Milton Bradley Board Games

• Platform: IBM PC Compatible
• Release Date: July 24, 1999
• Genre: Traditional
• Style: Board Game
• Similar Games: Trivial Pursuit (IBM PC Compatible), Candy Land (IBM PC Compatible), Sorry! CD-ROM (IBM PC Compatible), Parker Brothers Classic Card Games (IBM PC Compatible), UpWords (IBM PC Compatible), Chutes and Ladders (IBM PC Compatible)

Game Description

Your favorite Milton Bradley board games come to the computer in Milton Bradley Classic Board Games. Play alone against a variety of computer opponents or against friends either on the same machine or over the Internet.

Create a character for yourself and then head to the game selection screen. Choose from backgammon, checkers, chess, Connect Four, dominoes, Parcheesi, or Pente. Each game has its own tutorial to help get you started, as well as variations for customizable gameplay. You can also track your high scores, win/loss record, and highest skill level achieved (there are four).

When playing against the computer you can select opponents who have different personalities and playing styles. If you're playing against friends over the internet or a modem, there are special boxes which allow you to chat while the game is in session.

Roots & Influences

This title contains seven games which were originally made popular as board games. Connect Four, Parcheesi and Pente were all created by Milton Bradley while chess, checkers, backgammon and dominoes have been in existence for hundreds of years. The latter four have appeared in many forms on a variety of home systems since the late 1970s.

Review: Overall

Milton Bradley Classic Board Games is one of those titles you'll love if you enjoy the board games it contains. If you couldn't care less about Connect Four, Parcheesi, chess, checkers, backgammon or dominoes, then you'll be better off passing over this one.

The graphics are very well done. The cast of characters, from Ace, who hosts the game, to the computer players who you can go up against, is varied and fun. Ace pops up in the beginning and also goes through the tutorials with you. He's slick and smooth, and he's animated perfectly. His dialogue fits his mouth movements, and there's a certain style to the way he moves.

In fact, each of the computer players has a style as well. Mary Lind, the blonde bombshell, stands up and smiles for a crowd of cameras every so often. Cleetus, the farmer, picks up his pig triumphantly every time he executes a great move. Jeckyl and Clyde turns from a mild-mannered man in glasses into a raging green-colored beast every so often. This variety gives your games some fun, and setting the difficulty higher will make them tougher opponents. I found that even on the easiest level they were still worthy opponents, so don't take them lightly.

I also like the animations used during the game. Your checker piece explodes in a ball of flames when taken by your opponent. Your pawn transforms into a better piece in a swirl of blue smoke when you reach the other side of the board in chess. A lightning bolt sizzles across your winning pieces in Connect Four. These little touches make the game fun.

I think it would have been even more fun if the characters spoke every so often too, but that's not a big deal. As it is the audio is fine. There's some nice light, bouncy music while you play, and there are plenty of sound effects to punctuate your moves and significant events.

Overall, this is a fine game which you'll enjoy quite a bit if you like these board games. Playing them against computer opponents is quite a challenge, and it should be fun to play against others online (if you're going to play against others at your computer, though, it would be cheaper to just buy the board versions).

Review: Enjoyment

It depends on your preferences. Personally, I enjoy a little Connect Four or checkers or chess, so I had fun.

Review: Graphics

Really nice. Plenty of little touches. The interface is well done and intuitive.

Review: Sound

Okay, I would have liked to hear all the characters talk, but that's just me. Otherwise the sound is fine in this game.

Review: Replay Value

One really nice feature of this game is that it keeps stats of what you've won and lost and who you've beaten along the way While you probably won't play this game incessantly, there's enough here for repeat playings.

Review: Documentation

The booklet explains everything you need, and there are nice tutorials which explain each game.

Production Credits