Reviewed by Brandy Shaul
There are few games so ingrained in our culture that at the very mention of their title, players immediately burst into past stories of victories and defeats, what if’s and probably should haves. Monopoly is arguably the biggest example of such a game, but with this world-renowned title comes a time requirement that many just can’t set aside in the scope of their everyday lives. Traditional Monopoly games can last hours even days at a time, and with the hassle of repeatedly setting up the board and its many pieces, most folks would rather play something else. Taking a stab at solving this dilemma is EA’s Monopoly on the Wii.
Monopoly on the Wii combines the classic gameplay formula we have been familiar with for decades and places it in a streamlined pick-up-and-play package perfect for those who wish to play for just 10 minutes or even 10 hours in a row. Gameplay accommodates up to four players, and allows for just as much customization as anyone could dream up in their living rooms.
After choosing from the multiple themed boards (such as the Future Board that replaces the traditional Railroads with Hover Cars and Monorails, and the Places and Avenues with locations like “Sci-Fi Fields”), you are allowed to scan through six pages of House Rules, containing limitations and exceptions that can be turned off / on, or otherwise tweaked in order to fulfill your particular gameplay wishes.
Decisions made, the gameplay begins in a fashion that should be familiar to all: players make their way around the four sides of the board purchasing properties in the hope of eventually owning a “monopoly” of locations where houses and hotels can be built, increasing your chance for riches when your opponents are unlucky enough to land on them.
Speaking of riches, for those who are looking for more spice in their gameplay experience or for those who simply lack the time required to complete a traditional game, the “Richest” gameplay mode provides for an entirely transformed rendition of the game, complete with time limits, fast-paced property trading, and a real all-or-nothing feeling, meaning that in certain instances, even having the most money will do you no good if you haven’t amassed a large enough collection of properties to back it up.
Furthermore, the game also offers short mini-games, a la Mario Party, where the same up to four player scenario sees each using their own Wii-mote one minute to saw out of prison and the next minute frantically swinging the remote up and down in order to outrun the police with your stolen money (among other games). Regardless of gameplay mode, each shares the same technical pros and cons.
While the graphics themselves are nicely done, comprised of bright color pallets and themes fitting each board (for instance, the traditional game board is played in something like a museum or library, while the futuristic board is played in a technologically advanced metropolis), the size of the font throughout is ridiculously tiny, even on the in-game menus, a fact that will force most players to sit within a few feet of smaller televisions (even a screen 27 inches or so is too small to see most of the minute details on the board). This transitions into a larger problem which hampers your ability to accurately use your pointer, if your Wii Sensor Bar is placed on top of the TV proper.
Another slight negative comes in the repetitive voice work on the part of Mr. Monopoly (or Rich Uncle Pennybags, if you prefer), who follows each players’ token around the board, pointing out various options and outcomes to each space that is landed on. Otherwise, the sound effects are of an acceptable quality, and provide multiple “little extras”, like projecting short jingles through the Wii-mote’s speaker when it’s a new player’s turn.
All in all, while Monopoly on the Wii is a great party game experience, the lack of online multiplayer is more than just a disappointing oversight, and could qualify as a deal breaker for those who plan on going solo in the real world. If, however, you do have at least one other (real world) board game loving buddy, the title offers enough in the way of customization to warrant a purchase.
Special thanks to Erica Thomas and EA for providing a copy of this title.