- Release Date: November 18, 1999
- Genre: Traditional
- Style: Tile Game
- Similar Games: Hong Kong Mahjong Pro (IBM PC Compatible), Galaxy of MahJongg (IBM PC Compatible)
Game Description
This value-minded release from Quicksilver and Activision contains several solitaire variations on the Asian tile game Mahjongg. 10 different styles of Shanghai are featured including a timed Arcade mode and the dynamic Windstorm version, which is new in this release. The title also supports four versions of the original four-player game of Mahjongg.~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide
Roots & Influences
Shanghai: Second Dynasty is a collection of Mahjongg variations previously released as part of Shanghai: Mah-Jongg Essentials and Shanghai: Dynasty and includes a new variation called Windstorm.~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide
Review: Overall
Shanghai: Second Dynasty offers ten mahjong-related games and 54 different tile sets from which to choose. While that may sound exciting, gameplay can actually become boring. The variations stem from two main games, Shanghai, a tile-matching game, and mahjong, similar to the card game Rummy.Shanghai features eight different games, each played basically the same way, with 144 tiles to match into pairs. Overall, gameplay is a matter of memory, strategy and luck. Depending on how the tiles fall in the initial layout, you may be able to finish the entire game without having to use the "cheat" function and re-sort the tiles. Fortunately, each of the eight games has a twist.
Classic Shanghai is the basic matching tile game, with no innovative features. Shanghai for Kids has 72 tiles (or fewer) and a voiceover explaining how to play. It also offers hints and an effective tutorial-type game for children interested in Mah-Jongg. As the name implies, Two-Player Shanghai has a competitive spin that requires each player to try and make the most matches within a time limit. Power Dragon's Eye is a challenging and fun version where you must build a dragon.
The other four variations in Shanghai comprise the better part of the collection. Pandamonium is a true free-for-all against up to three humans or computer-controlled players. The AI difficulty level is adjustable from very easy to very hard, but the computer always plays faster than you can. Windstorm, a variation new to this edition, is very interesting. Instead of simply matching tiles as in other mah-jongg games, a strategic element is introduced by changing the direction in which you're allowed to match tiles. Leaves blow behind the tiles in an east-west or north-south direction, dictating either left-right or up-down matches.
Arcade mode is a timed game that covers a series of 25 different puzzles. At the end of the game you achieve a score based on how fast you cleared each level. Gameplay is a real test of wits and memory. Finally, Dynasty is played against one to four players, with the goal to be the first to clear your layout. The upside here is that it can be played online using Windows 95 or Windows 98 software.
In the aforementioned variations, an image is displayed behind each one of the game boards commensurate with the tile set selected. Completing each game rewards you with a short animation and a fortune, written in fortune cookie style, which is usually quite funny. All 54 tile sets are available for each game, and, in some cases, animations play after a match. For example, matching up Wolfman tiles in the horror set offers an animation of him howling.
The second major game in the collection is mahjong, played by up to four people, with the object being to be the first out with the best hand consisting of 14 tiles. A help feature (not in the manual) explains four different ways to play, although the games consist of the same basic rules. There are three suits consisting of nine tiles each, and gameplay is similar to the card game Rummy. A betting feature is offered for those so inclined.
Unfortunately, the game is basically the same, simply played with variations. You may enjoy each one the first or even second time, but interest fades quickly unless you have several friends willing to sit in front of the computer and play a few hands. Gameplay just isn't compelling enough to warrant extensive play.
~ Jason White, All Game Guide
Review: Enjoyment
Gameplay is interesting at first but becomes repetitive over time, especially if not playing against other players. The different animations are initially enjoyable but eventually the urge is to turn them off to speed up gameplay.~ Jason White, All Game Guide
Review: Graphics
The graphics are decent but not memorable. The tiles and backgrounds are nicely designed, though the backgrounds have nothing to do with gameplay other than in the Windstorm variation. The animations are small and repetitive.~ Jason White, All Game Guide
Review: Sound
The ambient music is soothing and appropriate for gameplay and the sounds associated with the tiles are good.~ Jason White, All Game Guide
Review: Replay Value
Unless you're a die-hard Mah-Jongg fan, after a few rounds you'll be done. There is no real incentive to play repeatedly other than as a time passer.~ Jason White, All Game Guide
Review: Documentation
Instructions are clear and take into consideration both {!Macintosh} and {!PC} systems, somewhat rare in the hybrid market. An interesting brief history of Mah-Jongg is also included.~ Jason White, All Game Guide
Production Credits
Designed, Produced and Directed by: Tom Sloper; Associate Producer: Heather Maxwell; ACTIVLINK TECHNOLOGY: ACTIVISION Net Shell Programmer: Jeff Graebner; Additional Programming: Dan Kegel; SHANGHAI BRAND MANAGEMENT: ACTIVISION Director, Global Brand Management: Peter Karpas; Shanghai Brand Manager: Charles Hill; Associate Brand Manager: James Tuverson; PROGRAMMING AND TECHNOLOGY: QUICKSILVER SOFTWARE, INC.; President: William C. Fisher; Lead Programmer: Otmar Schlunk; Programmers: Tim Hume, Brian MacDonald, Redmond Urbino; Producer: Gary Graeper; Production Assistant: Sarah McKinley Oakes; Additional Programming: Stephen Roney, Andrew Seidman; Quicksilver Logo: Rantz A. Hoseley; Beta Testers: Nancy Berman, Christine Wellborn-Hoseley; Original Shanghai: Dynasty Programmers: Michael "mig" Gerard, Dan "babyboy" Clarke, Terry Koken, Ron Meyer; Engine Programmers: Rob Barris, Justin Butler, Tung-mei "Rita" Liu, Michael Donovan Mandap, Gregory Marsters, George Shackelford, Bill Snyder, David Steffen, Barry Sohl, Vincent Tagle; GRAPHICS AND ANIMATION -- CREAT STUDIO Executive Producer: Daniel Prousline; Project Leader: Natasha Kholiavko; Technology and Technical Assistance: Avenir Sniatkov; 2D Concept Art: Vitaly Anickin; 2D Concept Art, Background and Tile Set Design: Dmitry Kholodov; 2D Background and Tile Set Design: Vladimir Tchernych; Mah-Jongg Tile Sets: Fidail Guilmoutdinov; 2D In-game Design: Andrei Kaliukin; 2D Animations: Anton Lomakin; 3D Modeling: Yuri Tchernych; 3D Animations: Alexander Mialo; SOUND DESIGN (SHANGHAI: MAH-JONGG ESSENTIALS): BIG FAT KITTY PRODUCTIONS; President: William T. Blackwell III; Guy Who Actually Does the Work: Bill Black; Music Composer: Carey James Chico; GRAPHICS AND SOUND DESIGN (SHANGHAI: DYNASTY): PRESAGE SOFTWARE, INC.; Art Director: Steve Snyder; Senior Artists: Nina Chen Gentile, Garrick Damir; Artists/Animators: Ken Harris, Dan Barry; 3D Animator: Bill Hennes; Macromedia Director and Art Processing: Chris Thacker; After Effects Animator: Mike Terpstra; Audio Director: Paul Gorman; Voice-Over Director: Derek Sorrentino; Voiceover Recording Facilities: Laughing Tiger Studios (San Rafael, CA); Audio Engineer: Daniel Daniel; Audio Post Production Services Provided By: WaveGroup Sound (Santa Clara, CA); Audio Post Production Supervisor: James Allen; Sound Designers: Mark Lee, Akemi LeVa; Assistant Sound Editor: Rob Erdmann; Apprentice Sound Editors: Dave Crane, Sue Pelmulder; ACTIVISION Executive Vice President, Worldwide Studio: Mitch Lasky; Vice President, Production: Scott Lahman; Audio Video Studio Director: Larry Paolicelli; Manager, Product Development: Thaine Lyman; Additional Production: Eveline Cureteu, Ed Clune, Brian Bright; Additional Programming: Alexander Rohra, Ben Siron; International Marketing Manager, Germany: Andreas Stock; Product Manager, Germany: Achim Kaspers; Localisation Supervisor, UK: Peter Lykke Nielsen; Localisation Manager, Germany: Natascha Conrad; PR Manager, Germany: Markus Wilding; German Localisation: Effective Media; German Voice Recordings: M & S Music; MAH-JONGG JAPANESE VOICES RECORDING (ACTIVISION STUDIO-X JAPAN); Producer: Mika Hayashi; Production Coordinator: Ryan "Kame" Kamemoto; Production Assistant: Satomi Kadoi; Japanese Translation: Kirin Mochizuki; Japanese Voice Over Recording Facilities: MC2 Studios; Recording Director: Mieko Mochizuki; Sound Engineer: Keita Yanagida; Other Assistance: Ayumi Hata; MAH-JONGG INTERNATIONAL VOICES East (Cantonese): Samantha Wong; South (American): Chris Pflueger; West (American): Lisa Valdez; North (Japanese): Bruce Inoue; OTHER VOICES Deb Sale; QUALITY ASSURANCE Project Lead: Eric Lee; Senior Project Lead: Marietta Pashayan; Testers: Jeremy Gage, Jeff Spierer, Russell Johnson, Oussama Akiki, Chris Owens, Claude A. Conkrite Jr., Luke Kim, Sion Rodriguez Y Gibson, Chris Rangel, Kragen Lum, Mike Denny, Stephan Boisvert, Eric Baudoin, Richard Kurnadi, George Owens, Dustin Thomas; PC Compatibility Lead: John Fritts; Macintosh Compatibility Lead: Jesse Smith (Absolute Quality); Network Compatibility Lead: Chris Keim; Production Testers: Ian Stevens, Sean Hendon; External Test Coordinator: Stacey Drellishak; External Testers: Irene Alora, Dee Anderson, Chris Chao, Paul Chouy, Maxwell DeChant, Paul Dunlap, Judy Gates, Mitchell Goldman, Gary Gray, Clint Hastings, Adam Heller, Clayton Jung, Robert Lim, William Liu, Chris Massey, Heather Moses, Christopher Penney, Fred Philipp, Joseph Ruffolo, Theresa Spielbauer, Paul Spielbauer, Rex Thoman, Catherine Vargas, Timothy Wilson, Karen Woys, John Yan, Mike Zemina, Eric Zolnowski; PACKAGE, MANUAL, AND WEBSITE: IGNITED MINDS, LLC; Manual: Belinda M. Van Sickle, Mike Rivera; Package Design: Erik Jensen; Online Marketing Manager: David Vonderhaar; Online Coordinator: Maria Viola; Macintosh Installer: Sean Dunn; Mah-Jongg Experts: Lois Madow (American Mah-Jongg Association), Carol Kaiserman (Mah-Jongg Network), Ricky Shiraishi & Masakazu Teranishi (Sanctuary), Bernadette Wu Krug, Takeo Kojima (Jankou), Junko Takahashi (Mahjong Kobo Co.) ; Mah-Jongg Friends (Shanghai: Second Dynasty and Shanghai: Mah-Jongg Essentials): Carol Kaiserman, Freda Hoffman, Doris Klein, Patricia Clark, Riva Rose, Evelyn Gerber, Dorothy & Larry Krams, Laurie Cardone, Roz Levitt, Carla Strasburger, Belinda Van Sickle, James Hudson, Albert Fernandez, Debbie Gardner, Pam Carpenter, Laura Weisman, Paul Stainthorpe, Thaine Lyman, Sarah Cigliano, Judi Nachenberg, Andy Margolis, Enid Unatin, Judy Tell, P.J. Silverman, Sho Sasaki & Noriyuki Takasaki (Warashi), Masaaki Suzuki (Mahjong Kobo Co.), Kazuo Nii & Akito Takeuchi & Masato Kawai (Sunsoft), Keiji Sato & Hideyuki Matsumoto (Axela), Joyce McShane, Elizabeth Moran, Lila Latta, Hiroshi, Mari, Miki, Glassjaw Steve, Goko-san, Izumi-san (Chaya Brasserie), Alice Klein, Eileen; More Mah-Jongg Friends (Shanghai: Dynasty): Shintaro Yamakawa, Ken Sawamura, Toshikatsu Yamamoto, Hiroshi Seno, Takehisa Abe, Doris Waiyee Cheuk Sloper, Hayley Cheuk, Julia Chuck, Jeremy Ng, Ed Clune, Michael H. Douglas, Rosaline Wu, Samantha Lee, Angela Lee, Jean Powell, Kathy and Dave Teater, Jerome Chen, Alan Shiu Ho Kwan, Diane Nelson, Carolyn Pedego, Martin Rep, yobydderF, J. R. Fitch; Special Thanks: Neal Donner, Keith Small, Larry Goldberg, George Rose, Philippe Erwin, Dave Anderson, Kent Schuelke, Jim Riordan, Thaine Lyman, Ryh-Ming C. Poon, Jim Summers, Jason Wong, Eric Zala, Marilena Morini, Matt Powers, Tim Vanlaw, Mark Robertshaw, Josh Horowitz, Rob Andrakin, Indra Gunawan, Tanya Langston, Todd Komesu, Neil Barizo, Aaron King, Jenny Cassel, Juan Valdez, Sam Nouriani
~ Eric Caroen, All Game Guide
