Bicycle Board Games
by Microsoft
(Click here)
Product Summary
Brand: MicrosoftAudio: English (Original Language)
Format: CD-ROM
Release Date: 2001-11-15
Platform: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me
Publisher: Microsoft
Product features:
- Collection of 15 classic board games
- From the simplicity of Cross and Circles to the complexity of Chess
- Five new games
- Ten improved games
- For 1 or 2 players
Video Game Reviews of Bicycle Board Games
Customer Review: Good selection, but Backgammon weak
Summary: 3 Stars
This package contains a good selection of popular board games. The graphics are good, if unexciting. The same applies to the music and sound effects. The controls are simple and intuitive, and there are tutorials for all the games. Installation was straightforward.
The opponent characters are annoying and repetitive, but they can be turned off or muted. An online option would have been nice, but the game never pretended to have one. For me, the biggest problem is the weakness of the backgammon game.
Backgammon is the only game in this selection that I am very experienced at. I've never played in a tournament, but I've been playing on-and-off for most of my life, both in real life, online, and against computer opponents. I consider myself quite a strong player. While I did not buy this package specifically to play Backgammon, the quality of its game was obviously important to me. Unfortunately, you would have to be a very weak player to find it much of a challenge on the highest skill level, 'Expert'. If I played ten games at this level and only won eight, I would think I was having a very bad day. The two supposedly lower skill levels seem to play exactly the same; if you selected the 'Random' skill level option, You would not be able to tell which level you were playing against on a given game. This is a fatal problem, and the graphics and sound simply can't make up for it. If only some of the resources dedicated to the opponent characters were used to improve the opponent AI! There are a large number of superior backgammon games on the market. I would recommend Quick (formerly Geert's) Backgammon, a very small (about 480k installed), no-frills programme that plays a decent game. The graphics and sound are very basic, the controls are not very intuitive (but easy enough to learn), and it would probably still not be enough of a challenge for a very advanced player; but when it comes to gameplay, it beats Bicycle's version hands down.
The other games are fun enough at my skill level, hence the relatively favourable score I've given the package overall. I don't know if I would feel the same if I was more experienced with any of them. I am not familiar enough with similar board games compendiums to recommend any alternatives.
Promotions - For Editorial Games
Computer and Video Games
Bestsellers in Promotions - For Editorial Games
Halo 3Microsoft; Microsoft; Release date: 2007-09-25; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $32.95
Price in other shops:
Xbox 360 Arcade Holiday BundleMicrosoft; Microsoft; Release date: 2008-10-08; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $194.99
Price in other shops:
Xbox 360 Live 1600 PointsMicrosoft; Microsoft Software; Release date: 2006-06-15; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $17.95
Price in other shops:
Xbox 360 Wireless ControllerMicrosoft; Microsoft Software; Release date: 2005-11-15; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $24.99
Price in other shops:
Xbox 360 Pro Holiday Bundle 2008 Includes 60GB Hard DriveMicrosoft; Microsoft; Release date: 2008-10-08; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $299.99
Gears of War 2 Limited EditionMicrosoft; Microsoft; Release date: 2008-11-07; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $69.53
Price in other shops:
Xbox 360 Live 12 Month Gold Card plus 1 Month BonusMicrosoft; Microsoft Software; Release date: 2005-11-15; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $37.50
Price in other shops:
Gears of War 2Microsoft; Microsoft; Release date: 2008-11-07; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $57.79
Price in other shops:
Fable II, Limited Collector's EditionMicrosoft; Microsoft; Release date: 2008-10-21; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $67.45
Price in other shops:
Fable IIMicrosoft; Microsoft; Release date: 2008-10-21; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $51.99
Price in other shops: