Microsoft Entertainment Pack: The Puzzle Collection features games from the same ingenious creator behind Tetris: Alexey Pajitnov, so you can expect these games to be quite a brain exercise. The games featured are:
Fringer: The objective is to untie knots, but it’s a race against the clock. If you slip you will fall behind, but if you can keep a good pace you'll be playing for hours. This is the ultimate time killer. It can get repetitive though so I give it 6 out of 10.
Mixed Genetics: This is a chance to use your analytical skills to cure creatures by coming up with combinations of traits to create mutants. It’s fun and creative. I give it 8 out of 10.
Rat Poker: The objective is to capture rats to accumulate a winning poker hand. You have to keep a good pace or else you'll lose the match. This is a creative way to play poker. I give it 8 out of 10.
Color Collision: The name of the game is speed and unless you master quick evasive skills, you will, well collide. I give it 7 out of 10.
Jewel Chase: this is a good strategy game to kill time. I give it 8 out of 10.
Finty Flush: fun! I give it 6.5 out
of 10.
Charmer: charm the snake. I give it 5.5 out of 10.
Lineup: good gameplay. I give it 7.5 out of 10.
Spring Weekend: enjoy the weekend. I give it 6 out of 10.
Muddled Casino: creative casino style game. I give it 7.5 out of 10.
The graphics of these games are pretty low, but keep in mind the Microsoft Entertainment Pack: The Puzzle Collection was released over ten years ago. For its period the graphics are acceptable, and nonetheless the enjoyment of the games is in the challenges and creativity, not the realism.
The first time I encountered these games I was surprised, Microsoft offered anymore than Minesweeper, Solitaire, Hearts, and Freecell, all of which I had played to exhaustion. I began playing out of curiosity and to kill time and pretty soon I had spent many hours playing obsessively. As the levels advance each game becomes more challenging, and advancing becomes increasingly satisfying. The anticipation of reaching the next level makes these games highly addicting. As the creators say: "Games so challenging, the Challenge is to Stop."
I absolutely recommend this download to anyone who enjoys a challenge and who has spent countless hours playing the basic 4 games offered with each Windows operation system: Minesweeper, Solitaire, Hearts, and Freecell.
