Any game show fan worth his weight in salt is familiar with “The Price Is Right”. Equipped with irritatingly catchy theme music and a dizzying array of colorful displays, this game show finds itself firmly planted in the heart of American culture. Some might argue that it’s absurd, promotes materialistic pursuits, and forces audiences to see Drew Carey’s face more often than they’d like. Said individuals may derive some comfort from the knowledge that Carey is nowhere to be found in this home console adaptation of the popular show, and neither is Bob Barker, for that matter. Without the appeal of such “star power”, this adaptation must rely on the show’s tried-and-true mechanics to deliver a genuinely entertaining experience.

While quiz shows might hold the upper hand in attracting cerebral audiences, “The Price Is Right” relies on heavily excessive light and noise to excite the participants. Can this become obnoxiously over stimulating during long play sessions? Certainly – especially if you’re playing longer than the show itself normally lasts. Having no commercial break to fall back on, this game will require you to remain at the top of your… well, game. For the uninitiated, the premise of “The Price Is Right” is a simple one: win the game by accurately estimating the retail value of a designated product. Since anyone participating in a modern industrialized society is certainly a member of the consumer base, there is an almost unnervingly powerful level of charm to the game.

When the game begins, you are responsible for creating your in-game avatar. Compared to the vast customization available for Mii avatars, The Price Is Right features a fairly disappointing assortment of features. However, continued progress can unlock new items and accessories for use with avatars – and in true materialistic fashion, you know you’re willing to duke it out for that new pair of snazzy glasses. Interestingly, you can also select an overall disposition for your avatar. This leads to the timeless question: How would I feel if I was a contestant on The Price Is Right? As several players are lined up, the selected disposition of each contestant becomes clear. Some will cheer and wave to the crowds, while others will be nervously hunched over the podium.

The rounds of each game play out just as you’d expect in The Price Is Right. Four contestants are drawn from the audience at the start, and the advancing player must have the most accurate estimate of a random item’s dollar value. From there, the player will need to excel in any number of games, collecting their prizes along the way. The general premise of price-guessing is fairly consistent throughout. For example, one of the most memorable games is Plinko. This functions just like the game show version. The player must accurately guess the value of several products to earn chips. The earned chips are then dropped through a transparent maze, bumping along winding pathways unpredictably, until landing in a slot of predetermined value at the bottom. Using the Wii controller definitely helps to simulate the visceral fun of each game, although dropping chips into a maze isn’t really the most thrilling example of this.

The iconic wheel-spinning mechanic is alive and well, however. This allows the player to adjust the level of force with which the wheel is rotated, allowing him to at least feel as though he’s exerting control over his fate. This might give the Wii an advantage over other platforms which have attempted to replicate the authentic game show experience. Just like the show, each game concludes with a “showdown”, in which the finalists compete to accurately guess the total value of several high-end commodities. Sadly, this doesn’t allow much opportunity for players to wave the controller frantically in the air, so the culmination of events can feel a bit anticlimactic. For the most part, you’ll get maximum enjoyment out of this title if you play with friends. Even if the product videos are horribly cheesy and the prices befuddling, at least you’ll have plenty of cause to share laughs.

Although crisp and easy to navigate, much of The Price Is Right appears to be very plain and simplistic. The loading times are not very long, rarely lasting more than a few seconds. However, a game show title such as this would benefit from a more clever integration of load times, as the silent pause in between rounds can awkwardly disrupt the pace of the game. Much as it might pain me to admit it, the game would also have been better with Drew Carey’s narration. The generic narration found in this version gets extremely repetitive. That being said, a hardcore Price Is Right fan should find plenty to love in this Wii version. 

Gameplay: 6.5
Games like these are more fun when actual prizes are involved. Still, there’s a decent variety of activities for the game show enthusiast.

Graphics: 6.5 
Visually clean and easy to understand, but nothing very dazzling about the visual design.

Sound: 6.0
I can’t speak for the hardcore audiences, but this adaptation has no shortage of ritzy jingles and incessant ringing. I suppose that’s what makes it authentic, though.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium
If you spend a lot of money on recreational products, you should find yourself right at home.

Concept: 6.5 
These adaptations are hardly original, but getting to use the Wii controller certainly helps things.

Multiplayer: 7.0
The Price Is Right definitely lends itself well to a multiplayer environment. Just like a real game show, this is something people should gather around the television for.

Overall: 6.5
Although fans will find it difficult to ignore, this adaptation could have done with some greater risk-taking. Players need to feel genuinely excited about the prizes and rewards they’re getting for their success, because the act of estimating product prices just doesn’t hold long-term appeal for most folks. This is a game that will appeal to fans and perhaps keep the party going for another hour, but the Wii has other titles far more engaging for group gatherings.