greek myths like Helen of Troy, Paris and the Trojan War, etc.). Once you complete these tasks, the statue is complete and you can move on to learning about the next story. There are 16 different types of boards to choose from, ranging from fairly easy and straightforward to very complected and difficult. The catch is it is easier to sculpt your statue on these harder levels, as the harder the skill level, the more points come.

This game was fun, but it lacked something for me, in the end. I guess I couldn’t necessarily pinpoint what was off, but I definitely did not enjoy the repetitive music and revolving help-questionmarks. Other than that, the game was fun and played exactly the way one of these games should. All in all, I would give Ancient Tri-Peaks II three out of five stars.

Features of Ancient Tripeaks 2
-16 Tripeaks Games
-Original or Power-up Modes
-Unlockable Levels, Card Backs
-Combo-based Scoring

Rating: ★★★☆☆