The Game of Life - PlayStation Gameplay
0While The Game of Life did get a lot of console adaptations since the Game Boy in 1992, many of them were Japan exclusives. That is until 1998, when Hasbro Interactive decided to finally adapt the board game for the English-speaking audience... but only in the United States. This game was originally developed by Mass Media for Windows, while the PlayStation port, as you are watching right now, was developed by The Collective (the same studio behind Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb and the PS2 adaptation of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith).
Much like the real board game, The Game of Life has players deciding on such issues as marriage, home ownership, college, insurance, careers, and even starting a family. Each player (up to six can play at once) is given $10,000 to start, with the goal being to earn as much money for "retirement" as possible.
You'll first have to choose between college or starting a career, and subsequent turns involve spinning a wheel, moving your car token along the board, following directions on the space, and making decisions to maximize your earnings. The PlayStation version offers a 3D game board and your choice of car tokens and characters to play as or against.
The game also features a unique "car cam" perspective, allowing you to see through your token's windshield, and an announcer to keep things moving along. Other enhancements include a soundtrack reflecting the game's different time periods, hundreds of board animations, and both analog controller and memory card support.
The PS1 version in particular has a total of 66% in critic ratings according to MobyGames, with the highest score being from Absolute PlayStation, who gave it an 82/100. PSX Nation gave it a "mostly positive" 75/100, Gamezilla and All Game Guide were more mixed, giving it 65/100 and three stars respectively. And then there's IGN, who gave it a 4.8 out of then. Which is funny, since they reviewed the PC version and they gave it a 7.2 out of 10. Speaking of the PC version, wait until you hear what JeuxVideoPC.com had to say back in 2006. The French site gave the PC version a scathing 3 out of 20!
Still, the PC version did have overall a 60% critic rating. What are your thoughts on the first attempt at adapting the board game to English speakers? And who did it better: Hasbro Interactive, Marmalade (2016 and The Game of Life 2), Takara (Jinsei Game), EA (mobile, Hasbro Family Game Night 3), Black Lantern Studios (GBA) or Popcap?
The Game of Life (C) Hasbro
Also released on PC
Absolute PlayStation review, which is surprisingly still up online: https://www.absolute-playstation.com/api_review/rgol.htm
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