The Game of Life

I don't consider myself to be old (not mentally, anyway), but this latest mobile conversion of the classic boardgame, The Game of Life, reinforces my belief that life is getting more complicated. That's generally the sort of thing the aging like to say, when muttering to each other about the terrible bus service while sitting on a park bench feeding pigeons, but it doesn't change the fact that life was a lot simpler when I was young.

The Game of Life, that is. My parents (just like yours, I've no doubt) still have our original Game of Life boardgame squirreled away in the upstairs cupboard waiting for its annual Christmas outing, but it would seem that in the 25 years since they bought it, the game has changed. This latest mobile version reflects the differences in contemporary existence that are, it now seems, lacking from that original boardgame.

Not that this is any bad thing. We've already had mobile versions of Game of Life, so it's good that a new one has a bit of extra interest woven into its materialistic gameplay. Quintessentially that gameplay hasn't changed; only the events that shape your life as you trundle around the metaphysical board differ.

Up to four players (either computer controlled or pass-the-handset multiplayer) can take part in the fun journey from adolescence to retirement. A fluctuating power gauge sets the trademark spinner off gyrating, and the choices come thick and fast as to what direction you'll choose through your new existence.

The game still centres on accumulating wealth, prosperity and status symbols, which are unceremoniously used to quantify the worth of your existence come retirement, but this latest incarnation demands far more decision making and much less luck than previous versions. You must now choose what kind of house you buy (which must be within your fledgling budget near the beginning of the game), and are offered such options as changing careers, or going back to school as you enter middle age.

These new aspects of life are quite intriguing, and provide an excellent contemporary update on the way people do indeed live their lives these days (often quite different from the way it was done back when my parents first picked up the boardgame).

Investments can be made as early on as possible (assuming you can afford them), which pay out whenever the spinner lands on that particular number, while 'Life' tiles are gradually gathered as you land on appropriate squares during your mortal journey. These tiles represent an unknown amount of money that's only revealed at the end of the game, and are presumably included to symbolise those unforeseen benefits accrued through a prosperous existence (like discovering your Star Wars toys are now worth a fortune on eBay).

While the game looks very much the part, providing a clear isometric representation of a recognisable game board, the gameplay pretty much amounts to single button presses to spin the wheel. Not that there's a great deal more expected, but the lack of other gameplay mechanics encourages you to fire through the game a little too hastily (actually, that sounds a lot like real life), broken up only by the occasional gamble, investment opportunity or marriage.

However, this is very much The Game of Life - updated for the reality TV generation and packed to the gills with more status symbols than a BMW showroom. Assuming you're in the market for a mobile adaptation of the classic board game, you'll get precisely what you want without the hassle of someone having to be the banker.

The sad thing about The Game of Life is that getting to the end means you're much nearer the front of the queue to die, and that always puts a bit of a downer on winning. Still, life's one big game anyway, so a few practice runs certainly can't hurt when it comes to facing mortality for real.