Last year, Windows Phone Central brought you an exclusive interview about a Windows Phone 8 title called Fairway Solitaire from Big Fish Games (and ported by Babaroga). Fairway is actually one of the games that Microsoft used during their Windows Phone 8 reveal event to exemplify how quick and easy porting from iOS to Windows Phone 8 can be. Funny thing is: Fairway Solitaire was slated to be a launch window game for the new mobile OS, but it has actually taken far longer than to port.
As a matter of fact, Big Fish Games has just published Fairway Solitaire for both Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 in celebration of E3 2013. The bad news is they published it as an indie title instead of an Xbox game as originally planned. But on the happy side, Fairway plays great and we’ve got an exclusive video in which Big Fish’s Patrick Wylie walks us through the game’s features. Check it out after the break!
One part golf, one part solitaire
A lot of people love the card game solitaire, but many others like yours truly find it dreadfully boring. Big Fish knows this, and so they’ve wisely chosen to spice solitaire up by combining it with the game of golf. Every level in Fairway Solitaire represents a golf hole, and the number of cards remaining on the hole when the last draw card gets flipped represents shots over par. Clear every card from the green and you’ll earn a perfect score.
On top of that, various cards on the playing field represent sand traps and other golfing situations. Clear them away or clear a high number of cards in a row to score bonuses. You’ll even get to play a putting minigame. Players can earn clubs or purchase them from the in-game store. Irons have numbers on them and basically allow you to keep a streak going without taking a card from the draw pile.
Completing holes rewards players with golf bucks which can be spent in the store. In the store, you’ll find items that grant permanent bonuses like slowing down the various minigames to make them easier, multiple types of hints, or removing rough cards from the field. Players can opt to buy golf bucks with real money, and some shop items only cost real money. But In App Purchases (IAPs) are never required to enjoy the game.
Rodent trouble
Fairway Solitaire has a fun little storyline involving a gopher who hates golfers – kinda like that movie Caddyshack that I never saw. The story comes to life through a cartoon introduction and intermissions, one of which you can view within our hands-on video. The gopher bits help provide that all-important personality that other solitaire games usually lack. Additionally, announcers provide full voice commentary during gameplay to lend the golfing aspect more authenticity.
Hop on the fairway
Fairway Solitaire is a free download on both Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8, but the initial download actually just functions as a demo. To play the full game, you’ll need to make an IAP from the title screen for $1.99. Considering the wealth of content Fairway contains, that’s not a bad price at all.
- Fairway Solitaire – Windows Phone 8 – 225 MB – Store Link
- Fairway Solitaire – Windows 8 – 231 MB – Store Link
