Friday, 7 May 2010

Review: Monopoly Deal Card Game:: Yes, it's a Monopoly offshoot. No, it's not a bad game.

Review: Monopoly Deal Card Game:: Yes, it's a Monopoly offshoot. No, it's not a bad game.: "

by Renaissance Man


Many (if not most) Geeks here have an avowed hatred to all things Monopoly or Parker Brothers. 'Not another Monopoly game!' they say. 'It must either have a dumb theme or make the game ten times as long (if that's even possible.' To a large extent I'm inclined to agree with them. This game is the exception.



Components

The game is dirt cheap. It retails for less than $7, and I got mine for 24 cents with a coupon. Components are simple: the box, 110 cards, and a small rules sheet. The cards are small, but of high quality with a nice glossy finish and colorful, easy to read artwork. They show little to no wear after 30+ plays. The rules are not too clear, but the game is simple enough not to cause problems. My cards are slightly warped, and this seems to be a common problem.





(Picture courtesy of kyrasantae)



Components: 7 out of 110



Rules

The rules are very simple, and easy to explain. The object is to get three complete color sets of property cards. Each property card will represent a specific property from Monopoly, or be a Wild that can be played in multiple sets. There are also Money cards, with a value that can be used to pay Rent, and Action cards that allow you to charge rent, draw cards, or steal properties. Property and Action cards also have monetary values.











(Pictures courtesy of njr75003)



The structure of the game is also simple. On your turn, draw two cards from the central deck. Then, you can play up to three cards of any type. Money cards go in your bank, Properties go on the table, and Actions can go in your bank (for their money value) or in the discard pile (in which case the action is played.)



Rules: 8



Gameplay



I'll go over some of the Actions first. These are really the heart of the game. Two allow you to demand money from players. Three with 'Deal' in the name allow you to trade properties, steal properties, or steal an entire group (!) from an opponent. Others pump up the rent value of your property groups or let you draw cards. There are many kinds of Rent cards. Most only work on two colors of properties. If the card is played, then each player must pay the value listed on the property, depending on how many cards of that color you own. If they don't have enough money, they must pay you properties. The most versatile

card is the Just Say No!, which can be used to cancel any action played against you.



One important feature of the game is that there is no change. If someone owes you 3 million, but they only have a 5 million bill, they they must overpay. Money isn't a means to an end in itself, but it can stop you from having to pay with properties.



Gameplay:9





Final Thoughts:


The game is fast and easy to explain. It makes a perfect filler or party game, and I highly recommend picking it up.



Overall:

8 out of 110

"

No comments:

Post a Comment