Review: Monopoly Streets

HYUCK! I HAS THE WHEEL-BARREL! I GO AROUND THE BLOCK! HYUCK!

Since the early eighties, Monopoly has been coming out for the current console of the time. Countless releases have always brought the fun of the family board game to those of us who can’t seem to tear ourselves away from the television. And now as the New Year starts to take hold, Hasbro/EA gives us the brand spanking new Monopoly Streets. While some past entries have tried to add something new and interesting to the original Monopoly formula, most of the others however…well…haven’t. Has Streets gone the extra mile or has it settled for business as usual? Keep reading to find out…

The main draw for Streets is the transformation of the classic board into a 3D city. The original board design is still available for those who feel nostalgic (along with several other variations), which is always nice. While the city isn’t some high-powered rendering, it still feels fun as you make your way around the block. Mii’s populate the streets and you get a hint of a hustle and bustle. Game options are more plentiful than you would think, which gives the game some longer legs (and give the option of a quick play-through if you’re in a crunch for time). A second city is available and the promise of others comes in the form of downloadable content. Four players are needed for maximum fun, but if that’s not gonna happen the option for using computer opponents exists (but seriously, go make some friends if you don’t have any). An auction mini-game is in place and adds some much needed frantic action — overbidding it a big problem for those who are prone to spazzy outbreaks (you know who you are). And because it’s a Wii game the option to use a Mii is available — I suggest Gandhi vs. Eddie Izzard.

Being a turned based board game, Streets suffers from the age old problem of pacing. This game takes it a step further as you watch your character get handed a card, jump around and make odd noises, and then use whatever piece you’ve chosen plod along the board. The skip option alleviates this for the most part but even still…damn. And speaking of odd noises, beware which piece you choose — the corresponding character can be so very,very annoying (ripping your ears off quickly becomes an option - BEWARE THE WHEELBARREL!!). You start with Monopoly City and then unlock Landmark City (guess what that’s populated with), and while both cities are fun, you may very well feel gypped after playing through both and realizing you need to pay for any others - lame. But this all amplifies the main problem of no innovation. This game has been around since 1924 (then called ‘The Landlord Game‘ until 1934), in nine decades someone could have come up with something substantially fresh and fun and Hasbro/EA chose the lazy route. Well done people.

Overall, Monopoly Streets adds very little to the traditional core that’s now almost 90 years old. Will you have fun playing the game? Sure. Is it worth a purchase if you have a different version readily available? Probably not. Streets reworks the original Monopoly as well as it can, and it is worth a purchase if you haven’t bought a version previously, but with nothing new to add to the fold there’s no reason to go out of your way. Really, no one can be all that surprised — it’s Monopoly.