SNES Game Review - Monopoly

Ah... Monopoly: what started back in 1935 has been successful enough to merit a SNES port released in 1992 by parker brothers. Monopoly is a game for 1-8 players which was fairly impressive given that the SNES could only support up to two without additional hardware. Players take turns rolling virtual dice, which in turn moves their game pieces around a square shaped board. The goal is to run the other players out of the game by bankrupting them, this is done through acquisition of property.

As this game is based upon a board game there was little parker brothers could do in terms of a plot, but they did take it upon themselves to include a few humorous elements. The player can select to play with friends using additional controllers or the player can select one of eight computer controlled personalities, some of which have rather comical names such as "Gary Cant" and "Billy Bob". All have beautifully drawn portraits that are impressive considering these things were hand drawn, dot by little dot.

Graphically, Monopoly was quite an achievement. Players can actually see their game pieces move along the "street" passing properties along the way. Animations are triggered for cards as well as going to jail. Rolling the dice is as exciting as SNES can make it, a rendered hand rolls and throws dice onto the game board The actual game pieces are very lively with hopping dogs, galloping horses, and rabbits hopping under magicians hats. The colors are vibrant, the lines are sharp.

Monopoly surprised me with the amount of sound effects it has. Music accompanies menus, clicks and pops for movement, cash registers, stamps, etc.

I remember learning monopoly at a friends house back when I was in kindergarten, the game can be taught to anybody willing to learn. There is no tutorial so be sure to play with someone who knows the rules, or be prepared for some confusing moments. The control is fairly simple,

A button = Roll, Action
B button = Cancel action
X button = Nothing
Y button = View deed, Get out of jail card
START = Nothing
SELECT = Menu

Monopoly is as hard as it ever was. You can also load presets for future games. This game can be played by anybody with a working knowledge of the rules. The cartoony graphics would suggest that it was intended for children, but adults wont be turned off by said graphics, as they are merely animated versions of graphics already found on the actual board game.

Monopoly is an excellent way to spend time taking your friends money, if you have already spent time doing just that, there is an excellent AI system that can make up for your ex friends. Who needs them anyway? YOU have boardwalk AND park place. This game gets a solid 5 get out of jail cards out of 5.