Press Your Luck ($4.99) is the ’80s game show that made the Whammy famous. Remember that little red guy that ran across the screen, and stole all the players’ money? The game show was definitely fun to watch, and the iPad version is just as enjoyable.
If you aren’t familiar with the game, the object is to answer a series of trivia questions with the purpose of earning spins to use later. Everyone has a chance to answer each question, but if you are the first to buzz in, you’ll get the most spins. After a wave of questions, you can use your spins on the board. A highlighted block will continuously flash around the board while the icons change positions. When you tap the screen, the highlighted block will stop on a cash prize, bonus spin or Whammy. If you land on a Whammy, a little red guy will run across the screen, and steal all of your money. The winner of the game is the person with the most money.
There are two main options for play: single player or multiple players. Multiple-player mode allows up to three players to play on the same device, and displays three buzzers when a new question comes up. Players can choose their own avatar, and customize their look.
The gameplay is smooth and enjoyable, with the exception of pace during the single-player game. When you play single-player games, you need to wait for the host to make a comment, then for the computer players to make their selections. There is no way of skipping through commentary or computer players’ turns. As a result, the game feels sluggish. In addition, the commentary itself is poorly done. The host makes the same repetitive comments, which becomes incredibly annoying over time. Some variety would be welcome.
Overall, Press Your Luck is a solid game for the iPad, and the ability to play with three people on the same device adds some great value to the app. If you’re a fan of game shows, then this app is a must-own.
