Wheel of Fortune

"Enjoy hours of fun if you don't memorize the puzzles..."

Ahh, yes, Wheel of Fortune, Merv Griffin's smash hit game show on your NES. It's stood the test of time, and has millions of loyal fans. So why wouldn't Rare make a game? I noticed this little gem at a Funco Land not very long ago and decided to give it a spin (no pun intended). What I found was a good, fun (although somewhat repetitive) version of "America's Game".

Graphics: 8
Wheel of Fortune has graphics that, by the NES standards, are pretty good. Every time you spin the wheel and land on any money, Vanna White will applaud you. Not only that, Miss White will turn the letters just like she does on TV. The Wheel doesn't look half bad either. The bonus round prizes even include a stunningly realistic picture of Porsche. All the graphics are smooth, crisp, and clear.

Sound: 8
The sounds of Wheel of Fortune are recreated as best as they can be with blips and bloops. At the start, you hear the classic theme song, and the crowd shouting "WHEEL - OF - FORTUNE!" Although not perfect, the crowd sounds great, as clear as a telephone. The makes a small click each notch it turns, and when Vanna turns letters a small noise is made, almost like a 'swoosh'. The music that is made when you solve a puzzle is nice, as is the music when your prize is revealed. Overall, the sound is not something you will come to despise.

Gameplay: 7
Wheel of Fortune's gameplay isn't bad, though it is fairly repetitive due to the relatively small amount of puzzles. Other than that, gameplay is perfect, in fact it's just like the game show, even including the 'Speed-Up Round' at Round 3. Spinning requires you to use a power gauge of sorts to choose the speed you want to spin at, and solving requires you to spell out the remaining letters in order. The bonus round is intact, though you pick 5 consonants and a vowel instead of the normal procedure.

Fun Factor: 7
This is a great game to play if you're bored. Multi-player is the best, although single-player is fun on its own. Wheel of Fortune is fun, but it loses its luster if you begin to memorize the puzzles.

Overall: 7
Wheel of Fortune for the NES is packed with fun, even if it does start to repeat after a while. Any big fan of the show should try this game at least once. It's a nice version of the show that you can play with friends or yourself.
Wheel of Fortune is a great title for any fan of the game show.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 05/09/04