Summary
- Release Year: 1983
- Genres: Card & Board Game
- Platforms: Family Computer, Family Computer Disk System, Nintendo Entertainment System
- Developers: Nintendo R&D1
- Publishers: Nintendo
Mah Jong (1983): A Classic Famicom Game
Mah Jong is a tile-matching game based on the popular Chinese table game of the same name. It was released by Nintendo for the Famicom and Famicom Disk System in 1983, and was one of the earliest titles for both systems. The game allows for two players to play at once, which is two less than the regular Mahjong game. The game was released for the NES in Hong Kong only, featuring an English manual.
Gameplay
The goal of Mah Jong is to be the first player to complete a hand of 14 tiles. Tiles are drawn from a central pool, and players can meld tiles into sets of three or four tiles. Sets can be either melds (three or four of a kind) or runs (three or more tiles in sequence).
There are two types of melds: concealed melds and exposed melds. Concealed melds are sets that are not revealed to the other player until they are used to complete a hand. Exposed melds are sets that are revealed to the other player as soon as they are formed.
Runs can only be formed with tiles of the same suit. For example, a player could form a run with the tiles 2-3-4 of bamboo.
Once a player has completed a hand, they must declare “Mah Jong” and show their hand to the other player. If the hand is valid, the player wins the game.
Tiles
There are 144 tiles in a Mah Jong game. The tiles are divided into three suits: bamboo, characters, and circles. There are also four special tiles: the East Wind, South Wind, West Wind, and North Wind.
Each suit has tiles numbered from 1 to 9. There are also two special tiles for each suit: the Dragon and the Bird.
The East Wind, South Wind, West Wind, and North Wind tiles are used to indicate the direction of the wind. The wind direction determines which player is the dealer and which player goes first.
Strategy
There are many different strategies that can be used to win at Mah Jong. Some players prefer to focus on concealed melds, while others prefer to focus on exposed melds. Some players also prefer to go for runs, while others prefer to go for sets.
The best strategy for winning at Mah Jong is to be adaptable and to be able to adjust your strategy based on the tiles that you draw and the tiles that your opponent discards.
History
Mah Jong is a game with a long and storied history. The game is believed to have originated in China during the Ming Dynasty. The game quickly became popular throughout Asia, and it was eventually introduced to the West in the early 20th century.
Mah Jong was first released for the Famicom in 1983. The game was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to popularize the Famicom in Japan. Mah Jong was later released for the NES in Hong Kong only, featuring an English manual.
Legacy
Mah Jong is a classic Famicom game that is still enjoyed by many people today. The game is simple to learn but difficult to master, and it offers a great deal of replay value. Mah Jong is a great choice for fans of strategy and tile-matching games.
Conclusion
Mah Jong is a classic Famicom game that is still enjoyed by many people today. The game is simple to learn but difficult to master, and it offers a great deal of replay value. Mah Jong is a great choice for fans of strategy and tile-matching games.
Review Score
7/10
