Monopoly (1991 video game)

Monopoly
Game Boy box art
Developer(s)	Sculptured Software
Publisher(s)	Parker Brothers Majesco Sales
Programmer(s)	Bill Williams (NES) Ryan Ridges, John Lund (Game Boy) Jeff Hughes, Yousuke Shimizu (Japanese versions)
Composer(s)	Paul Webb (Game Boy/NES) Nu Romantic Productions (Genesis/SNES)
Series	Monopoly
Platform(s)	NES SNES Game Boy Genesis Game Boy Color
Release	1991 1998 (GBC)
Genre(s)	Strategy, board game

Monopoly is a video game based on the board game Monopoly, released on Game Boy, Genesis, NES, and SNES. Developed by Sculptured Software and published by Parker Brothers (the Game Boy version was published by Majesco Sales), this title was one of many inspired by the property.

It is not to be confused with the 1993 Monopoly game, which was released in Japan only.

Gameplay

The game contains very similar gameplay to the board game it is based on, with various physical tasks being replaced by automation and digital representations. Players choose among the eight classic characters: hat, wheelbarrow, iron, horse, car, boot, thimble, and dog. The goal is to buy as much property as possible when a player is working around the board. With properties, one can build houses and hotels on them and charge opponents rent. The winner sends others into bankruptcy.

Critical reception

Reception

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	50% (SNES)[3]

Review scores

Publication	Score
Electronic Gaming Monthly	6.25/10 (NES)[a]
Nintendo Power	3.725/5 (Game Boy)[b]

Earl Green of AllGame deemed it "one of the better translations" of the Monopoly board game, due to it "captur[ing] the visual essence" of its source material.^[4] Just Games Retro argued that the game solved various problems of the board game, including it being too long, too fiddly, requiring a certain number of human players, and requiring the entire game to be finished in one sitting, noting that the gameplay is streamlined due to the digitisation of many aspects like banking.^[5] Pocket Magazine deemed it faithful to the original, while praising its gameplay, graphics, and sound, though noted the shortness of rounds.^[6] Sega-16 noted that it has the fun of Monopoly without the tedium of setting up and packing away the pieces.^[7] GameCola liked the game, though wished it had slightly better AI that could accommodate more players, and allowed for more customisation of gameplay.^[8] IGN wrote it was a good game for solitaire play, but not for multi-human play.^[9]

Entertainment Weekly gave the game a C− and wrote that the computerized opponents took 10–15 seconds each to make their moves, and this made the game rather slow.^[10]

Notes

1. In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the NES versions, two critics gave it an 8/10, one a 4/10, and another a 5/10.^[1]
2. Nintendo Power gave the Game Boy port a 3.4/5 for graphics/sound, 3.7/5 for play control, 3.8/5 for challenge, and 4/5 for theme/fun.^[2]

References

1. Harris, Steve; Semrad, Ed; Alessi, Martin; Sushi-X (June 1991). "Battletoads". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Vol. 4, no. 6. p. 18.
2. "Now Playing". Nintendo Power. Vol. 29. October 1991. p. 69.
3. "Monopoly SNES Review Score". Archived from the original on 2019-05-22.
4. "Monopoly - Review - allgame". 2014-11-15. Archived from the original on 2014-11-15. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
5. "Monopoly « Just Games Retro". justgamesretro.com. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
6. "Monopoly, le test du jeu sur Game Boy Color - Jeux iPhone, Android, 3DS, PS Vita... Tout le jeu mobile et les consoles portables !". www.pockett.net. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
7. "Review: Monopoly". 2008-12-07. Archived from the original on 2008-12-07. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
8. "GameCola: Action Video Monopoly for GBO (5-4-1)". 2009-01-06. Archived from the original on 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
9. "Game Boy: Monopoly". 2002-02-20. Archived from the original on 2002-02-20. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
10. Strauss, Bob (May 24, 1991). "New videogames". EW.com. Retrieved 2018-11-03.

External links

• Monopoly at MobyGames
• Kultboy review
• Joystick review