• $20

• Layout editor
• Multiple tile sets

• Takes up a lot of space
• Timer problems

Design:
Cost/benefit:
Coolness:
Overall:

Game Play
In Shanghai, the goal is to remove all of the tiles as quickly as possible. To remove a tile you must find a match for it, and both tiles must be "free". For a tile to be free it needs to have either its left or its right side completely untouched by other tiles, and there can't be any tiles on top of it. Naturally, some tiles get caught in a pattern which makes it impossible to win. Once you've been playing for awhile you start to work faster and you may be able to clear all of the tiles in under a minute.

The options list is extensive and includes different tile sets, layouts, unique twists on the game. For example you can set it so that a pair is removed when two tiles are within three spaces of each other, rather then when they have a free side.

Layouts
There are a lot of layouts, and a lot of them are quite unique. Some represent shapes and pictures, others are a bit more random. The layouts are divided into different difficulty levels, with a set of simpler layouts geared towards kids.

The layouts can be selected individually or played in order. There's also a feature to have them play through randomly. I like the random feature, although I wish you could select which layouts are randomly used instead of all of them.

A really neat feature of the layouts is that you can create new ones! If you get bored of the default tile set you can make new ones. The editor is a little clumsy to work with at first, but it does come in handy.

Graphics
Shanghai has one default tile set, but you can instal additional tile sets which are included in the download file.

The default set doesn't have splendid graphics, and some of the tile sets leave a bit to be desired. my favorite set is "Japanese," but "Calculate" gives you an extra chance to think. Overall the graphics aren't great, but they're not horrible either.

Miscellaneous
Shanghai is a great program, and there are a few other things, both good and bad, worth mentioning. Although the game is good, it definitely takes up a chunk of space. The program is just under 200k, but the data takes up a fair amount. The combined result can be over half a Meg of space. Also, the timer for the games can be a little troublesome. As soon as you end a game, there will be a little confirmation for a new game. Unfortunately, the clock for the next game will start ticking before you hit OK. And if you turn your palm off during a game it won't pause the clock. So an hour later the clock is still going as if you never took a break.

Another notable thing is the highscore board. Its a wonderful feature, and it helps you keep track of your best times. Unfortunately the highscore board can't be divided based on the layout, but it still comes in handy.

Conclusion
Shanghai is a good game, and it will eat away those boring minutes where you just need to play a game. At just $20 it's a good deal, and definitely worth it for people who like this type of game.