Game Review: Monopoly Ultimate

First, let me say that I hate Monopoly. It's light on strategy, it depends too much on trading (not my favorite game mechanic), and it benefits you after all the properties are bought to stay in jail as long as possible. But mostly because it's the game that never ends. I will only play if a time limit is set beforehand, player with the most money wins, game over.

All that changes with Monopoly Ultimate. It's your father's Monopoly, but with 3 added expansions that speed up the game and make it actually fun. Not my favourite game by any means, but fun. Here are some of the changes:

Every space is for sale, including Income Tax, Free Parking, and Go. Just Visiting now includes paying for the privilege.

The golden car (I forget the actual name and always call it the Cash Cab), which you can become temporarily, picks up properties it lands on for free.

As soon as every property is acquired, the game ends.

My favourite part: special power cards you can purchase or get for free create game chaos. With the right card, you can build houses without owning a full set of properties, or become the bank and pay fines with embezzled funds, or win the game by rolling three doubles in a row. These are powerful powers, but you lose them as quickly as you gain them to keep the game even. More or less.

The game I played still took two hours, and I didn't win, but it went by quickly because it was entertaining. And I no longer have to excuse myself when Monopoly is suggested, as long as it's the Ultimate.

Ev'rybody Wants To Be a Goof -- New Characters Added

New characters are caught doing the Goofy Yell: Enchanted 2007 Troll
Bent tree springs back to send him out of the picture Tangled: the Series 2017, Challenge of the Brave Contestant
Knocked out of the competition by a giant hammer See more at the Evry'body Wants To Be a Goof website.

Disney's Best Opening Credits

Here are my personal top 4 opening credit sequences of Disney movies. I would've preferred a more standard Top 5, but couldn't think of any other film that really deserves a spot. Keep in mind that many, many movies opt for bare credits instead of interesting opening sequences, unlike this foursome.

CONDORMAN

If the movie was half as entertaining as the opening credits, it would be a must-own. I would even vote for a Disney Afternoon series of this guy.

OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

The retro vibe used here is spot-on and worth the price of admission.

MONSTERS, INC

Another nostalgic entry, with a jazzy tune that enhances the paper-cutout look of this animation.

ONE HUNDRED AND ONE DALMATIANS

There's so much to love here beyond the fabulous animation. My favorite things are the typewritten letters for story credits, the running dogs for animation credits, and the musical notes for orchestration credits.

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