Overview – developed by ZOO Corporation and published by Eastasiasoft, Delicious! Pretty Girls Mahjong Solitaire is a simple yet challenging tile matching puzzle title with a mature twist. Match the tiles on screen to remove them from the screen, unlocking new and increasingly risqué outfits as you progress. This title is available for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, links to each version of the game will be available at the bottom of this review.
Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank Eastasiasoft for providing the copy of Delicious! Pretty Girls Mahjong Solitaire that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.
Mature Content Warning: this title has been rated Mature. The recommended age for players of this game is 17+. There is partial nudity and sexual themes throughout, with no way to censor it. if you are offended by sexual content or are under the recommended age for this title, discretion is advised.
Now with the introductions out of the way, I will be moving straight into the gameplay section as there is an absence of any story in this title.
Gameplay – this title is a simple tile matching puzzle called Mahjong Solitaire also commonly known as Shanghai (the name of the first widely released game in the genre), where the objective is to clear all the tiles on screen to win. To be able to select a tile, there must be an open space on the left or right and no tiles on top. However, if there are no possible matches the stage cannot be completed and the player gets a game over, adding strategy to the gameplay.
Before jumping into the puzzles, players must choose one of seven girls (with two unlockable bonus girls), each with their own set of stages. A stage is made up of three rounds and by clearing all of the rounds the player unlocks a new costume for that girl, with each outfit getting more risqué as the stages progress. The images unlocked by completing the stages are added to the dressing room gallery, where they can be viewed freely by the player.
There is two ways to play Delicious! Pretty Girls Mahjong Solitaire. The first option is the casual and relaxed easy mode, where the player can get hints and shuffle the tiles without a time limit. The other choice is the standard setting with a time limit and score system, but the hints and shuffle option is not available. The two settings both have their layouts randomized, with a lot of luck and tactical/strategic thinking factoring into the success of the player.
There is a lot of variety to the designs of the girls, adding a little something for all fans of anime fanservice. The puzzles have a good amount of challenge to them, but I do feel that they are more dependent on luck rather than skill sometimes. There is plenty of content for players to enjoy, including an online leaderboard system for competitive players and the variety of costumes to unlock is an enticing bonus to keep playing the game.
With the gameplay covered , I will be moving onto the other aspects of the game starting with the controls.
Controls – this title has a simple control method, using a cursor and button inputs when played in handheld and on the big screen. The only downside to this is that the cursor can be a little slow, but there is a remedy to this. When in handheld, the touchscreen can be used, offering greater a greater amount of control and precision to the player.
Presentation – the visual style for this title is beautiful, using anime styled artwork that has a high quality to it and each girl has their own unique look that fits their archetype. The music is pleasing to listen to, featuring a selection of electronic tracks that bring both excitement and a relaxing atmosphere to this title. Each of the girls has voice lines that they will say during play, all voiced in Japanese and tying the experience together.
Final Thoughts – I haven’t played a Mahjong solitaire title in a long time and puzzle titles aren’t my preferred genre. However, I enjoyed my time with this release, the gimmick of revealing outfits wasn’t intrusive and gave a pleasant incentive to continue playing. I can happily recommend this title to fans of puzzle titles and fanservice games in general. The only downsides are the slow cursor speed and reliance on luck for the majority of the game.
In the end, I give Delicious! Pretty Girls Mahjong Solitaire a final score of 4/5. The gameplay is fun and the relaxed nature of the easy setting can allow everyone a chance at success, with a global leaderboard for those who want a more competitive experience. The unlockable costumes add an incentive for players to keep going, alongside a low price point for the content on offer. If you want to check this game out for yourself, links to both versions of the game will be below.
Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)
Link to PlayStation 4 version (HERE)
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