Monopoly Here and Now: Same game, new package

Monopoly Here and Now Edition (I downloaded it from Shockwave) is based on the new, updated version of Monopoly. What with the new spaces that say, “Credit Card Debt” and “Fenway Park,” the 21st century has definitely hit Uncle Moneybags. But is that really enough to keep the game afloat? Well, sure. Because it’s Monopoly.

Let me put it this way. If you enjoy Monopoly, you’ll probably be delighted by the ease of playing and the neat little extras that a computer game provides. If you don’t like Monopoly, you’ll feel bogged down for the same reasons you would playing the real life game: too long and too tedious. This review, then, is for people who are on the fence about the board game in general and want to know how this is even a little different.

When you first start the game, you are asked to choose players. You can play with other humans (not on-line, but, you know, humans in the same room as you, using the same computer as you) or with the computer. The game pieces are also updated to include a cell phone, hybrid car, and a jet airplane. After you pick your players, you can change the rules to fit your own “home rules,” like collecting money when anyone lands on Free Parking.

When the game begins (and if you don’t change this in the options), you will have to watch each computer player go through the motions of rolling the dice, moving, and buying property. While it may be interesting at first (the cell phone seems to place a call to the Mother Ship every time it’s its turn to roll), it will become increasingly annoying. Which is why the fact that you can turn off the animations linked directly to the computer players off.

Other things haven’t changed so much. The place names have been changed considerably. I’m slightly gratified by the fact that Waikiki Beach managed to become a red property. Although, in my humble (albeit biased) opinion, it should have been blue. I mean, Fenway Park? Really? (Don’t hurt me baseball fans!) The Community Chest and Chance cards have also been updated. I received one that sad I made second place in a reality TV competition. I hope it was Project Runway, and not something as soul-stealing as Survivor.

Everything in the game is done with the mouse. While that keeps the whole thing simple, it does make trades a little tedious, especially if you’re offering someone $2 million for Waikiki Beach to complete your set of reds, so you can start building houses. (The money is something I forgot to mention; it’s basically the same system with a couple of zeros tacked onto the end of each bill and property).

One thing that was left out of trading mode, which I would have liked to see, is the inclusion of futures and waived rents. That would be very useful when trading high-ticket properties like the blue ones (not the measly light blue ones, mind you). Of course, that’s just a minor complaint on the whole.
While everything is suitably flashy and up-to-date, this game is still Monopoly. There’s not much more to say about a franchise that has done so well on the same formula for so long. I guess it has something to do with being the capitalist nation’s dream game. But hey, it’s still fun.

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