Matches and Matrimony: A Pride and Prejudice Tale Review
“Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance” (Jane Austen) appears to be the theme of the visual novel/rpg/sim game Matches and Matrimony: A Pride and Prejudice Tale where the decisions you make will consequently reveal an ending. This dating game is based on 3 of Jane Austen’s classic books: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion. This conglomerating of separate novels works seamlessly into a romantic game where you are in control of the endings and plays even in this time and age.
As in any novel it is separated into chapters. At the beginning of each chapter you as the second daughter (Elizabeth) of Mr. Bennet can change her name to whatever you like. 
You and your sisters are at the age of marrying and your mother is desperate for suitable suitors. You begin your week by selecting activities to pursue each day from Monday to Friday. Each activity will then either increase your attributes such as willpower, wit, talent, kindness, propriety, sensibility and energy or decrease them. If you choose to paint one day, your talent and sensibility will increase but your energy will decrease. In order to control which gentleman you end up with, you must develop the right character. Making sure your energy is sufficient is important for special weekend activities at the end of each chapter like a ball, dinner party or parlor discussion so be sure to factor in some rest every 4 to 5 days.
Be sure you save the game as you go along because it will come in handy if you should change your mind about a decision you made prior and wish to go back. The game will save after each chapter in case you forget to do so. This game also makes it easy for you to skip through parts of the novel you already have read.
Some of the eligible bachelors in this game are Mr. Bingley (your older sister likes him), Colonel Brandon (15 years older), and Mr. Darcy (dark and aloof but in the book he’s the 
one Elizabeth marries). Each character has different attributes you need to develop for a happy ending with him. If you know the novels, it may be easier to find the ending you want. There are 6 suitors to choose from and 9 different endings. You can go back and play all 9 endings for a long game.
The scenic backgrounds are static and the characters all well done and stylistic. When a person is speaking, they will be on the screen with one expression until the next scene. Somehow the muted colors represent an era long past and seems appropriate for the game. The music is repetitive but fits the theme of the story. Overall the game is different and entertaining if you are into dating sim games like Date Warp, Always Remember Me, The Flower Shop and Love and Order. Also if you are a Jane Austen fan, you may enjoy this game since it is based partially on her novels. However the developers of this game did take some liberties and changed a few of the characters so if you are a diehard Jane Austen fan, you may be offended but the game does capture a lot of the author’s charm and wit. The free download will give you ample time to decide whether you are into this type of genre. Find happiness in this game.
Features of Matches and Matrimony: A Pride and Prejudice Tale:
-Game based on Jane Austen’s Novels
-6 Eligible Bachelors
-9 Different Endings
Rating: 
Westward IV: All Aboard Review
This 4th edition of Westward is all about the train revolution in the wild west. The iron horse opened up the west for the general public and advanced the westward movement. In Mac adventure/strategy/sim game Westward IV: All Aboard a town will rise from nothing to a place full of people and with stores, and of course, the ubiquitous saloon.
Begin your play by choosing your hero either Henry a tool wielding workaholic or Anne with a sassy mouth and attitude to match her keen shooting skills Turner (siblings). Their mother is in need of assistance because the father has disappeared and the Turner railroad is in need of repair. When you have a railroad station and tracks, people will come and a town will develop along the route. Drag your hero from place to place performing different tasks and quests. People with question marks over their heads will need to speak to you person. Drag him/her to the questioner and click on that person. A screen will appear letting you know what they want. Click to the edge of the screen to move about the territory or use the map to move around the area. You can also click on the picture of your hero on the lower left of the screen to go directly to where they are.
In the beginning it is a little boring since you need to build up your resources to buy upgrades, building plans and other things to develop your town. You don’t even have enough money for a train ticket to return home. You must work odd jobs that people need you to do. Help a woman collect wood, deliver pies for someone else. When you move your cursor over something and your hand has a tool, you will be doing something at that spot. If your hand is holding a bag, you are to pick up that object. There are many quests to complete (listed at upper left), objects to pick up, buildings to erect, and gather food for the people who will show up as your town grows. If you do not vary your food for the people, they will leave your town. Variety apparently is the spice of life for them and will keep the town’s folk happy. You need to increase your experience, money and resources throughout the game.
The different scenarios or quests are more interesting than the usual business of improving your town. For instance, you are taking the train, and all of a sudden there’s a barrier across the tracks. Bandits blew up
the train tracks to block your progress and are about to rob you. There is a battle between you and a deputy against the bad guys. After killing the bandits, you still need to find a way to clear the tracks of boulders before moving on. Where are you going to get dynamite? Meeting the fur trader will have you shooting deer and rabbits. Beware of the wolves as you travel alone.
Lots of things develop as you get more and more into the story and it becomes exciting as you progress. The artwork and music are good. Build up the west in this exceptional and original rpg/sim Mac game. I give it a 3.5 for a solid play.
Features of Westward IV: All Aboard:
-Over 25 Buildings to Develop Your Town
-20 Levels of Frontier Fun
-Collect, Buy, Sell, Trade for Goods
Rating:
Pages
Categories
- Action
- Adventure
- Aquarium
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- Breakout
- Cards
- Children
- Hidden Object/I Spy
- Line Drawing
- Mah Jong
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- Platform
- Puzzle
- RPG
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- Shooter
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- slots
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- Uncategorized
- Visual Novel
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