Lode Runner
I have seen this game around for several years now, but for some reason, I never chose to play it. I was in for a treat! Load Runner is pictured in Figure D.

FIGURE D

Guide Jake Peril through a series of different levels in Load Runner.

The object of this game is to guide Jake Peril through a series of different levels where he must pick up the gold and avoid the monks who protect the gold. Each level is a maze of ladders and bricks that must be navigated properly. Only after picking up all the gold on one level will the exit appear, allowing you to advance to the next level.

PocketChess v1.2
PocketChess is a wonderful and challenging version of chess for the Palm OS. PocketChess is pictured in Figure E.

FIGURE E

PocketChess is wonderfully challenging.

In the June edition of PalmPower I reviewed PocketChess Deluxe in detail at http://www.palmpower.com/issues/issue200106/chess001.html). PocketChess v1.2 is an earlier version of PocketChess Deluxe. Both beginners and experts will find PocketChess enjoyable and challenging.

Pocket Express Blackjack
Pocket Express Blackjack is a fun and feature-packed version of blackjack. The program is pictured in Figure F.

FIGURE F

Pocket Express Blackjack is fun and full of features.

You play against a computer dealer. You have the options of insurance, splitting pairs, and doubling down. You can choose any number of decks between one and eight, choose how far you want to be able to penetrate the deck (default is 80%), turn the sound on or off, and select the option of having the dealer hit on a soft seventeen. Even though I'm not a gambler, I really enjoyed playing this game.

Pocket Express PokerDice
Pocket Express PokerDice is another game I hadn't played before. It's very similar to Yahtzee-type programs, except it uses the cards nine, ten, and jack through ace on the dice instead of the numbers one through six.

FIGURE G

Pocket Express PokerDice is both challenging and enjoyable.

A sort of third dimension is added to the game with the addition of suits. So, instead of just a nine turning up on a die, whether or not it's a nine of spades is important as well. This allows you to try for flushes in addition to straits. Even though it took me some time to adjust my strategy, I found this variation of Yahtzee both challenging and enjoyable.

smallWare's Solitaire Free
Lastly is the addition of a bonus title, smallWare's Solitaire Free. It includes three different versions of solitaire: Klondike Deal 3, Demon, and Baker's Game. It's pictured in Figure H.

FIGURE H

Solitaire Free is three games in one.

Klondike Deal 3 is the traditional game of solitaire, Demon is smallWare's version of Canfield solitaire, and Baker's Game is a predecessor to the very popular FreeCell. This is a great version of the solitaire games, and there are so many options that I won't even list them all. A few of the more important ones are the option to choose which design you want on the back of the cards, a scroll option for when a run gets longer than the screen will display, and the ability to cheat if you refuse to get beaten by the deck.