Monopoly is an enduring classic that has stood the daunting test of time. Many variants and special editions later, the game still holds strong. Always visible on retail games shelves, marking a seemingly mandatory presence on the indent list. But sadly, played less frequently than a generation or two ago. This is after all, an instant
gratification era. And who has the time to marvel at those legendary cast iron play counters – iron, car, shoe, hat, etc? Or worse, manage those currency notes printed on irresponsibly thin sheets of paper, guaranteed to crumple within a few minutes of play!
Monopoly DEAL Card Game from Funskool is a remarkable demonstration that a line extension of a proven winner, need not always be a weak dilution of the original! It retails at a convenient `175, in a handy carry-anywhere pack with a deck of 112 playing cards. There is no board. No die. No play counters. No clever Disney co-op branding.
Monopoly DEAL is vicious and intense property wheeling and dealing. The 28 property cards include four railroads and two utilities. The eleven property wild cards are a new invention. The money cards (not flimsy paper) are in extravagant denominations from one million through five million. It’s the 34 action cards that are the real deal changer. Sadistic game designers conjured up priceless cards like Sly Deal (steal a property from any other player) and Deal Breaker (help yourself to a full set of properties from another player). The ‘It’s My Birthday’ action card fetches you a staggering two million from each of the other players.
There are houses and hotels to be built. Rent to be collected. Strategy, a ruthless streak, and some luck, will get you three full sets of properties, and victory. Monopoly DEAL is not a simple laugh-along UNO card game. I’ll bet you’ll read the simple instruction sheet at least thrice over to figure out a few basic play rules. The best part is that you’ll enjoy the re-reading, and savour the satisfaction of getting it right.
A particularly evil rule (and there are several such) is the ‘no change’ policy. So, if a player charges you one million, and all you have is a five million note, too bad! A few such heart-breaking payouts, and you quickly learn to apply careful thought to the cards you play!
The author may be contacted at arup_kavan@yahoo.com [1]
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