Game Reviews

Pictionary is the first board game turned video game where I thought the virtual version was superior to the physical one. The most annoying thing about playing a game of Pictionary is the setup required, but by channeling the power of electronics, there's now no need to erase your crappy drawings by hand and no way to get high off Sharpie fumes (well, maybe that's not a good thing for some people). THQ did a nice job translating the popular party title into a video game that offers a little something for everyone.

Using THQ's uDraw tablet, Pictionary offers three different game modes: good old fashioned Pictionary, Free Draw (which is exactly what it sounds like) and Pictionary Mania, a brand new way to play the classic game. The uDraw tablet is easy to use and responsive, so all of the modes work the way they should.

Of the three, Free Draw is the least impressive mode, especially considering if you've purchased the uDraw tablet, you automatically receive uDraw Studio, which offers a much deeper drawing tool than Pictionary. Regardless, it's non-obtrusive and if your kid wants a simple way to muck around and scribble, it's a good alternative to having marker stains on your carpets.

Vanilla Pictionary plays just like the board game – you pick teams, how long of a game you want, roll the dice (in this case you "flick" the pen on the tablet) and away you go. A team member gets a card with an object, animal or phrase, and they attempt to draw it while the teammates guess what it is before time runs out. Most squares that you land on will be normal, but there are a few "All Play" areas that allow the opposing team to guess alongside yours and potentially steal the lead.