Fugdale’s Funhouse

Object: Be the first to lay all your cards in sequence on the two piles.

Review: Most people have, at some time in their lives, played fun little dueling card games such as War, Slap Jack or Speed. Now for those who lead a solitary life or who can’t afford a real deck of cards, I present to you today an online version of Speed. You play against the computer (who plays at the pace of someone’s great grandmother). The game deals both players a stack of cards, five of which are visible on the table. In the center of the table, lie two face up cards and two draw piles.

When the game starts each player scrambles to place a card of a rank one higher or one lower than either of the two cards on the table. If you perform fast enough, you can run a string of cards up or down. But, the computer player will also try to stack its cards on the same piles. If you have a quick finger, you can usually slip in your card before the computer has a chance, but even at a slow pace, you will sometimes find the computer can easily beat you. If both players have no playable card, the two draw piles will turn red, so you can flip up new table cards.

The online game doesn’t have the frantic pace of the real version. On the other hand, it doesn’t have all the bent cards or bruised knuckles that accompany the real version. But, for a quick and easy diversion that only lasts a few minutes, give this game a try. Unfortunately, after each round, the game sends you to an inactive web-page and you have to click the back button in order to play an additional round-a minor glitch, which may get fixed at some point or not.

Object: Seat all you party guest around the table so everyone sits next to someone they like.

Review: You are the host of a dinner party and you must seat all your guests around the dinner table so that each of them sits next to someone they like. In this card game the dinner table varies from level to level. Sometimes it is a big square and other times it is divided into rows of tables. Each guest is a playing card divided diagonally into separate colors. You must place each card next to a matching color in order to form a pair of mutually suitable guests.

You start with just three cards to place and as you place guests at the table your supply of cards will replenish from the deck. You have a few random wild cards thrown in for those difficult situations. Additionally, you have five chances to refresh all your available cards.

Once you place a guest at a space, they are considered a guest at the party. You can move guests around as needed, but they will remain at the table once they are placed. Due to the luck of the draw you will often find yourself in impossible situations, but if you think ahead a bit, you should be able to throw a few successful parties without angering the guests.

The design of this game is very 50’s retro, with muted colors and odd shaped faces. As each level progresses, the table layout will change providing new challenges. This game is easy to pick up, addictive and difficult to master. But if you put your Martha Stewart skills to work you can complete all 8 dinner table scenarios in no time.