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Publisher: EA Casual Games
Genre: Board Game
Platform:Nintendo Wii
You were probably as skeptical as I was when EA released Monopoly. With games like BioShock and Gears of War at the top of the charts, is there still a place for a game like Monopoly? That’s right Monopoly, the game that people have been playing since 1935 — now that’s old school.
EA and Hasbro have breathed some new life into the well-travelled
franchise with their latest release. Available in all of the major
platforms (Wii, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360) as well as Pogo.com and EA Mobile, Monopoly is truly a game for everyone. The game also features a wide variety of boards from the classic board to the more recent World Edition and Monopoly Here & Now.
The real attraction for Monopoly is the multi-player
feature. Not many people are going to crack open the box and spend a
relaxing evening by themselves with this game. Similar to games like Guitar Hero™,
when you get a group together it becomes a lot more playable and fun to
watch. I played it with a 7-year-old who picked up pretty quickly on
how the game is played and enjoyed buying and selling virtual real
estate.
As a video game, it makes it a lot simpler to get into the game. No
longer do you have to worry about losing the dice, spilling money or
having to clean up once you bankrupt the competition. The sound effects
and animations keep the game interesting. (If you have the Battleship
piece, you hear a ship sound when it’s your turn.) Once you roll
the dice, Mr. Monopoly leads you around the board and comments on your
good or bad luck. EA also includes a “Richest Mode,” which
speeds up the game and makes it faster than the regular game.
If you are looking for a game that you can play with the family or a mixed-age crowd, give Monopoly a look. You can also learn the basics of real estate without worrying about foreclosure or losing real money. –chip gross
