Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes Vs Villains Review (Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 & PC)

Monopoly taught me to loathe the idea of taxation and capitalism. Star Wars, on the other hand, taught me to never treat Chewbacca as a worthy opponent, but a cheating, unnecessarily overpowered pawn on a board that I wouldn’t ever be able to flip in a fit of rage. On the board, I could toss the bank notes in the air and walk away with a temper tantrum. In outer space, fleeing from those same problems was an impossible task. Chewbacca would smugly glide past GO, and Luke Skywalker would inconveniently step in to wedge a dice-shaped lightsaber into my eye socket. And then, as if to add insult to injury, he’d rob me, naturally.

I knew it was going to be a slog. Monopoly, in general, is famously dull, as is it the equivalent of an emotional scythe that has the power to shatter decade-long relationships with a single roll of a dice. With that in mind, you’d half expect a Star Wars infusion to shake things up in the best possible way. The fact is, though, that apart from a couple of fresh board-altering twists and themed components, Star Wars Monopoly is still just as much of a pain in the neck as it is an absolute nightmare for fledgling entrepreneurs.

Monopoly is universal, as is it a familiar pastime that we unfortunately know like the back of our own hand. Star Wars Heroes Vs Villains isn’t all that different, either. True to the point of the traditional Hasbro game, the idea is to roll the dice, travel across the board, earn a buck or two via properties, and gain enough influence before a rival proprietor ultimately rage quits and calls you out for swindling the system. Oh, it’s the same thing here, but with Influence Points instead of cash, and Abilities instead of conventional means of taxing the poor. It’s Monopoly, but with an added layer of gamification, basically.

Unlike your usual Monopoly incarnation, Star Wars opts to spread its fleet across a team-fixed galaxy. As a squad of either two or three, you have the challenge of harvesting Influence—a currency that can be acquired via properties, Chance cards, or by passing GO—and completing eight laps around the board. If you possess the most Influence at the end of the eighth trip around the galaxy, then you claim the victory. But, here’s the catch: Influence isn’t handed to you on a silver platter. Rivals, as well as most characters who flesh out the sea of stars, each have their own Abilities, which they can use to accrue more Influence, wage small wars, or turn the heel of the fight on its head.

Here’s an example: Chewbacca can bolt across the board to the nearest enemy—an act that can allow the respective team to complete laps and progress at lightning speeds. Leia, with a sleight of hand trick, can steal Influence from opponents after passing their square. Yoda, too, can upgrade properties (or bases, as they’re commonly known in the game) twice in a single trip around the board. And that same general rule of thumb carries over to all of the characters in the game. In most cases, it’s easy to learn the basics. Chewbacca, on the other hand, is unapologetically overpowered, which can be both a blessing and a curse, depending on your circumstances and roster.

Arguably the worst thing you can do here is think of Star Wars Monopoly as a faithful adaptation of the original board game. It isn’t. The fundamentals are present, as are the rage-inducing antics that stem from taxing players against their will. But, there’s a layer here that makes this sci-fi successor a ballgame of its own. It isn’t about making millions and owning the property ladder; it’s about building Influence and deploying Abilities that can shift the balance of power.

There is one good thing about this: Star Wars Heroes Vs Villains is more of a sprint than a slog. Unlike your traditional Monopoly game, rounds here are quick, to the point, and teeming with opportunities to conquer the board in fewer turns. Abilities keep you high on your toes, and quick progression ensures that you can sift through the process before both teams abandon their postings out of frustration or boredom. And that’s a huge step in the right direction for Monopoly, truly.

If there’s one thing that devours the soul of this sci-fi adaptation, it’s the single-player mode. As a co-op game, it’s entertaining, competitive, and surprisingly easy to get lost in for an hour or two. With AI bots, it’s depressing, slow, and an oh-so-lonely experience that hits a little differently on a cold afternoon. It isn’t that it’s bad; it’s that it removes the joy of belittling others on a digital front. But then, respectfully, you wouldn’t choose to play a game like Monopoly on your own.

Thankfully, the Star Wars version of the game is more than mere canon fodder for Ubisoft’s rolling catalog of Monopoly adaptations. With the original voice actors being a common fixture, as well as a trove of familiar locations being available to explore and capitalize on, Heroes Vs Villains brings a lot of authentic warmth to the field. It’s still Monopoly, but it’s also a lot more than a generic emulation. Star Wars, of all properties, is a fantastic choice for a backdrop, and Ubisoft has done a brilliant job of bringing it to the frontline.

As mentioned above, Heroes Vs Villains isn’t a word-for-word adaptation of Hasbro’s original board game. If that is something that you’re looking for, then you might be better suited for Monopoly Go. If, however, you’re all for the idea of delving into something that breaks the usual narrative to adopt fresh mechanics and rules of play, then you might enjoy splurging on Chewbacca’s monopoly. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a little dull and long-winded. That said, it does make for a far more entertaining experience than your typical ode to Hasbro.

Verdict

Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes Vs Villains provides a slightly more complex version of Hasbro’s cult classic board game, with quicker progression, greater depth, and more opportunities to tax the weakest of space cadets over lightning quick bouts of intergalactic, tax-riddled warfare. While still somewhat dull and tedious at times (thanks, Chewbacca), it adds a great layer to an otherwise familiar experience. The fact that it also makes an effort to include original voiceovers, locations, and abilities, too, makes it a lot more than a generic rehash. And if there’s one thing that we don’t need more of, it’s boring Monopoly expansions that add no value to the existing format.