I'm a gamer of all kinds. Video games, obviously, but also board and especially card games. If only there was a game that, for example, brought 42 all-time classic pub and parlour games into one portable, multiplayer package. Something like Clubhouse Games for the Nintendo DS.
Card games, board games, even action games find a home here, in a package that introduces modern gamers to stalwarts of the tabletop. When times are you tough, and you don't know how to distract yourself, why not see what Clubhouse Games has to offer?
Fun Times
I didn't know what Clubhouse Games was all about until I read up on it, and then thought 'Hang on. I've got this somewhere.' Sure enough, 42 All-Time Classics, the European release, is sitting in my small DS collection. Time to put it into P2s 3DS and see what it's all about.
I've not used a 3DS, and it was a surprise to see a screenshot feature. Sadly, I couldn't seem to get it to work, so these screenshots are from an emulated Clubhouse Games. There's really no difference, except that instead of using a stylus, I'm using a mouse.
There are a few modes to play, but with games locked away behind our progress, I head to the Stamp mode. All the games, one by one, with stamps awarded for how well you do. The more stamps you get, the sooner you get to play something else, but pretty much anything you do will get you a stamp. Sounds good to me.
Each game comes with a set of rules that, if you're not familiar with Old Maid, you'll need to read up on before you begin. Pick a card, hope to form a pair, don't pick the Joker. Gotcha.
Old Maid sucks. What's next.
Russian Roulette in the form of Soda Shake. Shake the bottle as hard as you want (and it'll still be your turn if you don't shake it enough, so don't think you can just pass it on), if it pops, you've lost.
Frustrations
Some of these games are what you'd call 'rubbish'. Technically, they're well made. Simple enough to follow, clear instructions, pointers and hints if you get stuck, rules available at the touch of a button. Clubhouse Games probably does have something for everyone. It's a shame Old Maid and Soda Shake are our first introductions.
But it does get better.
Further Fun Times
Not sure why it's called 'Spit', but when it comes down to the final card, first to slam their card down to win, you can start to see how fun this game might well be in a multiplayer environment. It probably plays better physically, rather than on a DS, but if all you've got is a DS and not a deck of cards, a) why don't you have a deck of cards on you at all times, and b) I hope you've got someone with another DS nearby.
Games can be played with up to 8 players, if I remember that correctly, and can even be gifted to another player, installing a game on their DS for them to enjoy in their own time. That's neat.
Then Dots and Boxes appears in the lineup, and this is always fun, no matter what you call it. Again, better against human opponents, but still satisfying against the AI, even though they're currently on Easy difficulty. I wonder if you can change that on the fly, actually. Didn't wonder it at the time, though.
Cheater was next. Play cards sequentially, but if you doubt what a player puts down, you can call them out on it. If you're correct and they cheated, they pick up all the played cards. If you're wrong, you do. First to get rid of their hand wins.
Through what I can only assume to be a fluke, I was left with a single Queen in hand, and three CPU players bickering amongst themselves. CPU3 needs to play a 9, CPU2 needs to play a 10, CPU1 needs to play a Jack... I think I've got this.
A couple of games later is Grid Attack, which couldn't be named Battleship for reasons, and so could include some special shapes of attack to really hammer your opponent.
The final game in Level 1 was a word game. Some kind of multiplayer Hangman. It took me a while to get my head in this one, I must admit.
Well, we can still fight for second. Really wish I knew any words right about now.
Ah. Yeah. I see it...
After another game to get enough stamps to progress to level 2, I called time on Clubhouse Games.
Final Word
There's nothing really wrong with Clubhouse Games. It does what it says on the box, and it does it really well. For a quick little game of cards, darts, a word game, even bowling, this package is clearly head and shoulders above anything else, save for a dedicated game of cards, darts, a word game, or bowling.
If you just want something to keep you entertained for a bus ride (what are they again?) to work (is that related to a job?), then charge up your DS and fire up Clubhouse Games. You could do far worse.
The controls are simple, the variety of games appeals to many, yes you've got to work to unlock them, but you'll experience some absolute classics along the way. You might even be persuaded to play actual cards games with real people. Wouldn't that be nice?
Fun Facts
Those gifted games to another players' DS? They disappeared as soon as that DS was turned off, ensuring players got together to play often, or, of course, bought a copy for themselves. Smart, Nintendo.
Clubhouse Games, developed by Agenda, first released in 2005.
Version played: Clubhouse Games, Nintendo DS, 2006, via emulation.
42 All-Time Classics, Nintendo DS, 2006.