The Price Is Right (Wii) Review

Posted by Jacob Lopez on 10.08.2008

America’s favorite game show is now available on the Wii. Invite up to 3 friends, and bid on prizes. All of it can be yours if The Price Is Right!



Gameplay:

The Price is Right is based on the classic game show. Players will “Come on down!” to the Contestants’ Row and bid on an item, the player who bids the closest without going over will then proceed to a pricing game, then spin the wheel in the Showcase Showdown and finally compete to win it all in the Showcase.

Sounds simple enough, but unless you are a frequent shopper, the odds will be stacked against you. It always seems so easy when watching the show, but when you have to bid on that propane grill don’t be surprised if you catch yourself saying, “Damn, I have no idea how much one of those is worth!”

Everything you have grown to love is in the game, Plinko, Punch a Bunch, Cliff Hangers and all the other classics are here. The game has three main modes, two are single-player and one is multiplayer. In single-player the pricing game is random, and in multiplayer you can select 1 of 4 games.

Where this game really wins is the multiplayer mode. The Price is Right is definitely a party game. In fact, Party Game is actually a play mode. If you are playing with a group of friends the competitive/fun level is kicked up tenfold, and you actually somehow start caring about what prizes everyone is “winning”. You and your friends will be clicking on “Play Again” more than a few times. You play with one controller, passing it back and forth across the room. This can be a pro or a con depending on how you look at it. On the upside, families with only one Wii Remote can all get in on the action totally eliminating the need for four controllers, but it can be a little weird to get used to if you don’t normally pass them around.


Cliff Hangers is by Far One of the Coolest Games

If you go at it solo, there are two ways to play, Classic and Three Strikes Mode. Classic is the truest to the game show, but if gives you 6 chances at the Contestants’ Row. If you lose at the Showcase Showdown it is an automatic game over. With Three Strikes mode, the get to play the entire show over and over until you get 3 strikes. Players get strikes by losing at Contestants’ Row or the Showcase Showdown. The major difference here is that if you lose at the Showcase Showdown, you can spin again without having to restart the game until you accumulate three strikes.

Single-player is nowhere near as awesome as multiplayer, but the developers cared enough to give players achievements with unlockable videos that should give you something to strive for when playing by yourself (Do yourself a favor and try to earn the Plinko and Showcase Showdown videos). Even with the Achievements, comparing single-player to Party Game is like comparing Halo 3’s campaign mode to its online multiplayer. It can be fun, but it just won’t keep you entertained for nearly as long.



Graphics:

Graphics may not have been what the developers had in mind when they created this game. The characters are definitely not pretty, one of them looks like Carson Daily and another looks like Dr. Phil. They seem like stock models that come with introductory versions of 3D animation software, but I won’t blast the game too much for not having the best looking characters.

All the pricing games and the Showcase Showdown look just as they should. The prizes are presented in the form of small 15-30 second video clips, and it all really starts to feel like the game show.




Sound:

The memorable theme music will instantly put a smile on your face, and remind you of those weekday mornings when school was out. I have no complaints about what is probably the most recognizable game show theme in the world playing through my speakers.

Rich Fields plays announcer and host for this game, and comes on with just as much pizzazz as he does on the TV show. It would have rocked to at the very least have Bob’s likeness in the game, but what can ya do?

The crowd cheers do just what they are supposed to do, nothing more nothing less. Some of the most rockin’ sounds you will get out of the game aside from the theme music are the Plinko drop sound and Cliffhangers’ yodelling.




Lasting Appeal:

This can vary greatly depending on whether or not you have friends over. On your own, you can play the occasional round, but with a good group of buddies, a 12-pack of soda and two large pizzas the fun will last all night.

I will even go as far as to compare the Price is Right to any classic board game. It will make for a great family night, because of the show’s wide appeal. This is something I was able to play with my grandparents. The controls are simple enough, and the show is familiar to them.

I played the game for quite a while and I noticed that some items tend to repeat over different playthroughs. There may be hundreds of items, but there are a few I have seen more than once. The other minor concern I have is that a year or two from now, for instance, flatscreens may not be worth nearly as much as they are in game.





The 411:

When it comes down to it, the Price is Right is a damn fun game when played in groups. Single-player may seem unfair at times, but in multiplayer the odds are a little more even.

Parents and grandparents who got a kick out of casual fun like Wii Sports should definitely add this one to their collection. The Price is Right is something we have all watched at one time or another, so it gives us all something to relate with. If anyone won’t find as much enjoyment in the game it will be the younger single child players, because they may not have a realistic idea of the value of the prizes they are bidding on.

The price is not quite right at $40, but I would pick it up for $30 (sorry, I know that was a cheesy sentence). Either way, if you want to make it a family night, the Price is Right is a great way to spend the evening.



See You at the Showcase

Graphics	6.0	The graphics are on par with a PS2 game, and the characters' animations can be pretty creepy at times. Nothing really stands out, but the games look ok.
Gameplay	8.0	The game definitely feels like the show. It is simple enough for an older generation, and can be played by fans of any age. Surely great for an expanded audience.
Sound	8.0	Rich Fields is announcer for this one. The classic theme music will instantly evoke feelings of happiness. I love the yodelers on Cliff Hangers.
Lasting Appeal	7.0	Don't expect it to last long if you play alone. Add 3 other people, and this can become a weekly event. There are achievements to help make more out of the game, but they may not work for you.
Fun Factor	8.5	This 8.5 is based on multiplayer. Once again, if you don't have friends, make some before you pick this one up. Single-player really hurts this title.
Overall	7.0   [ Good ]