^3^W^HGAME REVIEW 
^6^wDRAGON, The Chinese Challenge 
^hby Terry R Fowler

     ^0^YDRAGON is a new game from Reedy Software which consists of a board of 144 tiles that must be removed by matching pairs.  "The Dragon" is a formation of tiles laid out on the screen, but stacked from one to five tiles high.  The Dragon is built as the computer first mixes the tiles, and then paints each tile on the screen.  You see 96 tiles with different characters and symbols revealed.  The stacks are three dimensional in that the thickness of the lower right side allows you to tell how high the stack is.  The program awaits your command.

     A red selector may be moved about the tiles to select a match.  Press the return key at each tile and the tiles will highlighted first and then removed from the board.  If, however, a tile is surrounded by tiles of equal or greater height then the tile may not be removed.  Of the 144 tiles are included some tiles with exceptions or that match more than one tile.  The game is quite interesting and challenging, especially since it has been handed down from the Chinese game called Mah-Jongg, some call it Shanghai.  Whatever, it is fun to play.

     Special features are built in, too.  Press ESCAPE key and a SmartKEY Menu pops up revealing the number of Tiles left and some interesting options.  I - Control: gives you the choice of using the ADAM keyboard or the #1 (front) hand controller for playing the game.  The initial control setting is keyboard.  Press I and all control will switch to the hand controller.  II - Start New Game.  III - Restart Same Game.  IV - Quit.  V - Back Up One Move: you can repeat this option until all 144 tiles are back on the board.  VI - Show All Moves: useful if you are stuck and can find no more free matches.  It will systematically search out and display all free matches and display a message when it can find no more.  When matches are found, both are highlighted.  You then continue the game.  

     During different points in the game DIALOG BOXES are drawn on the screen.  They may tell you something or ask a question, awaiting a reply, then disappear.  Moving the highlight box over your reply (Yes or No) allows your input.  This gives the game and player variety and freshness that keeps interest longer.  

     DRAGON, The Chinese Challenge provides several ways that two (or more) players can compete in DRAGON.  Since the same game can be replayed the game can be played for most number of tiles removed.  Or, the time between each move can be limited with forfeit of your turn the resulting penalty.  However you play the game it will capture your attention.  $19.95 in stock! 
 
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