GamesRelay

Name: Solitaire

Solitaire is the card game most may remember coming pre-installed on their Windows based home PC at some point or another, it is with good question then why a game company would want to re-release the game as a paid for download when it's usually free, however, this version of solitaire has been added to the Nintendo Wii's WiiWare section. Solitaire on WiiWare comes in at 500 Wii Points which isn't too much considering what you're getting, GameOn haven't just released the basic Solitaire game on the Wii for users to enjoy either, they have added 18 Solitaire games in the 500 point package, giving players plenty of choice in what they wish to play.

While all the types of games included may not take everyone's fancy, there is surely something for all, particular highlights such as Freecell, Spider, Yukon and Pyramid are there for card fanatics to play through. Once you start the game from the Wii menu you are greeted with a set of virtual cards each specific to the type of game you wish to play such as Freecell for instance, what is particularly a nice feature which GameOn have added is allowing players to flip a card over and see the stats for that game type such as the length of time you'll be needing to get a full game in, and the skill involved to complete it. You can also sort the games according to set preferences such as the games rating or which game you have played the most.

Each of the games that are available can be customised to some extent such as the backgrounds which your cards are placed on or the pictures on the back of the cards, but what card game would be complete without a hint system? Thankfully one has been included for players who get stuck, the hint system itself only works on certain games and when it is available you have the ability to use up to three hints by clicking on a light-bulb icon in the bottom right of the screen. Clicking the light-bulb will flash a hinted card but the flash itself is barely noticeable which can become frustating, you'll have to remember to squint as you press the hint button so as not to miss it. GameOn have put a save feature in for you to use if you need to stop mid-way through a game and up to four profiles can be created to keep your scores on so you don't have to worry about anyone messing up your save games or stats.

The controls are fairly simple on Solitaire, and rightly so. You use the Wii Remote to navigate a pointer around, the A button is used to select and hold cards, moving a card is as simple as grabbing a-hold of it with the A button then dragging and releasing it wherever you want it to be. There is a tutorial system included on how the controls work within each games "how to play" screen which basically gives you a rundown of the controls you'll be using and the game itself.

Graphics and audio wise the game is quite sharp with large enough buttons not to be overwhelming or distracting, one great feature which has been added is a zoom system which lets you zoom in and pan around the screen with the Wii Remote, this is an excellent addition for those players who either have bad vision or don't have a large TV to play on since the cards themselves can be difficult to read if you are sitting far back on a small TV. Musically the game comes with 13 tracks to listen to, they are basic but that doesn't make them at all bad, they play subtly in the background so as not to be annoying or distracting plus you have the ability to customise the playlist if you so wish, so if there are any you don't particularly like then you can remove them from the playlist.

So has Solitaire been given a makeover worthy of a 500 point price tag? It certainly has even though it suffers from a few small niggles such as the hint system not being visable enough, but with the inclusion of 18 games to choose from, tracked statistics, a hint system and an easy to use interface the game is simple and fun for any card game fan. If you're a fan of card games then WiiWare's Solitaire is a must purchase.