Monopoly

"Monopoly Gets Into The Genesis As Well!!!"

Okay, i am going to make my review as short as possible. Generally, the Genesis version is almost identical to the SNES version, other than some control and presentation differences. All the features that you expect to see in the SNES version can also be found here.

The only good things about buying the game are that you are having it in electronic form, which means that you do not need to waste time keeping it after playing the paper version [Yeah, i am sick of Monopoly because I lost quite a lot of paper money, thanks to my laziness. The paper money just flies around and gets torn easily!] and that all the calculations are done through the computer instead of you. [Another of my laziness...it's not that i don't love calculating money but...]

The animation is pretty average. It is definitely not as good as the PlayStation version but i guess this doesn't matter, right? Anyway, the difference isn't that much noticeable. A 16-bit game V.S a 32-bit game? Obviously, a 32-bit game should have better graphics because of better technology, right? The music and sound effects are pretty average and there aren't much to talk about them. The voices are generally quite okay.

Perhaps, this is a good news and a bad news. Yes, you can set cheat codes, right from the beginning. Before the game begins, there is an option which allows you to set cheats like having a certain property or amount of money in the beginning. This may be a good news for those who like to use cheat codes but definitely a bad news because it makes the game much more easier for you.

Hmm... so why does the Genesis version get an extra point, which has a 3, than the PlayStation version, which has only a 2? Okay, i'll list off some of the good points that the Genesis version has that the PlayStation version lacks in.

Despite the fact that there is no mouse support, the pointer manages to move reasonably quite fast and the control is intuitive. No big deal, right? It all comes down to the presentation. I personally think that the menu-interface is more friendly to use than the PlayStation version. It's not confusing and complex like the PlayStation version and every single option that is available, is quite easy to understand.

For example, in the Genesis version, the screen shows you a list of buttons which you can press to perform different actions in one corner of the screen, whether it is for throwing a dice or whatever it is. However, the PlayStation version doesn't have that. Also, there is an instruction book for you to read it but you probably not going to bother to read it like me. [Yeah, i am lazy! I hate reading manuals!]

Furthermore, the ability to use cheat codes to begin with certain properties and money, is quite fun. The PlayStation version doesn't have that. Of course, the game is very easy and even without cheat codes, you should be able to win the computer or be on par with them in terms of wealth. It's better to have than don't have, right?

Besides, the game supports up to a maximum of eight players, even if you don't have eight controllers and two multi-taps. All you need is to have everyone shares one controller. Hey, the PlayStation version still needs eight controllers and two multi-players.

Overall, if you want a decent Monopoly game, get the SNES or Genesis version instead, if not, don't bother to buy. A board game like Monopoly is hard to grab gamers' attention today when everyone is now interested in game genres like RPGs, horror adventure, sports and so on. Probably, you might want to consider renting it, if not, you might want to download the rom from the internet to give it a try.

Graphics : 5.5/10.0 [What can you expect from a board game?]
Concept : 2.0/10.0
Control : 8.0/10.0
Music : 1.0/10.0
Sound : 6.0/10.0
Voice : 3.0/10.0
Gameplay : 5.0/10.0
Replay : 3.5/10.0
Challenge : 1.0/10.0
Presentation : 8.0/10.0
Overall : 3.0/10.0

Reviewer's Score: 3/10, Originally Posted: 04/02/00, Updated 12/16/02