MONOPOLY: Build-a-lot Edition. The best or the worst one?

When you start playing MONOPOLY: Build-a-lot Edition it may seem to you that you had seen it before. You even may think that it is something that looks like Monopoly and Build-a-lot 2 but it took not much from Monopoly. This combining may seem a wonderful idea to you because the most spread board game and casual game should be a good match. But in some moments this alliance can be too noticeable.

The strategy and the rules haven’t changed a lot. So it was easy just to copy the reviews of the previous game Build-a-lot 2. But there are also some new traits as new level names, some buildings, the permanent host called Mr. Monopoly and some others. The aim is left the same: you have to build neighborhoods with the help of constructing hotels, new houses and industrial buildings, landmarks and so on.

You get money from Houses and Hotels building. You can spend it on new building drafts, new workers’ training, building materials, new houses purchasing. If you want to increase your income you have the possibility to modernize the hotels or make them more profitable for comfortable living. If you have a wish to make the view around better, you can paint the houses and buildings.

Landmarks will also bring you some additional income. Landmarks include Mr. Monopoly statue that is a seldom mark at Monopoly game, Cinema, some entertaining places. These advantages are needed for your neighbourhood. On the other hand industrial buildings have another role. For example, Samwill provides you with lower material cost, Workshop will allow you to train your new workers with a good discount, and house landscaping can be done with the help of the Garden Center.

Moreover, your neighborhood can make use of such buildings that provide different services. Some of them allow your workers and vans work faster, some help to prevent damages or various troubles with houses and buildings. Aren’t you excited at all? Does it seem familiar or boring to you? Give it a try – despite all its easiness it is a great experience.

When you finally reach one of the difficult stages, you understand that this game has not been developed enough by HipSoft because the original game of  Build-a-lot.

Monopoly Build-a-lot Edition offers not so many levels to pass and even on the existing ones there are no additional aims to reach or challenges to complete. The strategy is the same for every aim reached. You manage to do everything in time because you know what to wait for.

There is a free mode presented in this game but it almost makes no difference. I am really bored by it because it offers nothing new or different from the main timed mode. Besides, there is no clock and there is a possibility to complete the level until you pass it. It could be much more interesting and exciting like in iWin’s Coconut Queen where free mode is really great.

MONOPOLY Build-a-lot Edition disappointed those who expected to see the best combination of the two popular games. The traits that could be the best ones for combining haven’t been used at all while creating this game. The potential that could be used in a very profitable way has not been considered by the developers that put this game into the list of losers.

The part of Monopoly game used in MONOPOLY Build-a-lot Edition is not large. It includes Mr. Monopoly as a host, some buildings that look like in Monopoly, level map, that looks like the Monopoly board. A good idea would be to use surprise messages  resembling “chance”-cards in the CC & Chance Office if the number of lots were more. So their importance is not big and their influence is not almost noticeable.

I wonder why the developers considered it unmanageable to combine the strong parts of these two games. For instance, it would be better to use Monopoly board  instead of Build-a-lot layouts. I could be also better to purchase the streets and build the houses on those ones where the value is higher. Or it could be better to give more money to the player if he has bought all the streets. They could provide the positive and negative events that appear as a result of various actions or clicks of the player or opponents to take part in purchasing the streets that seem suitable for them. The possibility to purchase Utility Co or Water Works from his opponents in case of troubles with pipes or electricity. If these marks had been considered and provided this game would really have been a great one. It would add some points to those games it had been made of. The potential for these improvements is endless but, unfortunately, not used.

If you had played Build-a-lot games, you will possibly like this one as well. But I am sure that many gamers would feel disappointment. Those who had been attracted by “Monopoly” name will suffer from unpleasant emotions too because its name is almost the only thing that resembles Monopoly game. What I really like while playing is a good graphics and the concept of Build-a-lot games.

If you are ready to risk, also try the games like Be Rich, Wonderburg or Power Source.