The I Love Lucy Game: Episode 1
Publisher: Big Fish Games
Developer: Beanbag Studios
Four game types and secret bonus game. Accessible gameplay. Good production values.
Very little replayability. Can't watch entire episode. Won't likely appeal to younger players. Some game types very similar.
Full Review
by Marc Saltzman (05/17/2008)It was one of the most-watched television show in its day - I Love Lucy, which ran from 1951 to 1957, starred Lucille Ball as lovable naive housewife Lucy Ricardo and Desi Arnaz as Ricky Ricardo, her charming husband and bandleader.
Not only is this influential show still in syndication around the world more than 50 years later, and translated to multiple languages, but now casual gamers can relive (or perhaps discover for the first time) Lucy's hilarious antics in The I Love Lucy Game: Episode 1, a collection of puzzle games based around a memorable episode, Lucy Does a TV Commercial, where our hapless heroine continues her eternal quest for TV stardom.
While we like the idea of transforming a timeless black-and-white television show into an interactive game, this Big Fish Games exclusive suggests there might be limits to a game based on video clips and still images, which results in short and shallow play, and with limited replayability.
The game lets you select from one of four game modes in any order you choose. Here's a quick synopsis of what you do in each of these game types:
Aside from this game being very easy, one of the first issues I had while playing The I Love Lucy Game: Episode 1 was that I felt like I wasn't working towards anything. That is, you're making money by solving puzzles, but there isn't anything you could buy with the virtual cash, such as the ability to watch the entire episode from start to finish or secret interview clips with Lucille Ball. or any reward. That said, you can unlock a small bonus game, but we won't give anything away how to do it or what you get.
A bigger problem, perhaps, is you won't likely want to play the game a second time around. This is because you'll see the exact same trivia questions and puzzles. Therefore, after a few short hours you will see all there is to see, and then you're done.
In other words, The I Love Lucy Game: Episode 1 is a good idea, but falls short in its execution. Serious fans of the television show, however, might enjoy these puzzles and the game's attractive presentation.
