Game of Life
by Hasbro Games
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Toys and Games Reviews of Game of Life
Customer Review: Fun game needing an ergonomic makeover
Summary: 4 Stars
We have enjoyed playing the Game of Life and find that the children like if because it does not take forever to play or to get around to their next turn, the game board has enough variation to make things interesting, and the randomness of the game helps equalize each player's chances. The rules are pretty clear, especially after you play a game or two. There are always a few laughs each round, so no one takes matters too seriously, and the kids may get just an inkling of all the "fun" still in store for them.There are some areas where simple changes and improvements would have helped, however.
First, the number of career and salary cards should be doubled to maintain extended interest and to increase the variety of outcomes. Also, the cards need to be sturdier.
Second, the tiny "people" game pegs are absurdly small, so small that many adults will have a hard time picking them up and placing them into their cars (which sometimes tip over, meaning you have to pick up the pegs again). Vacuum cleaners love these pegs, too, for they are hard to spot until it's too late.
Third, and perhaps most annoying, is that the game contains no adequate central storage. Hence, the cards, the money, the life cards, and the various deeds, insurance papers, and loan documents get jumbled up, so expect to spend 10 minutes organizing everything before you can plan.
If you can put up with the nuisance factor, then get a Life!
Customer Review: different, not better
Summary: 3 Stars
I have both the old and new versions of Life. I bought the new version this past Christmas, and it is different than my old 70's version. For one thing, setting up is much more involved. There are many different cards that weren't in the old game. Also all of the plastic houses and the wheel have to be put on the board because the board folds flat. There are changes to the careers, which are more fun. You can choose career cards and salary cards separately with more modern salaries. You can also choose your house. All of these are chosen without looking. There are also different spaces that when landed on you can take other people's salaries, and get paid according to your job - like buy a sailboat, and if someone is the salesman they get the money. The one thing I do not think is more fun is the life cards. They are basically worthless until the end of the game, and all they are good for is to get more money. You can't even look at them until the end of the game. There are no revenge spaces and you do not receive presents like the old game, just life cards. My first grader can count his own money and pay bills with no help, now. I was impressed at how fast he learned.
Both are fun in their own way, but the classic version is worth holding on to.
Customer Review: The Game of Life
Summary: 4 Stars
I got to play this game, once, as a child with my friend. I won, and he never wanted to play again, ever. So when my daughter said she wanted to play it, 30 years later, I said "Ok. Let's get it."
Set up
Set up took some time, since the gameboard had to be assembled. It takes an adult to set it up. There are a lot of small parts so I don't recommend it for a child or household who has a child less than 5 years of age (given the choking hazard).
Gameplay
There really isn't much to it with regards to strategy. There are choices of going to college, focusing on having a family, choosing a risky life, and choosing a safe retirement or risky retirement. The game is educational since the players have to count up the money, and realize the repercussions of life decisions. They also learn that children are expensive. Very expensive. They also learn the lessons of incurring debt through borrowing for college loans or a mortgage.
Overall
I don't have the past experience of the original game, and it was 30 years ago, so I don't recall the major changes. I find that this was a fun game for the whole family.
Customer Review: My ratings are for the Pre-1991 version. Buyer Beware !!
Summary: 4 Stars
First off, my review is on the "old" Game of Life (pre 1991).The new one is horrible, they did away with things like the "Poor Farm" and "Gambling" or playing the "Stock Market".
Also, it is missing the "Share The Wealth" cards. I love popping those on someone and forcing them to give me half of what they just collected or making them pay half of a space I land on.
As for durability, mine is an original 1960 version and the wheel spins just as smoothly as the day my parents bought it and the board still looks perfect.
I made a mistake and bought a new one for my nephew and his family. We opened the box and set it up (which was pain as apparently this must be done each time) then I saw how much it had changed. The game has been severely "polictally corrected" and doesn't teach kids a darned thing. Example: The "Superstar" could have a $100,000 salary while the "Doctor" who went to college and in debt to do it may have only a $10,000 salary. Also, you don't collect anything for having kids at the end of the game. Just LIFE tiles. Like, you get $50,000 for planting a tree. What the heck does that have to do with having kids??
Customer Review: Times they are a changin'--It's not your parents Game of Life
Summary: 2 Stars
I used to love the game of life as a kid (I'm only 27, so the memories are still a little vivid.) I bought this for my boyfriend as a birthday present, because I remembered how fun it was. The newer version is totally different! It is a much quicker game--there are fewer spaces then the older version--and that is nice.
However, it does leave everything up to chance! You randomly draw a salary card and a career card to determine what you do. Some careers require a college degree, but the salary is not linked to your career. Some of the spaces on the board are coded by career, and if you hold that career, you get the money. You do have a couple opportunities to trade your salary or career, but it's not the same. The BIGGEST difference is that they have added "LIFE tiles" that you acquire when you have kids or get married, etc. etc. The values range from 50K to 250K, and you don't look at them until the end of the game. So, even if you've been ahead the whole game, you can lose it all in the end.
Maybe the game has changed to more accurately portray life? I dunno. I just like the old school version.