Monopoly

By Alex Kidman on 05 November 2008

Wii Monopoly proves that sometimes, technology doesn't improve a game.

Editor's rating:5.5 User rating:6
  • Good: You can't lose the pieces • Family members can't cheat •
  • Bad: Richest Minigames are poor • Richest Mode itself is so random as to be worthless • Family members can't cheat •
  • RRP: AU$79.95

We're going to assume here (and it's probably not a huge leap of faith) that you're familiar with Monopoly. Buy properties, collect rent, watch Uncle Angus steal all the money from the bank and try to stop the Family Dog from eating the Battleship while the rain pours down outside on the family holiday.

Wii Monopoly's not that much different, except it's harder to cheat, and the dog's slobbering on a Wiimote-shaped chunk of plastic, rather than a battleship. The basic game is presented in all of its glory, along with custom boards that you earn by playing the game's "Richest" mode.

Richest mode is odd, to say the least. No dice are rolled by players; you instead play minigames for a choice of dice faces, which determines how many "spaces" you'll land on across the whole board, randomly. Empty properties are claimed, but rent is only paid with properties, so games are a frenzy of swapped properties, broken monopolies and an even greater dose of luck. The minigames that control the only "choice" in the game, are, like far too many Wii minigames, quite poorly laid out and difficult to control, rather than being challenging fun.

Leaving aside the Richest mode, which is entirely pot luck backed up by bad minigames, there's not much basically wrong with Wii Monopoly, except for the fact that the additions don't really add much to the core game. Given you can pretty easily pick up a physical copy of the real game for around half the asking price of this, it does somewhat beg the question as to whether the virtual pieces are ultimately worth it.

Topics: family game, monopoly, wii, minigame, property, richest, game, battleship, rent

Comments (4)

  • mikebrown33 gave 6/10 on 24/02/2009 06:07 Report abuse

    • Good: Easy to play - and fun for the entire family
    • Bad: Bug related to the harder AI - that I mention in my comments

    Just bought the Wii Monopoly - fun game, but beware playing the AI on Hard, I had a recent experience where the AI would not stop offering deals. I simply could not continue the game - because I did not accept any of his one sided deals. After 30 minutes of countering and/or not accepting deals - I quit the game.

  • Rob gave 3/10 on 07/01/2009 20:15 Report abuse

    • Good: Beats keeping track of every last irrelevent detail and making sure there's no cheating going on.
    • Bad: No online gameplay!

      You have to wait around while the computer players make there slow roles and moves.

      The Gameplay is slowed even further by pathetic, repetitive animations.

    Poor effort,

  • VintageB gave 5/10 on 31/12/2008 00:41 Report abuse

    • Good: The game moves quickly and the rules of the game are always adhered to. It's a fun game.
    • Bad: It's hard to read the print on the screen.
      It is hard to see everthing that is happening on the board.

    This game is fun but it gives me eye strain.

  • Tony gave 10/10 on 28/12/2008 08:18 Report abuse

    • Good: A Wii game that is fun while drinking
    • Bad: Voice is repetitive

    This game is very fun to play with friends.

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