Review: The Price Is Right 2010
by Staff Writer
March 30, 2010
Overview
Come On Down in the 2010 version of The Price is Right! The game has been updated with all the new sets and looks of the show currently aired. New pricing games are included, plus prices of every product have been updated to 2010 pricing standards. Is it worth buying this game if you own the original, or if you never have, is it time to pick up The Price Is Right?
Features
Two gameplay modes are included with classic mode letting you play through one entire show going from contestant's row to a pricing game to spinning the big wheel, and finally the showcase showdown (of course only if you win the wheel). Three strikes mode allows you to play as many times through as you can with strikes occurring if you lose in contestant's row of spinning the wheel. Local multiplayer is also included letting you pass and play going through the entire game. The pricing games include: Check-Out, Cliff Hangers, Clock Game, Golden Road, Grocery Game, 1/2 Off, Hole In One, It's in the Bag, Master Key, Money Game, Plinko, Punch A Bunch Race Game, Safe Cracker, Shell Game, Spelling Bee, and 3 Strikes. In comparing to the original Clock Game, Golden Road, Grocery Game, 1/2 Off, Safe Cracker, and Spelling Bee are new additions, but Bonkers, Flip Flop, Freeze Frame, Push Over, and Range Game are no longer included.
The game features voice over by Rich Fields announcing all of the products and explaining each aspect of the game. You choose your avatar from eight stock characters and then can customize hair, eyewear, shirt, pants, and shoes. All of the products in the game have been updated so you're bidding on 2010 cars, and all products with 2010 prices.
The Good
It's always an enjoyable time to watch The Price is Right no matter who the host is, because it's all about playing along. Now you can play right from the comfort of your iPhone/iPod Touch, though you don't have a chance to win any real items. Once you launch the game you get to come on down to Contestant's Row, and bid on a prize, and then it's off to a randomly selected pricing game.
Each of the pricing games has their own unique enjoyable qualities, and Ludia has done a good job in making digital representations. A really good example is clock game which is all about spitting out numbers quickly to get to the right price. It's super simple and fun to change the arrows closing in on the price with quick feedback of higher and lower from Rich Fields.
The pricing games are without a doubt the best part of the game. It's so much fun to actually drop plinko chips, or make sure the Cliff Hanger doesn't fall off, and even walk the golden road. All of the prices of the items are much more appropriate unlike the original where you're way off in guessing the price of a 2006 Lincoln.
Then you're off to the big wheel where you actually flick to spin it, though it's not random and not dependent upon how hard you spin. Finally if you win it's the showcase showdown with deluxe prizes, and needing to guess an amount closer than your opponent. It's truly time to put your price guessing skills to the ultimate test with three huge items.
There are a lot of little improvements to streamline the play experience. The biggest thing is the overall load times are quicker which was one of the most unbearable hassles of the original. When spinning the wheel your two opponents are simulated in a second, and you have a score to beat rather than having to watch the computer spin. Also included in the first, but still good enough worth mentioning is that you can tap on any word box, or product detail to skip it.
The new sets are nicely designed, and great to look at with 3D colorful art everywhere. The avatar customization is better than the original, but still not very personal. Probably the best aspect is that the authentic price is right theme song is included in it's fullest, plus Rich Fields narrates everything.
Achievements are included for each one of the pricing games as well as the other three components of the game. The game is fun each time you play with each game playing different depending on the pricing game you get.
In terms of pricing this is an a amazing deal. It's only $0.99 providing you practically the full game that retails for $30 on Wii, $20 on PC, and $15 on Nintendo DS. The iPhone software market is truly full of deals, and this is near the top. Overall it's only $1 for a streamlined version perfect for on the go.
The Bad
One thing that is missing is the ability to just play any pricing game of your choice whenever you want to. Currently you have to play through the usual game show style with a random game, but sometimes you just want to play pricing games.
The multiplayer is basic, and it would be really nice to play over wifi or bluetooth. The multiplayer itself is inferior to the original as you only play against your opponents rather than having ai opponents if you don't have four people to play. Also when one player wins contestant's row the other just has to watch, and then there is no wheel.
Every time you play contestant's row, spinning the big wheel, bid in the showcase, or play any pricing game you're told how it's played. The game should tell you once, and then remember so you don't have to be bothered with it ever again. As stated above achievements are included, but no online high scores to compare your best earnings in single player mode.
There is a glaring problem with the game in the save system. Most of the time the game picks up right where you left off even when you're beginning the big wheel. Very occasionally, with it happening once to me, all of your earnings are erased, but it saved my game progress. Also you can exit really quick if you lose a game, and play the same game again until you win, and can do this on every stage of the game.
