Every once in a while a game comes along that's so engrossing you simply can't put it down.
iPad gamers might’ve experienced this with titles like PopCap's Plants vs. Zombies, Chillingo's Angry Birds and Halfbrick Studios' Jetpack Joyride, to name a few digital downloads.
Now you can add Big Fish Games' Fairway Solitaire HD to that coveted list.
It's a solitaire card game that folds in a golf theme, virtual money, power-ups and a story surrounding a meddling gopher named McDivot. The result is a fun, challenging and highly addictive game.
As you'll see in the tutorial (dubbed "The Golf Academy"), the game rules are very simple: You're presented with a number of face-down and face-up cards, laid out in a specific pattern, and you must tap on a card that's one higher or one lower than your card at the bottom of the screen.
For example, if you flip an 8, you can tap on a 7 or 9, and you'll earn more points by making a run on the board; a good run might be something like 8, 7, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J and Q. It's also possible to rollover, such as Q, K, A, 2, 3, or the other way around. If you can't tap on any more cards, you'll flip one over from the deck at the bottom of the screen. Tapping on cards might also reveal face-down cards underneath, and removing all the board cards before you reach the end of your deck nets you a perfect score.
Because there's a golf theme, you're also making shots by playing well. Create one of those long chains and you'll earn money that can be used to purchase new clubs. For example, on the board you might see the cards 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 – so in this instance you can tap on the "4" in your golf bag, when needed. Sand traps and water hazards must also be cleared on the board. The golf theme also includes the ability to take a mulligan if you make a mistake, you can purchase power-ups in the Golf Shop for special shots and there are golf mini-games like Mini-Putt and Long Drive-like exercises. There's also humorous commentary on your performance by two broadcasters. If you see the pesky golf pop up while playing solitaire, tap him for a bonus.
Not only is there a lot of content here—60 courses (350 holes) in total, and with occasional cartoon cut-scenes that continues the story – but the 250MB download is also very replayable as you can earn up to three stars per hole by playing well. The game is also available for iPhone and iPod touch, too.
Fairway Solitaire HD also offers more than 30 trophies and World Records, though some might be disappointed at the lack of Game Center support in the iPad version, for those who enjoy comparing scores and posting challenges and achievements with friends on Apple's multiplayer network.
Even if you're not a fan of golf, if you enjoy playing solitaire and want to try a smart new spin on the game, with high production values and a cute story, you'll have a blast with Fairway Solitaire HD for the iPad.
And good luck with getting anything done in the coming months.
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