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Minesweeper (Microsoft Windows 3.1)

Developer: Curt Johnson
Publisher: Microsoft
Release Date: April 6, 1992
Platforms: Microsoft Windows 3.1
Genres: Puzzle Game

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Synopsis (Wikipedia)

Minesweeper is a single-player puzzle video game. The objective of the game is to clear a rectangular board containing hidden "mines" or bombs without detonating any of them, with help from clues about the number of neighboring mines in each field. The game originates from the 1960s, and has been written for many computing platforms in use today. It has many variations and offshoots.

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Plot

Corporal Elliot lay supine in a foxhole, cradling his metal device; his only companion, his lifeline in this bleak, grey battlefield. Peeking out he surveyed the scene, he had posted up three flags, warning his absent comrades of the dangers lurking beneath the earth. It wasnt enough, he knew hed be in trouble if his superiors could see him; he pictured their inscrutable faces and could almost hear their pompous, officious voices barking their derision: What use is three flags to anyone? Intelligence says there are another six-hundred and sixty-one out there and all you can do is lie on the ground? What are you doing Elliot

His purpose renewed, he gathered up his tools and stood. He swept the device across the field ahead of him and checked the display for the tenth time that day, hoping, praying for a different result that he knew he wouldnt see. He looked down at the display of his device again and read that number. Seven.

This next move would be decisive, reckless perhaps but Corporal Elliot knew he had hundreds, if not thousands of comrades whose lives would be lost if didnt take the chance. Steeling himself, he stepped forward.

Game Over.

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Gameplay

Minesweeper is a simple puzzle game played over a grid. Mines are placed across the grid using a highly customisable algorithm set by the player before the game begins. The more difficult you make it the more of a man you are and everyone knows it. The goal is to reveal the entire grid by clicking on everything but the mines. The puzzle aspect comes about through the mechanic by which mines are revealed to the player. Clicking on a square that borders a mine or mines will reveal a number which corresponds to the number of mines bordering the square, the player needs to logically deduce the location of mines by comparing the numbers and clicking as little as possible, taking the fewest risks. Once the player has deduced the location of mines they are free to place flags on their squares or just continue sweeping around them.

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Controls

The left mouse button is used to click squares which will have one of the following effects: you will click a mine and lose the game, you will click a square next to one or more mines and be shown a number which represents the number of mines connecting to the square you have selected or you will click a square which is not near any mines which reveals all other adjacent squares which also fulfil neither of the other category of square. The right mouse button places a flag where the player believes a mine to be, reminding them not to left click that square which, as previously stated would cause the player to lose the game.

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Graphics

The bleak grey squares of an untouched minesweeper board speak of the mystery that awaits a player, a puzzle to be solved. Not long after you are set loose upon a game of minesweeper these dull grey squares are replaced with a variety of colourful numbers, flags and faded squares. A yellow face sits atop the window, judging your every move because when you mess up, it is the being that suffers for it. The smile it wears could speak to a false sense of calm, encouraging the player to keep a rational, problem-solving mind or it could be genuine, it doesnt know how close to death each click brings it, or the danger its in.

These are the questions the graphics of minesweeper make you answer.

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Rating
Plot: 0/10
Gameplay: 7.3/10
Graphics: 2.1/10
Controls: 10/10
Overall: 10/10

It's good.