Shanghai II: Dragon’s Eye is a very simple puzzle game. It isn’t really a sequel as much as it is a graphical improvement over the previous game. This is a fun little puzzle game, but it lacks content.
This is a version of Mahjong Solitaire. There are a few different layouts, but it is essentially the same thing. This is a step back from what the first game had.
I like this game, but it gets repetitive. Shanghai can be fun for a while, and it is an addictive puzzle game. There just needs to be something else besides what is offered here.
TLDR: The best part of this game is the visuals. They can keep you entertained for a while.
Narrative
There isn’t a story here. It looks like there should be one, but nothing is shown in the game. I went ahead and checked the manual to see if I was missing something. Well, the story of how the game came to be is presented to the player. I have no idea how accurate it is, but who really cares (Link). This is the SNES manual, and I have no idea where to find the scans of the Genesis manual.
Gameplay
The gameplay is very simple, and there aren’t too many game modes. This is a fairly disappointing game because of the lack of content. I like the gameplay, but there simply isn’t enough of it.
Shanghai, or Mahjong Solitaire, is an extremely simple game. All you have to do is match the tiles until you clear the game board. There are a few layouts in the game, but that is it for a single player mode.
The two player mode sounds interesting, but it requires two players. It is a real shame because that mode should’ve been the story mode or something like that. This is really it, as the game doesn’t have anything else to offer.
Overall, the gameplay is fun. This isn’t the puzzle game that I would consider going back to. If there were more game modes, then this would’ve been a much better game. With so little content, this is a rather disappointing game.
Visuals
The graphics are the best part of this game. It is a relaxing looking game that goes along with the simple gameplay. The tiles are easy to identify, and the little animations on them are cute. I wish there were more to this game.
The graphics are bright and colorful, as well as relaxing. I really like the game board and the animations on the tiles when you get a match. Each of them is a little different, and they look cute at times. It also helps that you need to keep your eyes open, as some of the tiles look similar enough.
Overall, the graphics are great. I like how everything looks. Many of the tiles have a similar look, which makes you concentrate on what you’re doing. The animations also look very good and add something cute to the game.
6/10. There just isn’t too much to this game. If there were more game modes or a story, then there would be something here. You have one single player mode and one two player mode.
Pros
- Good Controls
- Simple Gameplay
- Relaxing Graphics
Cons
- Few Game Modes
- Very repetitive
Conclusion
This and the Master System version are like night and day. The Master System game has way more content than this one does. I wanted to like Shanghai II, but there isn’t too much here.
The third game in the series was the one that got me interested in these puzzle games. Shanghai III was a lot of fun, and one of the few Sega Saturn games that I’ve played. It was something completely different from what I normally played, and it helped me to relax at a time when I really needed it.
Shanghai II was in dire need of another game mode. Activision published this game, and they clearly didn’t care too much about it. When a Master System game has more features than a Genesis game, that is a problem.
If you liked this post, check out some of my other reviews of retro games. Here are some examples: Final Fantasy Mystic Quest and Inindo: Way of the Ninja.