Jongbou (Japan)

Jongbou is a Japanese Mahjong game released for the NES console. The game immerses players in traditional Mahjong matches, where the primary objective is to form winning hands (known as "yaku") from 13 or 14 tiles. The gameplay of Jongbou adheres to the basic rules of Japanese Mahjong (Riichi Mahjong), which include drawing tiles, discarding tiles, and calling actions such as Pung (three identical tiles), Kong (four identical tiles), Chi (three consecutive tiles), Riichi (declaring readiness to win), Ron (winning from another player's discard), and Tsumo (winning from your own draw).

Players will compete against three computer opponents, each potentially having a different playing style. The game's interface is quite simple, suitable for the NES's hardware limitations, clearly displaying the tiles in the player's hand, the discarded tiles of all players, and score information. Controls are handled via the NES controller, allowing players to select tiles to discard or perform calling actions when opportunities arise.

The strategic element in Jongbou is very high. Players need to carefully consider which tiles to keep and which to discard, both to build a strong hand for themselves and to prevent opponents from completing their hands. Reading opponents through their discards is also a crucial skill. While there is an element of luck in drawing tiles, a deep understanding of yaku, the ability to calculate probabilities, and making quick decisions will largely determine the outcome of the game. Jongbou offers an authentic and challenging Mahjong experience for fans of the genre on a classic platform.