Amstrad Shuffle

Copyright : Alpha Omega | Reviewed by : Malc Jennings

Another card game hits your CPC screen, since it?s release onto home computers this genre of game has never stopped being produced by small software houses and even being shipped with your top-spec PC as part of the operating system - strange fact that isn?t it.

Anyway Amstrad Shuffle is based on the classic game of patience, if you don?t know the rules try looking them up on Ask Jeeves or Google before playing. You are asked to select from 4 different styles of play, the 5th being 2 player only.

Graphics

Card games almost always reduce the staff of CPC Zone to complete and utter boredom within a few minutes of playing, this is one game that should be left on the table with real cards instead of creating home computer versions that are much more fun when played in real life with a real second player.

The graphics in Amstrad Shuffle aren?t exactly mind blowing, okay it?s a card game and we shouldn?t expect a large amount of detail or colours in this genre of game but if you look back through our review archives at other card games you?ll see that this one isn?t quite up to scratch, notice the lack of colour, the bog-standard layout and the lack of appeal the game gives to the player. Cascade have created better card games than this one while sleeping at their keyboards with one hand on the escape key.

Sound

Sound is as we would expect from this type of game, it?s very quiet indeed. This isn?t a bad thing in this style of game because it demands a little bit of attention from the player and doesn?t try to distract him/her from concentrating. There are a few sounds here and there, shuffle the pack and you?ll see what we mean but it?s nothing over the top or revolutionary.

Gameplay

If you can play Patience then I?m sure you?ll love this computerised version, you have the option of Column Patience, Clock Patience, Row Patience, Pairs and a 2 player version of Pairs to boot. It has to be said that a lot of effort has gone into providing these multiple choice versions of the game and to fit them all onto a single cassette is pretty clever indeed.

Those that like card games should feet right at home with this one despite the not so appealing graphics and lack of sound so we suggest that you at least try it before taking anybody elses opinion too heavily.