by Val Bonney

Created on: January 15, 2008

Fairway Solitaire - Review

If you are a fan of Tri-Peaks, Aloha Solitaire and the like, you are going to love Fairway Solitaire. The basic game is the same, but it has been given a whole new perspective by setting it in a golfing scenario. This may sound a little crazy, but it has been so cleverly done that once or twice I almost believed I was playing golf and not a card game at all!

Using various layouts, the objective is to remove as many cards as possible from the table by choosing cards that are one number higher or lower than the top card in the remaining stack. Aces count both high and low, and the trick is to think ahead in order to create longer runs of cards, as this will substantially increase your score.

The graphics are fun and colorful, each playing card bearing a different golfing character and the static background scene portraying the course being played. There are 70 courses in all, ranging from exotic locations to the highlands of Scotland. Newspaper flashes at the end of each completed course feature your chosen golfing character and often your own name.

Sound effects are excellent, with background noises like dogs, birds and water giving the impression of an outdoor setting, plus foreground noises including a very convincing golf club swing and a cheering or groaning crowd, depending on your final score! There is also a commentary by a fictional sports reporter with an Australian accent, which adds to the realism.

The game-play itself is addictive enough to want to keep trying the next course, but with fairly short rounds and the easy save option it is a game that will also allow you to switch off and engage in real life once in a while! There are various challenges in the different rounds, mini-games and score multipliers, and each level has a specific goal you must achieve before moving on to the next.

At the end of each course you will have accumulated some cash which you can then use in the Golf Shop to purchase one of the 12 items available, each of which have various qualities that affect the game when employed. You can also collect trophies along the way, your ultimate aim being to end the game as the Grand Champion.

A couple of tips - beware the hint that tells you that you have missed a move, because it only lasts for one course: after that you are on your own. Also look out for the "Par" score for each round, showing in the top left hand corner of the screen, as this tells you what score you should be aiming for.

The trial version of Fairway Solitaire gave me a taste of a fun, entertaining and mentally challenging card game, but would I buy the full product? Absolutely yes!

My rating - 4/5

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