Wheel of Fortune

"A Great Game That Is Fun For All"

Overview
Wheel of fortune is a great game that everybody can enjoy, from the most experienced gamer to someone picking up a controller for the first time. The controls are simple, the puzzles fun yet intriguing, and the game is one of the best. The hit television show is a great idea, and the developers saw the games potential as a video game, and although previous attempts weren't so great, they knew that the N64 could handle this game, and it did. The graphics are great, though the players are 2-D, They rarely show them, and it doesn’t get annoying. That is the 1 and only problem with this game. There are thousands of puzzles to choose from, and over 20 categories, from Person to Place to Celebrity Couples and (my favorite) before and after. You can set the game up for a 3, 4, or 5 round, or have it times, just like the show. The controls are simple as ever. Click A or use the joystick to spin. Move around the letter-board with the joystick. Click A to select. This is great for playing with your mom or dad, who always yell at the T.V. ''I KNEW THAT!'' Well, now they can prove it. You can spend ours in front of the T.V. laughing and joking with your friends and family, and really having a great time. Wheel of Fortune is truly the best party game I've played since Mario Party 2, and everyone who wants to have a good time will love to play.

Graphics: 8/10
The graphics in this game look great. The wheel moves with ease, the letters light up and Vana White moves across and the letters pop up. The backgrounds are rich with color, whether it’s inside of a forest or up in the Alps. There are even cut scenes such as Vana popping up and a real video comes up saying ''sorry, you lost your turn'' or ''Times up, I'll give the wheel one last spin.'' The only bad thing is that the humans are 2-D, but that’s fine with me. You really don't see the humans too often, and they are in the distance, and are only shown for 2 seconds at a time, so it’s not that big a deal. And for 2-D they don't look that bad. It doesn’t ever get annoying to see the, It's just that for those hardcore gamers who hate those old 2-D graphics might get scared. Not to confuse that with the game though, for the game is in beautiful 3-D graphics, such as the wheel and the board. Trust me, you’ll get WAY to into this game to worry about the graphics.

Sound: 8/10
The sound in this game is great too. The clicking of the wheel, The crowd cheering louder when you win more, the ''Bing!'' of the letter turning, Vana talking, and that music you hear when you have only a few seconds at the end to solve the $25,000 final puzzle. The only bad thing about the sound is that there is no background music, but you'll be talking and laughing with your friends to listen.

Gameplay/Fun Factor: 10/10
This is seriously one of the most enjoyable games I have ever played. Whether it's by yourself or with a friend, this game is one that won't be seeing your closet any time soon. There are so many puzzles that you'll never see the same one twice. The atmosphere is fun and energetic, and the idea itself is great. Each round changes the wheel a little, just like the show. For example, at the 1st round, the highest number on the wheel is $1,000. At round two, it becomes $2,500, and the $10,000 stuck between two bankrupts is added as well. Round three is the jackpot round, along with the $3,500 mark added. And at round four $5,000 space is added. The final round gives you the R, S, T, L, N, and E, and you can pick 3 consonants and a vowel. This game resembles the T.V. in every aspect, and with such a great show, you can't go wrong.

Rent or Buy?
BUY! BUY! BUY! What's great about this is that because the game is old (but not old as in boring) the price has dropped over the years, so if this is your first time hearing about this and you got the N64, pick it up and start playing. Hey, with the money you would have spent, buy an extra controller! This game is very fun, and People of all ages will love it.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/13/04