Shanghai (Japan)

Shanghai for the NES (Japanese version) is a classic Mahjong Solitaire puzzle game where the primary objective is for the player to clear all tiles from an intricately arranged layout. The game begins with a stack of Mahjong tiles piled up in various shapes and patterns, commonly the "turtle" formation or other structures.

To remove a pair of tiles, they must be identical and must be "free". A tile is considered free if it is not blocked on both its left and right sides, and no other tile is resting on top of it. Players use the D-pad to move a cursor and the A (or B) button to select the first tile, then select a second identical and free tile. If the two selected tiles are valid, they disappear from the screen.

The challenge in Shanghai lies in its strategic depth. Players cannot simply remove any pair they see. Careless removal of tiles can lead to blocking crucial other tiles, leaving no more free pairs to remove and forcing the player to restart the layout. Therefore, looking several moves ahead and prioritizing the removal of tiles that unblock more options is crucial.

The NES version of Shanghai typically features several different tile layouts, adding to the challenge and replayability. While there's no complex narrative, the game's appeal lies in its simple yet addictive gameplay, requiring high levels of concentration, pattern recognition, and strategic thinking. The ultimate goal is to clear the entire board, providing a satisfying sense of accomplishment upon solving a complex puzzle.