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Even if you aren't a fan of golf Fairway Solitaire is a lot of fun.

Fairway Solitaire takes the Solitare card game and transforms it into a more character driven experience where the player must guide a would be golf champion through various courses to stardom and financial reward.

When the game starts up the player chooses one of a selection of appearances and a name for their character, the card games are linked together via the story of this character as they rise through various stages in their golfing career. These stages are made more interesting by newspaper covers featuring the character and the presentation of trophies after victories.

During the game commentators talk about the courses and the player's progress, there are also sound effects from a crowd to further the idea of playing live matches. All of this adds to the game making it more substantial and exciting. There is no backing music to the game but the click response on cards is the sound of a golf swing and strike and this makes for a great playing atmosphere. Graphics are simple but fun, being of a cartoon style and watch out for extras such as cute animated worms and gophers in the background.

The card games themselves are enjoyable but it's not the version of Solitaire that many people are used to playing. In this version the first card in the deck is turned over and from the columns the player has to find a card of a value either one higher or one lower than the card from the deck regardless of color or suit which is of course a simpler rendition of the game.

As regards overall game play the levels, character and storyline make this into a fun and addictive game that can be played for hours. The games are saved from being overly simplistic by the introduction of various obstacles such as water hazards which need to be cleared to access cards or sand trap cards which require the player to first uncover a sand wedge card to continue. In order to progress through the game targets need to be reached on the levels to unlock new courses and as the levels progress the sessions are more involved and the targets higher!

This is a really enjoyable and addictive game for all ages but whilst non golfing fans will still get a lot out of the story and levels, extreme Solitaire purists might be left disappointed. The game has a sim edge to it enhanced by the character's aim to earn money from the tournament and the money accruing during play, Fairway Solitaire really does have something for everyone.

Rating 4/5

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