I'm still not Board with it (42 All Time Classics (DS))

Member Name: SWSt

Product:	42 All Time Classics (DS)
Date:	11/08/09 (43 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good value for money, Good long term playability, plenty of variety in game modes

Disadvantages: Games can be a little confusing, average graphics and awful sound, couple of duff titles

No-one could accuse the box of 42 All Time Classics to be misleading. It does exactly what it says on the tin and crams 42 well-known board games and card games into a single DS game.

For the most part, this is a good little title providing excellent value for money. It's a fun and addictive game with plenty to entertain young and old alike. The game is implemented very well, and whilst it might lack a certain amount of polish, provides hours of good, solid fun. Importantly, since there is such variety, it also offers plenty of long-term playability and is one of those titles you're likely to return to from time to time, rather than one which will lie ignored in a corner once completed.

There's quite a lot of variety amongst the 42 games, so there will always be something that will appeal to everyone. For those who like card games, there are versions of blackjack, poker, Hearts and others. If you're a board game fiend, familiar titles like Ludo, chess or checkers put in an appearance, whilst there's also a smattering of more arcade-y titles, like ten pin bowling, darts and billiards. Some of the titles offer greater depth and playability, but there are few which are awful.

Initially loading up the game can be a little daunting. After all, with 42 games available, where do you start? To help you, there are a number of different game modes. In Single Mode, you choose a specific game from the menu or (and this would be my recommendation) you can start by playing Stamp Mode, which is a good way to introduce you to what's available. Here, you play each game in turn and are awarded stamps depending on where you finish. To move onto the next game, you need to acquire 3 stamps (you get at least one stamp even if you finish last!) The big advantage to this mode is that you quickly identify the games you enjoy and can then play them in Single Mode whenever you fancy. The downside is that you are automatically moved on to the next game when you have three stamps, with no option to have another go of the game you have just finished.

There is also Mission Mode where you have to beat particular scores or time limits. Whilst this adds a certain amount of fun, it's probably my least favourite since I prefer to play the games using their normal rules, rather than introducing additional challenges. It somehow feels a little artificial to introduce time limits or score challenges to this type of game, although some will relish the chance to beat their own records.

There's also an online mode where you can play against people from around the world. I can't comment on how well this works, as I haven't used it, but it's useful if you want to have a multiplayer game, but have no-one to play against.

The various games are, for the most part, very well implemented, although there are a couple of exceptions. The card and board games prove particularly suited to the DS - graphically simple but horrendously addictive. It can sometimes be a little tricky working out the rules if you are not already familiar with them, but you soon get the hang of things. There are instructions for each game, which can be called up at any time, but to be honest these can sometimes be a little confusing, and it's best just to dive straight in and start playing. You soon realise what you need to do and the game gives you hints along the way.

Fans of particular games may be frustrated to see that some of the rules have been simplified (in Blackjack, for example, you can't split a hand if you get two of the same number). Settings for some of the titles can be changed, but obviously, it's not possible to implement every version of the rules. This can have the effect of simplifying some of the games, which may frustrate more advanced players, although most will probably not notice it.

The sedate pace of the games means that the controls generally work very well. -Touching a card or game piece selects it and allows you to drag it to where you want it to be. There are a couple of games which are not quite so successful, though. Darts, proves tricky to judge the direction and strength of your throw and there's a slightly arbitrary feel to where your dart ends up, removing the skill element unless you invest a lot of time mastering it. The in-game physics on Billiards is awful, rendering it virtually unplayable. Still, 2 slightly duff games out of 42 ain't bad!

42 All Time Classics is actually a fairly old DS title and it shows. Graphics are functional rather than spectacular, although in fairness, there's only so much you can do with a pack of cards or a game board! Even so, they do their job well. They are clear and easy to see with a colour scheme that is generally easy on the eye and simple to follow what is going on.

Just occasionally, the presentation can be confusing. In multi-player card games, for example, your computer opponents play their cards so fast that it can be tricky to see follow the each player's turn. This is particularly frustrating if you observing your opponents to try and pick up the rules. Of course, it's a fine balance because if you allow the computer too much time to "think", you can get bored waiting for it to take its turn. There were times, though, when the game seemed to pass by in a confusing blur and I wasn't at all sure what had happened.

Sound is probably the biggest let-down. The awful cheesy music and puny sound effects grate on the ear. It's so bad that the first thing I usually do before loading up this game is turn down the volume on my DS so that I can play on in blissful silence!

This is a perfect holiday game and one which is ideally suited to the DS. There's a huge amount of variety without the need to lug around loads of equipment and game boards. It's a title that you'll return to time and again for a quick game of Blackjack or chess. Throw in the online mode and the ability to play against other DS owners and 42 All Time Classics proves to be a solid, enjoyable, undemanding little title.

You can pick this game up for around £17 or so now, which works out at around 40p a game. Even allowing for the fact some are more enjoyable than others, that's pretty good value for money.

© Copyright SWSt 2009

Summary: 40p a game is good value by anyone's standards