Previous Next

Monopole is a two-player replica of the old family favourite Waddington board game running on the Commodore 64.

This is a complete reproduction of the game which, as almost everyone knows, is aimed at budding capitalists who try to amass great wealth while eliminating the opposition by making them go bankrupt. The machine keeps all the records, and no board, dice, or paper money are needed.

The packaging of the cassette is the usual Rabbit Software style - a colourful illustrated box, with a single instruction sheet inside which assumes you know all the rules of the game Monopoly.

This is a very good game, with very impressive use of graphics and sound. Two players are relieved of all the tedious work involved in passing money backwards and forwards; the machine keeps a record of both players' cash and the property they own, and charges rents.

The dice are beautifully represented, and the tokens move automatically round the board, with sound accompaniment.

At the start of each move, a Transactions option is given, which is when you build on properties, or mortgage them, or have a look at your opponent. At the end of each move, you are told where each player is, and how much cash they have. You go to jail accompanied by police sirens.

When you land on an unsold property, full details are given about its rental potential, with and without horses, and about whether any others in the set are already sold. You are also told its price, and how much cash they have. You go to jail accompanied by police sirens.

When you land on an unsold property, full details are given about its rental potential, with and without houses, and about whether any others in the set are already sold. You are also told its price, and how much cash you have in hand.

Interesting options are given at the beginning of the game: to tinker with the bonus effect of Free Parking, and to decide whether to auction unbought properties. Community Chest and Chance cards are faithfully represented.

This is one way of speeding up the old game to a point where play will be over fast enough to retain interest for today's kids. The only criticisms are that only two players can play, and that the rules are not given.

Monopole is very well done, and makes imaginative use of the colour and sound facilities of the Commodore 64. Being on cassette, it is low-priced, and very good value for money.