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.