PDACorps Reviews Handmark Monopoly

[Brad Adrian]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pdacorps.com/default.asp?key=pages/monopoly.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.pdacorps.com/default.asp...es/monopoly.htm</a><br /><br /></div>"If the street names on the Monopoly board are coded into your DNA as they are with most Americans, this game will be as familiar to you as if your own neighborhood had been miniaturized, and tucked neatly into your pocket pc. Even if the names are new to you it is worth getting to know them, as this Handmark game is excellent."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/adrian/pdacorps.jpg" /><br /><br />These opening comments in the <a href="http://www.pdacorps.com/default.asp?key=main.asp">PDACorps</a> review of Handmark's <a href="http://www.handango.com/brainstore/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&productId=44820">Monopoly</a> make it clear that the author, Dodette, likes the way the game has been ported onto the Pocket PC platform. I <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4380">agree</a> with just about everything the review has to say about the game -- including its disappointment that the game is still so expensive. But, you Monopoly fans really should read this review and (in my opinion) get this game. Make sure you see the "Hot" and "Not" section at the end of the article, too.

[MPSmith]

Good review. I'd buy it if they make it either wi-fi compatible or lower the price to $20.

[dodette]

What a surprise, as a frequent lurker, to find this thread! Thanks, Brad, for mentioning the review at PDACorps. I enjoyed reading your Monopoly review as well (but couldn't read it until I had written mine :wink: )

As to pricing, MPS, if you go for the cd/roms, they bundle Scrabble and Monopoly for $29.95, I believe. I've seen them at Amazon, or even at CompUSA locally. Those are 2 great programs for $15 each, which is more palatable.

The wifi support is a definite issue, as that was the theme for my 4 Handmark reviews. Trivial Pursuit supports wifi, but Scrabble only beams, and Monopoly does nothing. Yahtzee actually supports all 3 (beam, BT and wifi), but not cleanly. I expect they will update the programs to clean up these issues.

I've been pleased with the games I've evaluated, if you ignore price. 8)

[Rob Alexander]

The game is certainly beautifully done in terms of graphics, layout and game play, but the AI of the computer players leaves much to be desired. They are so bad that you'll have all of their strategies figured out after several games and you'll find winning all too easy. At first it seems like the greatest game ever, but then you quickly tire of it and wish you'd spent about half the price. I played it for about two weeks shortly after it was first released and haven't bothered since. I didn't even install it when I got my latest PPC. If you could play against a human opponent on two different PPCs (via beaming, wi-fi or bluetooth), then it would be killer, but as a one-player game, it's just not worth the high price.

[tanalasta]

The game is certainly beautifully done in terms of graphics, layout and game play, but the AI of the computer players leaves much to be desired.

I totally agree with this statement. It's a lovely game - but after a 10-0 or thereabouts win record I had to uninstall it. The computer strategy for buying/selling/trading leaves much to be desired. The program also seems to be rather biased against letting you trade to complete a complete set of properties - unless you have lots of cash (not very hard). If they improve the AI in a future release I may consider re-installing but as it is, there are superior games out there for the same price.

[minimage]

I've played Monopoly since I was a kid, but didn't really understand all the rules and what it takes to win. I think I've learned something about that in the past couple of years, but I would still say I'm not very good at it. This means it's a challenge for me to beat the AIs (I lose more than I win), and therefore I really enjoy Monopoly!

[foosball_monkey]

I love playing Monopoly on my Ipaq---I play it basically every night before I go to bed to unwind. It is a load of fun, and even though the AI has become predictable, the game is still a lot of fun and has definitely taught me some strategies to use on my cousin the next time she and I play it board-game style! :D The gameplay is very fun, and the game just looks really really good on my PDA.