UNO!

UNO is a card game that has been enjoyed by families all across the world. From the great plains of Australia, to the icy horizons of Greenland, UNO still makes it way to families in need of some crazy social fun. UNO was originally debuted in 1971 by Merle Robbins, but eventually was moved to Mattel Products. UNO has evolved in such a way, that it is now a featured XBLA and PlayStation Network game. Boy, UNO has come a long way since then!

Console: XBLA (Xbox 360),

Also Available On: PC, PSN (PS3)

Release Date: United States - May 9, 2006
Japan - May 9, 2006

Publisher: Microsoft

Developer: Carbonated Games

ESRB Rating: Everyone

Genre: Card

Players: 1 - 4

Introduction:

So I walked into GameStop on a hot summer day, looking to purchase a cheap, but worthwhile multiplayer experience. One of the GameStop associates recommended the Sega Superstars/Arcade Disc. Being that it was only 5 bucks, I figured that I might as well pony up the remaining 5 dollars in credit on my card to make this purchase.

And let me tell you, it was money well spent.

Gameplay:

Not much can be said about card genre, when you know that it is stale in terms of gameplay. But what makes UNO better than the other card genre competitors is beyond that of any other card game. An UNO fan boy's dream (and yes they do exist) was to play other UNO players across the world, without all of the hitches and traveling expenses necessary in making that possible. But the plan came together, when Carbonated Games and Microsoft got behind the reigns of an already successful real - life card game.

UNO's main approach/goal is to provide the gamers with the ability of playing over Xbox Live with the 4 player option. The goal of UNO is quite simple. You must try to get one card in your hand, while trying to get as many cards in your opponents' hands as possible, in order to gain points. Both the single and multiplayer modes offer the same amount of rule/option tweaking.

Two wild cards. What else do you need?

I cannot stress enough on how this is a multiplayer experience. While you can have a "meh" experience playing the offline single player, multiplayer is where it's at. The ability to actually communicate with your opponent, or trash talk him/her if you may, really pays off when you pull off that dramatic Draw Four, causing him/her to get really frustrated. It really adds to the fun and flow of the game. You also have the ability to challenge your opponent's Draw Twos or Draw Fours with the Y button. Risky as it is, the feeling you get when pulling off that feat is nothing short of extraordinary.

What also makes UNO such a consistent multiplayer game, is the fact that when your opponent leaves the game, a bot/CPU replaces them without a pause or stop to the game's fast-paced action. Also, if your opponent happens to be busy with real life situations during the actual card game, you can actually force your opponent to draw a card if he/she doesn't respond within the allotted 3-5 minute span. Little things like these keep the game fun and fresh throughout the match.

UNO, BABY!

You can also purchase customizable decks over the Xbox Live Marketplace with Microsoft Points. It really slows down the pace of the game when your opponent doesn't have the decks, though, causing the game to load really, really, really, slow. I mean you could literally cook up some ramen noodles and the match could be halfway loaded by the time you finished. So, the customizable decks kind of do more wrong than right in the overall gameplay.

You also have the ability to hook in your Xbox Live Vision camera to play with your closest friends. I, for one, haven't tried this feature yet since I don't own a Vision cam. So I can't tell you if it integrates well with the gameplay.

With the new XBL update, you are now given the option of putting your created avatars in the actual screen. It gives the game a great personal feel. Although, I would've liked to see an option to move your avatar manually after successfully pulling off an "UNO!".

Sound and Graphics:

The gameplay is the main approach in UNO, so the sound and graphics may disappoint some players. It sounds a lot like generic elevator music. But maybe that was apart of the plan? Microsoft and Carbonated Games knew that it would have to appeal to all users, whether young or old.

I, personally, find the music soothing to my mind. Plus it gives me the ability to focus on playing smarter. If you do not like the music in the game, just turn on one of your playlists/custom soundtracks, or just insert your MP3 player.

Here's a look at the Customizable Street Fighter II Deck.

Graphics are what you would expect out of UNO card textures. They are pretty colorful, but it won't blow your mind in terms of looking at a real UNO card. The celebrations after winning a hand in UNO are quite easy on the eyes though. Bundles of confetti also tend to fall down, giving you a sense of accomplishment and pride.

Lasting Appeal:

Whether it be achievement hunting or playing online matches with your buddies, UNO is sure to keep you busy for a long, long time.

Summary:

UNO is a great social game that can be enjoyed by all audiences. Carbonated Games and Microsoft sure got it right on their first try at making a successful social online game. And it's all for just under 500 MS Points, which is equivalent to almost 6 dollars. So go buy it, you cheap UNO fanboys out there, and stop playing with your mom and five-year-old cousins.

Gameplay Vids:

Spoiler

Overall Score:

Sound: 6.5
Graphics: 6.0
Gameplay: 8.2
Longevity: 8.5

Overall: 7.3