The Game of Life PC
by Amanda Nettgen
(USA)
Game:
The Game of Life
Download from:
GameHouse (FULL FREE version when you open a FREE trial Fun Tickets account!
Rating:
4/5
Quick verdict
The Game of Life download editionis The Game of Life come to life! It has two ways to play, along with a ton of cute animations.
The game and gameplay
When starting The Game of Life PC version, first select a Classic or Enhanced Game. I recommend playing the Enhanced type most of the time, as it plays just like Classic, but better.
After entering your name, choose from six convertible colors (classier than the previous station wagon, eh?) and pick from one of twelve multiracial bobbleheads to represent you and drive your car. Add up to five computer or human players (minimum is just one additional contender) and you’re ready to play.
Everyone will spin to see who goes first. Like in the board game of Life, your first decision is if you will go to college or not, with the same consequences for your choice as in the regular game.
Whether you hit the books or not, when it comes time to choose a career, you will pull a slot machine to determine your fate (one option for those without a degree and three for Ivy Leaguers). Then randomly punch up to three buttons on a register to pick your salary.
The PC game plays out just like the regular one in that you will travel around the (massive) board, encountering life events along the way. The difference with the computer take is that you’ll experience clever animations and/or comics for each space along the way.
You start in the 1960s and drive through the decades up to 2000 at a steady rate. With each new set of years you pass through, the music on your car’s radio will change to reflect that era, which is pretty cool.
You witness your automobile travel with each go (you can speed through this by clicking or turn off the feature in Options). The bobbleheads glare at each other when it’s not their turn.
The main spaces to be concerned with the board game Life are the Life tile spots and Stop signs. When you land on a Life square in the Enhanced Game, the milestone is read and you go on to play Life’s Little Games instead of getting a Life tile.You spin the wheel for instant cash or a fun mini-game to win cash. Stop signs, on the other hand, are those times you’re forced to come to a halt to buy a house, get married, etc. Your spouse from your arranged marriage will join you in the car, as well as any subsequent babies.
You have the option to Buy Stuff like insurance or stocks at any time during your turn. Unlike in real life, it’s not required to get insurance for your car, but be wary that there are a couple spaces on the board that could make you regret saving the $10,000. As for stocks, they will net you $10,000 every time someone (including yourself) spins the number you pick on their turn.
The final feature I should hit upon is the difference between paydays in the Classic Game vs. the Enhanced one. In Classic, if you land directly on a Payday, nothing happens (except you getting paid, of course). In Enhanced, the host shouts, "Revenge!" and you take your salary from another player’s savings. It’s a competitive yet fun feature.
As with many games, the goal is to have the most money/assets to win. After all, that’s what’s most important in life, right? To have more toys than your neighbors?
Other computer and video board games you might enjoy!
Battleship Fleet Command game (PC)
Blokus World Tour (PC)
Carcassonne board game (XBox 360)
Cafe Mahjongg (PC)
Clue Classic (PC and Mac)
Family Feud (PC game)
The Game of Life (PC)
The Game of Life, Yahtzee and Payday video game (GameBoy Advance)
The Game of Life: Path to Success (PC)
Hasbro Family Game Night (XBox 360 and Wii)
Hasbro Game of Life
Mahjongg XP Championship (PC)
Monopoly (PC game)
Monopoly 3 (PC)
XBox 360 Monopoly game
Risk board game (download for PC)
Risk 2 computer game (PC)
Scrabble (download for PC)
Scrabble Blast! (PC)
Scrabble Journey (PC)
Settlers of Catan (XBox 360)
Skip Bo Castaway Caper (PC)
Spongebob Atlantis Square Off
Spongebob Squarepants Monopoly (PC)
Ticket to Ride game (XBox 360)
Trivial Pursuit Silver Screen edition (PC)
Uno Undercover (PC)
Uno video game (XBox 360)
Wheel of Fortune (download for PC)
Yahtzee (download for PC)
Yahtzee Texas Holdem (PC)
Computer board games HQ
Pros and cons
I actually used to have this game (the CD, not the download) when I was a kid. I found it to be very entertaining and played it many times over. I’d still highly recommended it today, because despite it being old, I got to give major props to the game designers for filling it with so many (mostly) amusing details.
The Game of Life free download contains an informative Rules book, but you’ll catch on quick if you don’t read it.
The worst thing about this game is that the graphics look dotty and kinda dull. They were fresh and exciting back in 1999 before I really had gotten into any games, but now in 2008, you can tell they’re old if you’ve played any newer games in comparison.
There’s no windowed option (you have to play in full screen), but I think this is because the detail is too complex to be minimized.
My other bone to pick about Life in general is that it is quite random with very little strategy involved. Besides the obvious tips and tricks like choosing the highest available salary, being the police officer if you’re able, etc., your game is already predetermined based on what you spin.
The endearing extras of The board Game of Life PC make the randomness fun, though.
The verdict
Fans of the board game Life couldn’t ask for much more from this near-perfect edition. The wacky animations and extras in The Game of Life PC version