OXCGN XBLA Review: Uno Rush = Speed Chess

It’s twice the price, but double the fun?

By TWODOGSz

© 2009 Aaron Bertinetti:-NE (News Editor)

I don’t pretend to know why Uno is so popular.

It could be the colours, the accessibility of the poker-lite play or, in the case of the original XBLA release, maybe it’s just the promise of naked strangers over Xbox Live on your screen?

But it’s testament to the original’s XBLA success that its sequel was reserved for an announcement at Microsoft’s Keynote at E3 ’08. Because as much as some would rather not admit, Uno is probably a title that you’ve continued to play long after you left other titles by the wayside. It still ranks consistently in the Top 10 of Major Nelson’s weekly Xbox Live activity lists.

So whilst it’s hard to put your finger on what’s so attractive about the coloured card game, there’s no doubt that once those reds, blues, greens and yellows are running through your veins it’s a habit hard to kick!

But do we really need another Uno on XBLA?

Judging a book by its cover it’s hard to differentiate Uno Rush from the original Uno. However, within five minutes of gameplay it’s clear that a lot of work has gone into making this a fresh experience.

The original Uno is very much like a game of poker.

Whether you’re sitting in front of a HDTV or around a table with mates, the game is as much about player personality, banter and bluffs as it is about the cards in your hands.  Arguably that’s what continues to make Uno on XBLA such an easy sell. With camera and voice integration, along with a low price, you can get together with a group of friends, see each other, talk to one another and play a casual round or ten.

Uno Rush, in contrast, is more like a game of speed chess.

You have a limited amount of time, perhaps 4 seconds on default settings, to make your moves. More controversially is that everybody’s cards are turned up so you can’t bluff and counter bluff your opponents as effectively.

Compounding this is the ability to chain moves in a series of matching colours, numbers or both to the point that it’s quite possible to win the game with one move. So while the strategy is there, it’s a far more reflexive game that emphasises dexterity both of your hands and eyes to take advantage of your opponents on a second’s notice.

Strangely, Uno Rush shares a common gameplay philosophy with Resident Evil.

Just like Resident Evil, Uno Rush employs restrictions on a player’s speed and movement in contrast to the action around them. By restricting the speed of the analogue stick and only allowing the movement of one card at any given time, Uno Rush artificially enhances the tension.

And whilst this works for a while, it becomes a serious problem when you’re thinking well ahead of the game, but the controls deliberately impede you from executing your strategy.

It’s disappointingly clear it’s part of the design philosophy, because nowhere in the game’s menus is the player afforded the option to increase the sensitivity of their analogue stick in order to match the speed of their thoughts. It almost feels like the designers are openly admitting that the depth can only go so far.

This quickly becomes a definite point of frustration in what is otherwise a lively and altogether different take on the classic card game.

But on that note I’m left wondering who Uno Rush is actually aimed for…

I firmly believe that the core reason for the original’s success is the game’s encouragement of socialising. And whilst Uno Rush provides all the bells and whistles for online communication, the fact that Halo 3 or Gears 2 provides more space for socialising, speaks volumes both of the game’s speed and its major drawback. This speed and forced complexity will likely discourage the same casual audience that has embraced the original.

The core of the game becomes a player’s ability to read what cards players will play and how the pile is going to change as a result. It’s a mentally engaging, bonafide “quick game’s a good game”; experience, but it’s not at all conducive to socialising with your fellow gamers. You’re too busy watching cards and making split second decisions to have time to talk in any material way.

This barrier to entry is unfortunate, because it does do a lot to build on the original.

The presentation is markedly improved, with enhanced animation, colours and audio along with the full integration of Avatars, who seemingly have a whole new set of animations in Uno Rush which can be manipulated by players. As a result Uno Rush does have some distinct personality and adds to that of your digital selves.

It becomes a lot of fun to control your Avatar’s expressions during a game and particularly during the end game celebrations, which found me at one point using my Avatar to digitally flirt with the female Avatar who consistently kicked my arse. (Although knowing my luck “she” was probably a “he”!)

All the standard game modes are here as well, along with all the communication bells and whistles of the original. But they seem mostly wasted as a result of the substantially changed rules discouraging the traditionally slow and social experience. Thankfully the addition of local multiplayer means that if everyone on your couch is up to speed (so to speak) you’re likely to have a lot of fun.

So is it worth 800 Microsoft Points?

Well if you’ve got the original and are satisfied, probably not. If you avoided the original because it was too slow and social, then buy Uno Rush.

And if you don’t have either, I suggest picking up the original for half the price. In fact it’s a wonder why Uno Rush wasn’t just an expansion or update to the original title.

Because for the equivalent of $15 Aussie dollars, as my frugally minded girlfriend succinctly put it: “Why not just buy the real thing?”.

”7/10

© 2009 Aaron Bertinetti:- NE (News Editor)

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