Chink. Click. Send an email. Chink. Click. Call your boyfriend. Chink. Click. Score!
Hasbro’s Family Game Night contains a variety of popular board games that will take full reign of your addictive personality and won’t let go until you have beat the AI or your friend in China. Following in Uno’s successful footsteps, Connect Four is just one of the many games offered in full digital translation, successfully recalling fond childhood memories from within your buried parts. If you’re one of those unfortunate few who missed out on a Connect Four experience due to a lack of siblings or from being a social pariah, now is your chance to finally partake in this classic ‘board game’.
Connect Four offers up a few playing options: Original, Advanced, Power Chips, and a Custom mode to play locally or through XBL. Each mode presents a different experience, whether its racing against the clock or building up your “power chips”. Winning the game gives you access to some unlockables and wins you a few prizes here and there, as well as instilling a bit of nostalgic pride back into your psyche. The AI is a bit tricky to play against and pitches a worthy challenge. The real fun to be had is, of course, when you play online or locally against human counterparts. Making for one of the best Family Game Nights to play via locally, actually seeing the other player’s ‘board’ does not hinder or change the game experience, unlike in Scrabble or Battleship.
Look at Mr. Potato Head. What does he want?
Though missing the instant gratification you feel as you ‘physically’ dominate the Connect Four board, the digital translation does play out quite successfully. The visual depiction is very much the same as the classic board, each lined texture apparent on the brightly colored chips. Even the satisfying chinks and clicks of your chips gliding down the rows are elicited in comforting likeness. Additionally, a relaxing atmosphere of a plump couch and a gorgeous window view of the city accompanies your experience.
Although I have no idea what he has to do with any of the Family Game Nights , a jolly Mr. Potato head stands as a form of referee and a cheerleader at the same time in your gameplay. His animations become excited if he thinks you are about to make a clever decision or score teh win; likewise, he displays a dejected, disappointed animation when you have lost or made a stupid move. This gives you more incentive to win, if only to keep him from making you feel even more like a loser once you have lost yet another round to the AI.
Recommendation
If you have ever enjoyed playing board games as a child or an adult, then XBL’s Connect Four is right up your alley, for a hefty price. Bearing a whopping $9.99 for this single title, you could easily find a used ‘real life’ version of the game for probably a third of the cost. However, Hasbro’s Connect Four stands as a great digital translation that will have you playing deep into the night, with anyone, anywhere, and at any time. No more waiting around for your sister or brother to play with you, and no more cleaning up the mess of chips when you’re done. Family Game Night presents a world of boardgames at the click of a button, never having you move from the comfort or warmth of your own couch or (in my case) bed. Spend the ten bucks and play a game that never gets old and doesn’t require physical interaction.
Family Game Night-Connect Four
Systems: Xbox 360 Live, Wii, PS2
Developer: Hasbro
Publisher: EA
Find: Amazon
All reviews are based on final retail code unless otherwise noted.
April 14th, 2009 at 8:22 am
$10 for connect four huh…
Don’t think I will be picking this up. These games should only be like $2 each.
April 14th, 2009 at 10:35 am
I’m still dumbfounded over Mr. Potato Head. Seriously, why is he there?
Hahaha, “doesn’t require physical interaction.” Isn’t that true for the majority of video games, too, though? I mean, we geeks thrive on that because we’re socially retarded.
April 14th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Mr. Potato is there as the classic and inoffensive mascot for every childhood experience you ever had, he’s perfect for everything. Oh wait I forgot WITA skipped out on her childhood to fight crime in Gotham
April 14th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Mr. Potato Head’s happy-go-lucky attitude keeps me throwing my controller every time my five-year-old niece beats me at this.