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1500DS Spirits: Mahjong V (widely used English translation. Original name is "1500 DS spirits: 麻雀V") is a Japan exclusive mahjong game. It is part of a large series of Nintendo DS titles which focus on table games all labeled 1500DS Spirits and created and published by Tasuke Co. Ltd.. This game is a special addition version of 1500DS Spirits: Vol 1 Mahjong and has extra added features compared to that game. This game used 1500DS Spirits: Vol 1 Mahjong as a base for this game so it has some similarities to this game including borrowed modes and assets.
Official Description[]
""Variety Mahjong" that covers all mahjong play styles is now available! You can enjoy "Authentic 4-player Mahjong", "2-player Mahjong" which is extremely popular at game arcades, and "3-player Mahjong" with powerful moves that are rare in games.
All of these mahjong styles can be played in a single software with communication play. Of course, the mission clear type "Challenge Mode", "Full-fledged League Match Mode", and "What are you waiting for? Quiz Mode" are installed, so there are many modes that you can enjoy even by yourself.
There is also a "rule explanation mode" that is safe for beginners, so it is useful for learning about role explanations and mark calculations. It is also highly recommended for those who are new to mahjong.
In addition to full-fledged four-player mahjong, it also features saury (three-player mahjong), which is rare in games, and two-player mahjong that you can enjoy like an arcade!
You can enjoy all mahjong games with this one.
Of course, you can also play online matches with your friends with one software." - Sourced from Official Japanese Nintendo site (Google Translated)
Gameplay[]
Some gameplay modes are the same or mostly the same as in the 1500DS Spirits: Vol 1 Mahjong video game. V stands for "Variety" as this game aims to have more styles of gameplay than the previous mahjong game including more rule sets (see sources for more detailed gameplay info).
Gameplay Modes[]
Free Play[]
This mode allows you to play with whatever options you want. You select a character and you can play with 2, 3 or 4 players against ai opponents with whatever ruleset you choose. 2 player and 3 player modes are exclusive to V edition.
Challenge Mode[]
This mode gives you 30 total missions (6 per difficulty level) each with a special goal as well as winning the match. There are 5 difficulty levels with the last one being hidden and is unlocked after finishing the 4th difficulty level. Even though this mode is in the previous game, there are more missions here.
League Match (Tournament) Mode[]
This is the main mode of the game and is single player. Here you pick a character and play vs ai players in various 4 player matches increasing in difficulty to win a Mahjong tournament. There are 6 total competitors including you and each competitor does 4 matches with 2 rounds on each to complete the league. If you win the league you will be promoted to a higher level league. There 3 levels of league; Amateur League, Semi-Pro League and finally Pro League. Winning the final league unlocks a couple new characters.
Quick Quiz Mode (AKA Waits Mode)[]
Challenge yourself with this fast paced special quiz exclusive to the V edition. You can select a character and then you have 20 stages. You have 10 seconds to choose the right tile amongst 4 choices to complete the hand to make a winning hand of mahjong.
Multiplayer[]
You can play 2, 3 or 4 player matches using download play to play with others with DS consoles but who don't own the game. 2 player and 3 player are exclusive to V edition.
Development[]
Borrowed Assets from Previous Games[]
This game was created using music, graphics, gameplay and other assets borrowed from previously released titles made by Tasuke. Most of the game was borrowed directly from 1500DS Spirits: Vol 1 Mahjong which was released on August 9th 2007 and then edited and added to from there to create this game. This game also has assets borrowed from 1500DS Spirits: Vol 9 - 2 Futari Uchi Mahjong which was released on November 22nd 2007 for the 2 player mode included. However, all games included in the 1500DS Spirits individual titles series were all also borrowing from a table game compilation game on the Nintendo DS before all these known as Table Game Spirits released on November 10th 2005. The individual titles added a lot more variety of content though as Table Game Spirits only included one game mode for each type of game for the most part. An improved version of Table Game Spirits was released on June 25th 2009 called Table Game Spirits V which included more games and options such as some missions for Mahjong. This was months before the release of 1500DS Spirits: Mahjong V so its possible there were also borrowed assets and ideas from that game also included in this game.
This Versions Development[]
The producer in an interview mentions how he was inspired to make a mahjong game with 3 player and 2 player modes after visiting bars and arcades in Tokyo and talking with locals and friends about their experiences with Mahjong. He states "certainly, 3-on-1 has its own unique fun" and "Three-player Mahjong has a dynamism that four-player Mahjong does not have" (Google Translated). He also noted that 3 player mode wasn't enough for the game so he added 2 player mode as it is a popular mode for arcade Mahjong gaming and often the way young people learn to play.
Reception[]
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Soundtrack OST[]
This game has the same soundtrack used in 1500DS Spirits: Vol 1 Mahjong. If they are labeled for that game instead; this is why. 2 Player mode is also borrowed from 1500DS Spirits: Vol 9 - 2 Futari Uchi Mahjong so if that game is listed; this is why.
See here for a page with all tracks. See video page for videos of OST.
Track List[]
- BGM (playing Mahjong match)
- Enm (playing Mahjong match nearing end)
- Play
- Result (playing Mahjong results screen)
- Game Over
- Quiz BGM
- Quiz Result
- Character Select
- Game Select (Main Menu)
- Play Select (Start Menu)
- 2 Player BGM
- 2 Player BGM 2 (match nearing end)
- 2 Player Result
League Match Start Menu (track rip not found yet)
Credits[]
This game has no included in-game credits.
External links[]
- 1500DS Spirits: Mahjong V at GameFAQs
- 1500DS Spirits: Mahjong and Shogi V Producer's Voice (interview with producer) - Official Tasuke website (unable to be translated with Google Translate so its original link)
- 1500DS Spirits: Mahjong V - Official Japanese Nintendo site (Google Translate link)
- 1500DS Spirits games info list - Japanese Wikipedia (Google Translate link)
- 1500 DS Spirits games info list - Official Tasuke website PDF (unable to be translated with Google Translate so its original link)