Any game show fan worth his weight in salt is
familiar with “The Price Is Right”. Equipped with irritatingly catchy theme
music and a dizzying array of colorful displays, this game show finds itself
firmly planted in the heart of American culture. Some might argue that it’s
absurd, promotes materialistic pursuits, and forces audiences to see Drew
Carey’s face more often than they’d like. Said individuals may derive some
comfort from the knowledge that Carey is nowhere to be found in this home
console adaptation of the popular show, and neither is Bob Barker, for that
matter. Without the appeal of such “star power”, this adaptation must rely on
the show’s tried-and-true mechanics to deliver a genuinely entertaining
experience.
While quiz shows might hold the upper hand in
attracting cerebral audiences, “The Price Is Right” relies on heavily excessive
light and noise to excite the participants. Can this become obnoxiously over
stimulating during long play sessions? Certainly – especially if you’re playing
longer than the show itself normally lasts. Having no commercial break to fall
back on, this game will require you to remain at the top of your… well, game.
For the uninitiated, the premise of “The Price Is Right” is a simple one: win
the game by accurately estimating the retail value of a designated product.
Since anyone participating in a modern industrialized society is certainly a
member of the consumer base, there is an almost unnervingly powerful level of
charm to the game.
When the game begins, you are responsible for
creating your in-game avatar. Compared to the vast customization available for
Mii avatars, The Price Is Right features a fairly disappointing assortment of
features. However, continued progress can unlock new items and accessories for
use with avatars – and in true materialistic fashion, you know you’re willing to
duke it out for that new pair of snazzy glasses. Interestingly, you can also
select an overall disposition for your avatar. This leads to the timeless
question: How would I feel if I was a contestant on The Price Is Right? As
several players are lined up, the selected disposition of each contestant
becomes clear. Some will cheer and wave to the crowds, while others will be
nervously hunched over the podium.
The rounds of each game play out just as you’d
expect in The Price Is Right. Four contestants are drawn from the audience at
the start, and the advancing player must have the most accurate estimate of a
random item’s dollar value. From there, the player will need to excel in any
number of games, collecting their prizes along the way. The general premise of
price-guessing is fairly consistent throughout. For example, one of the most
memorable games is Plinko. This functions just like the game show version. The
player must accurately guess the value of several products to earn chips. The
earned chips are then dropped through a transparent maze, bumping along winding
pathways unpredictably, until landing in a slot of predetermined value at the
bottom. Using the Wii controller definitely helps to simulate the visceral fun
of each game, although dropping chips into a maze isn’t really the most
thrilling example of this.
The iconic wheel-spinning mechanic is alive and
well, however. This allows the player to adjust the level of force with which
the wheel is rotated, allowing him to at least feel as though he’s exerting
control over his fate. This might give the Wii an advantage over other platforms
which have attempted to replicate the authentic game show experience. Just like
the show, each game concludes with a “showdown”, in which the finalists compete
to accurately guess the total value of several high-end commodities. Sadly, this
doesn’t allow much opportunity for players to wave the controller frantically in
the air, so the culmination of events can feel a bit anticlimactic. For the most
part, you’ll get maximum enjoyment out of this title if you play with friends.
Even if the product videos are horribly cheesy and the prices befuddling, at
least you’ll have plenty of cause to share laughs.
Although crisp and easy to navigate, much of The
Price Is Right appears to be very plain and simplistic. The loading times are
not very long, rarely lasting more than a few seconds. However, a game show
title such as this would benefit from a more clever integration of load times,
as the silent pause in between rounds can awkwardly disrupt the pace of the
game. Much as it might pain me to admit it, the game would also have been better
with Drew Carey’s narration. The generic narration found in this version gets
extremely repetitive. That being said, a hardcore Price Is Right fan should find
plenty to love in this Wii version.
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Gameplay: 6.5
Games like these
are more fun when actual prizes are involved. Still, there’s a decent variety of
activities for the game show enthusiast.
Graphics: 6.5
Visually clean
and easy to understand, but nothing very dazzling about the visual design.
Sound: 6.0
I can’t speak for
the hardcore audiences, but this adaptation has no shortage of ritzy jingles and
incessant ringing. I suppose that’s what makes it authentic, though.
Difficulty:
Easy/Medium
If you spend a
lot of money on recreational products, you should find yourself right at home.
Concept: 6.5
These adaptations
are hardly original, but getting to use the Wii controller certainly helps
things.
Multiplayer: 7.0
The Price Is Right definitely lends itself well to a multiplayer environment.
Just like a real game show, this is something people should gather around the
television for.
Overall: 6.5
Although fans
will find it difficult to ignore, this adaptation could have done with some
greater risk-taking. Players need to feel genuinely excited about the prizes and
rewards they’re getting for their success, because the act of estimating product
prices just doesn’t hold long-term appeal for most folks. This is a game that
will appeal to fans and perhaps keep the party going for another hour, but the
Wii has other titles far more engaging for group gatherings.
