The Solitare Game

[lunaleaf_]

Hey all,

Wanting to find to information about the solitaire minigame in this wonderful game.
In particular, what type of solitaire is it? I know there are different games (freecell, spider, ect)
Does this one have a name? Is it an original idea?

The stylings are very different from western card games, so I'm wondering if I'm searching in the wrong places. As a lot of the games I'm finding use the kind of 'poker cards' I've been used to seeing my entire life.

[LaChouette]

I think it's an original idea. It's played with Kabufuda cards (10 sets of 4 identical cards).
You simply need to group up those cards. You can only put a card on another card that's identical or on an empty slot. Finishing a set of 4 on an empty slot will fill that slot, meaning you can't use it anymore.
There's a total 8 regular slots and 4 free cells. The free cells can be used to either store one card, or store a full set. No 2 or 3 cards there.
Finally, while on easy difficulty, all 4 cells are available, harder difficulties lock up to 3 of them. To unlock a locked cell, you need to finish a set on a regular slot.

I'd say it's the hardest mini-game I've seen in a Zachtronics game, which might also explain why the achievement is for 1 victory in expert mode, and there are no achievements for 10 or 100 victories.

[BigBlueWolf]

Originally posted by LaChouette:

To unlock a locked cell, you need to finish a set on a regular slot.

At first I didn't understand this mechanic. The realized after winning on easy that it only becomes available beginning at medium difficulty.

[Trent]

Can you play the mini-game any time you want (say, from the menu once you've gotten to that part) or to continue the story, do you have to move on and not be able to revisit the mini-game? Thanks.

[Ozone]

This solitaire game is very good.
Zachtronic always make interesting solitaire games in their games.
But this one really got me thinking hard at times. :)

[Trent]

Yep, I should have followed up that I beat the game on Expert and got my achievement. It's available at almost any time during the game.