Playstation 3 Game Review: Monopoly

I had been waiting quite some time to get my gaming hands onto Monopoly for the Playstation 3. Monopoly was one of my favorite games as a child and as an adult. Unfortunately finding others who enjoy the game enough to waste away nearly half of their day playing was always an impossible feat.

Funny how everyone suddenly wants in on the classical game as soon as it is released on a frigging game console!

Monopoly for PS3 is pretty standard with a few new extra kicks that honestly won't impress even the biggest fan of the original board game.

When the main screen loads you have the choice to play a standard game of Monopoly, or by choosing a new element called Monopoly Richest edition.

I choose to go with the standard classical game play before jumping into the Richest boards.

Once choosing my board, (there are a few different boards, such as world board, or classical). More boards can be unlocked the more you play the game.

Anyhow, after choosing the board you want to play with, you are then supposed to choose how many human players, and how many computer players. My boyfriend and I went about picking our pieces after that, and then choosing pieces for the computer players.

Before the game began I imagined that this new game of Monopoly would play like a standard game of Monopoly, only with some new snazzy extras such as animations when the player pieces moved. In a Monopoly game I bought for my PC 5 or 6 years ago, when the players moved they had cute animations, such as the horse galloping, or the cannon shooting out bombs, the wheel barrow making realistic squeaky wheels sounds, the dog barking as he went along each game space.

I imagined this new version of the game would feature such things, but 100x's better!

I was sadly disappointed. In fact the game got so boring after just an hour that I honestly don't see myself jumping into this game anytime soon. In fact, it's a game I will likely bring to Gamestop for a trade in price. Yeah it's really that bad.

The first issue both my boyfriend and I ran in to were the crap-fest controls. Rolling the dice is simple, all you have to do is hit X. However after every turn you are given the option to choose Next Turn- which allows the next player to roll the dice. You also have the option to check you accounts, in this menu you can mortgage property, buy houses, trade real estate, and so on.

However the controls are so bloody awful, and there are additional steps you must click through which really stretches the game out and makes it longer than need be.

The controls also do not respond at times, and when they do work, it feels like they have a delay on them. For instance, you hit the X button, and the command does not work till about 5 seconds later.
Watching the computer players roll is also a very long and annoying aspect to the game.

Besides the cruddy controls, you have the lack of animation.

This game, even with the sucky controls could have really been interesting had they added animations to the game pieces. Instead your game peg simply clicks down on the game board squares just as it would if you were moving it with an invisible hand. It would of been hellacool had the pieces been animated. I think the best animations this game has going for it is when a house is built on a section you have a Monopoly on. They appear after a loud bang of a hammer, a cloud of dust floats up, and then you have your house. It's all built and done in less then 4 seconds, but still, it's the only animation worth anything in the game.

Anyhow, after getting over the bad controls, lack of interest, and non-animated pieces, the game plays out like a standard game of Monopoly.

The Richest edition is probably the most confusing uck I've ever dealt with in a game of Monopoly. Basically it plays out like this.

The game starts off by rolling 4 dice. Each dice lands on a different number. Your goal is to try and win the mini game in order to choose the highest number. If you are lucky to get in first place during the mini game, you get to pick one of the 4 numbers on the dice. The highest number is the one to pick if you come in first place. After you pick your number, the game automatically assigns you real estate. For instance, if you win, and choose a high number of 4 or 5 (depends on what was rolled), the game will automatically assign you 4 or 5 properties. You have no control over what you get. It's all a game of chance really.

The mini games assigned are extremely lack luster, and honestly you won't find much entertainment here.

I personally love Monopoly, but this game does not have any edge, nor does it offer anything really new or entertaining to fans of Monopoly. To put it best, the game is basically the same old board game, minus the messy pieces. In a way that is a good thing, but for those of you whom had a hard time gathering the family to play a long game of Monopoly, will have the same difficulties when trying to gather them up to play the virtual game of Monopoly, when you add in the funky controls you can just forget about it.

Pricing and Availability:
 
You can find Monopoly for the PS3 at any store that sells console games. The price comes to $39.99, which is overpriced for what you are getting. You can pick it up for the XBOX360 and the Nintendo Wii as well. No matter what console you purchase it for though, the game play will be the same.

Recommendation:
 
Monopoly is a skip. If you must try it out though, rent it first to see for yourself.