5.5

Deal or No Deal

Deal or No Deal is touted as the "The Official Game For The Hit TV Series On The Seven Network" and recreates the popular TV gameplay as players must choose one suitcase (hoping that it contains $1,000,0000) and play a guessing game as they attempt to choose all the briefcases with the lowest value. As you progress, the number of suitcases you are allowed to choose decreases and hopefully if you have more briefcases with a higher amount of money in them, the money that the banker offers you is more.

Key Features

• Everything you love about the TV game show on your Nintendo DS

• Featuring Andrew O’Keefe on the packaging

• All the TV show’s elements are included – the studio, music and boxes

• Statistics and other game play features transform the TV show into a more strategic and skill packed game

• Open boxes to cheers, applause or groans

• Each player has a Risk Type – cautious, gambler or wealth

• Instructions are provided to help you through every step of the game

• 3 modes of play:  Contestant, Forfeit and Banker

• A unique twist to the TV show – instead of playing for money players can choose to play for tasks like washing the dishes and walking the dog

• Fun for the whole family

• Watched by 1.5 million viewers

Although the title contains your traditional Deal or No Deal gameplay, the developers have added a variety of twists to the initial concept through the introduction of mini-games and the ability of three gameplay modes that include Contestant, Forfeit and Banker.

Contestant is the main mode of play which this review will focus on and before you start playing, you must select 1 of 26 identical briefcases, hoping that yours contains the one million dollars. From their, you must play a variety of different rounds and attempt to select random briefcases or if you have psychic abilities, the ones with the lowest amount of money.

After the round is finished, the banker then attempts to buy your suitcase from you, depending on how much money is left with the other briefcases. As this game is touted a "family game", the developers have added the twist of instead of playing for money, they can play for tasks such as washing the dishes or taking the dog for a walk which could create some great family moments and does increase the enjoyment level of the title.

Graphically, Deal or No Deal is quite reminiscent of the Australian game show with Andrew O'Keefe and the developers have successfully recreated that studio look and feel. The graphics, although from pixel heaven also feature some good animated characters who hold the cases with all the text being quite easy to read. Musically, the theme is reminiscent of the game show and goes hand in hand with the gameplay. The sound effects also match the TV series and does assist with the overall enjoyment level of the game.

In conclusion, Deal or No Deal is an interesting twist on the original TV show with the inclusion of a variety of mini-games that although are quite forced still shakes things up for the player as the game does not just become a number picking or gambling game.

If you're a fan of the series, than you'll probably enjoy the gameplay, however if you are not a fan of the series, than you definitely will need to steer clear of this game. It's ironic that this game was developed for such a small minority group as unfortunately (although I do enjoy the TV show), I don't believe will become a hit with Australia. Good try but No Deal!