Some games can really take you by surprise, sometimes positively but often negatively too. Perfect Dark Zero was highly anticipated but disappointed many, however I’m sure few were eager with anticipation at the thought of Uno, a dumbed down card game coming to Xbox Live Arcade. Surprisingly though, Uno has become a real Live Arcade gem, and for 400 points it’s certainly worth looking into.
To be brutally honest, the core game isn’t really worth your cash unless you’re particularly a fan of the card game. Players are each dealt a hand of brightly coloured cards with numbers 0 to 9 on (and some specials) in 4 different colours. Four players are in the game and the aim is to get rid of all your cards. To play a card it must be either the same color or number as the previous card, and if you have none suitable you must take another from the deck. Various special cards mix up the action, such as ones that burden the next player with 2 extra cards, reverse play or the much sought after ‘Wild draw 4’ which all but ruins the victim when played as they’re saddled with 4 extra cards.
Unfortunately there is next to no skill involved in the game. Players are effectively at the mercy of the dealer. There’s little strategy in choosing which card to play, apart from getting rid of duplicates when possible, and the game also highlights playable cards, while there’s nothing really you can do to stop another player ruining your game. There are a few aspects that are influenced by the player though. When a contestant plays their second from last card they must proclaim “UNO!” (well, you just press Y but it’s more fun to say it! Maybe not…). If somebody forgets to say it and an opposing player notices they can ‘challenge’ before the next player plays and thus saddles the ‘wrong-doer’ with 2 extra cards! Also, when a ‘wild draw 4’ is played, the ‘victim’ can challenge the play and if the one who dealt it had other possible cards to play, they must pick up 6 and the former victim walks off scot free. However if one wrongly challenges the move they pick up 6 rather than 4. This does indeed add to the game as it brings some cunning into it, breaking up the often systematic gameplay. It may sound complicated here, but in reality, it’s anything but.
Customisable options and achievements add to the single player mode depth, but on your lonesome it’s rarely too much fun. Players can change the number of points needed to win and can change to elimination mode for some variety, amongst other things. Where Uno really shines though, is it’s social side. Uno is a popular family game, and it can be just as fun on Xbox Live. The online game is identical to the single player side but is a much more humorous affair (unless you’re playing with rubbish people of course). It can be a great laugh with friends as you chat away and cry in frustration as your best mate pulls out a ‘wild draw 4’ on you.
