Pocket: Solitaire Overload

Ratings

Graphics:5.00 [Bar of Width 50]
Sound:8.00 [Bar of Width 80]
Gameplay:10.00 [Bar of Width 100]
Replays:10.00 [Bar of Width 100]
Gamelength:10.00 [Bar of Width 100]

Our Take

"Solitaire Overload" is in fact exactly what the name implies and if you're a fan of Solitaire, this is probably the best version of it that you'll ever play on a handheld console.

Anyone who doesn't play Solitaire may not realize it, but there are hundreds of variants to be found and each one of them is quite different. It takes a true fan of Solitaire to really appreciate those variants, though, which is exactly the group of people that "Solitaire Overload" was designed for. If you have a passion for Solitaire, this is your time to shine because today, we're taking a dive into Telegames "Solitaire Overload".

If you're asking about the graphics of a Solitaire title, you're obviously in the wrong place. However, just for the sake of completion, I'll say that the game looks pretty much like any other version out there. The interface is a lot like oldschool windows Solitaire and is extremely easy to navigate. Aside from that, there are many different deck and background styles to choose from, which adds a nice little bit of personalization.

Surprisingly enough, this game actually has a pretty good soundtrack. There's a good variety of music and you have the option of customizing your playlist so that you only hear the tracks that you enjoy. The soundtrack is quite varied and there are many relaxing tracks to be heard. The sound effects aren't even worth commenting on, honestly. I mean, it's freakin' SOLITAIRE. You hear the sounds of cards shuffling, but that's about it.

Someone who's never played Solitaire might ask exactly how to play it or exactly what it is. For starters, it's obviously a card game. More specifically, Solitaire is more or less an all-inclusive genre of single player card games. That is to say, most of the variants aren't even possible to play with more than one person. As far as explaining how the game is played, there are far too many variants for me to get into here, so I recommend that you take a quick look over at Google and run a search for Solitaire. You'll find hundreds of tutorials, FAQs, professional strategies and just about anything else you could ever ask for. Solitaire is just that popular, even if it may not seem that way. It's everywhere and many people play it on a daily basis. Anyhow, in this collection of Solitaire titles for the Nintendo DS, the only real form of multiplayer is actually an extremely cool feature. The download play allows one player with the cartridge to upload any full Solitaire variant to another Nintendo DS through the wireless adhoc infrastructure. After that upload, the person who received the game may play it as much as he or she wishes until they quit the game. Aside from that, this game really only offers 2 things: Personalization and tons of Solitaire. 101 games, to be exact, just as the cover of the box states. I actually counted the variants and sure enough, the box tells no lies. That is a LOT of Solitaite. This is the kind of game that any Solitaire fan will keep in their library for many, many years to come. The best part about this collection of Solitaire variants is that you can take it anywhere you go. This is absolutely perfect for the target audience and for that, it deserves a perfect score.

Overall, Solitaire fans will reach enlightenment after having played this collection. Telegames probably couldn't of done a better job.

Pros:
-101 full variants of Solitaire.
-Download play is flawless.
-Soundtrack is soothing and effective.
-Backgrounds and deck styles are plentiful.
-Perfect for Solitaire fans who just can't get enough at home.

Cons:
-Graphics? I don't think that counts.

Bottom Line:
If you're a serious Solitaire fan, you own a Nintendo DS and you have some cash laying around, this is probably going to be your new favorite game. Anyone who isn't familiar with Solitaire or just isn't serious about it can move on with life without regret.

Overall Rating: 9.00

Steven Marsh
August 20, 2008