Microsoft Classic Board Games

• Platform: IBM PC Compatible
• Release Date: November 29, 2000
• Genre: Compilation
• Style: Traditional
• Similar Games: Milton Bradley Board Games (IBM PC Compatible), Hoyle Classic Board Games (IBM PC Compatible), Board Games for Windows (IBM PC Compatible), Board Game Classics (IBM PC Compatible)

Game Description

Microsoft Classic Board Games features 12 traditional favorites including Chinese Checkers, Chinese Chess, traditional Chess, Reversi, Checkers, Dominoes, Go, Backgammon, 4-in-a-Line, Taipei, Gomoku and Shogi. Combining rendered visuals and menu-driven navigation, each board game comes with a rule listing and multiple difficulty settings.

Players can challenge computer-controlled opponents or battle a friend for board game supremacy. If you aren't familiar with a game or don't understand the rules, you can have two computer opponents play each other in real time. All of these settings can be toggled on a menu screen that precedes each game.

Some board games feature additional options, such as altering the board's size in Go. In Taipei, you can choose from various tile layouts such as traditional, towers, or pyramids. You'll also have the option of turning the menu off so it isn't shown when a game is started, although you can still alter game settings at any time.

Using menu options located at the top of the screen, you can choose to receive hints on the next move and rewind or fast forward past moves. The latter option is designed to help you develop tactics to use against your friends or computer opponents. Additionally, you can toggle the "Legal Move Indicator," which shows all the currently available moves and teaches novice gamers certain rules.

Those with an Internet connection can take Microsoft Classic Board Games online. Online gaming is free at Microsoft's www.zone.com. Whether hopping over various pieces in Chinese Checkers or eliminating all the tiles in Taipei, this board game collection will have you reliving all the classics in a whole new format.

Review: Overall

Microsoft Classic Board Games may lack in flashy animations and bright colors, but it is about as classy as computer games come. Letting the gameplay speak for itself, with its low-key graphics and elegant instrumental songs, the 12 time-honored board games provide endless and addicting fun without having to rely on any gimmicky devices.

Collecting classic games from around the world, Microsoft Classic Board Games contains all the standards, from checkers to Gomoku. While these games can be found in many other places, the intuitive but challenging gameplay keeps them from becoming frustrating or boring.

Although Microsoft Classic Board Games features little in terms of customization, with only single backgrounds and colors for each game, it does offer a good set of options for players. The three different skill levels allow players to still be challenged as they improve, while the option to show legal moves is a beneficial teaching tool for beginning players. Even the game Taipei offers different tile layouts while Go gives the option of different board sizes.

Despite the slight graininess of the graphics, they serve the simplicity of these games well. Even though the icons in the toolbar at the top of the screen aren't up to the caliber of the rest of the graphics, they are only a momentary distraction. The selection of songs, most with a jazz or classical feel to them, give a sense of refinement to the whole gaming experience. The sound effects are a bit repetitive, but not annoying.

Microsoft Classic Board Games tracks all the moves made in the game, and provides the option to backtrack through moves or even to restart the entire game. Also, players can save games to continue later or for future reference. While the uncomplicated nature and quick play of most of these games makes this feature a bit unnecessary, it still provides a nice touch for advanced players.

Overall, Microsoft Classic Board Games provides a good selection of traditional games without being overdone. Although it may be missing all sorts of elaborate features, its simplicity is its strength. If nothing else, Microsoft Classic Board Games shows that some games do not need anything extra to stand the test of time.

Review: Enjoyment

All of these games are both challenging and fun.

Review: Graphics

While slightly grainy, the graphics are nicely understated.

Review: Sound

The instrumental songs are soothing, and the sound effects are good for what they are.

Review: Replay Value

The games can be very addicting, and there are twelve to choose from.

Review: Documentation

Documentation is minimal, but provides enough information to install the games.

Production Credits