Why is it that I've spent the last few days totally absorbed by a card game... on my mobile?
The simple answer is that Gameloft's electronic version of Uno is fantastic; there is very little to find fault with and it is perfectly suited to the mobile platform. And, just to make Steve raise his eyebrow, this is a Java-based title.
Let's backtrack a little. The card game Uno has been popular since its launch in 1971 by designer Merle Robbins. It is an adaptation of the Crazy Eights style of card games. Rather than suits, the deck is divided into four colours (red, yellow, blue, green) and each player is dealt seven cards. One card is turned face up to start a discard pile, and each player takes it in turn to play a card from their hand. To play a card it needs to be the same number or the same colour as the card on top of the discard pile; and the played card becomes the next card of top of said discard pule.
There are also special cards that change the direction of play when you have three or four players in the game; cards that let you nominate a different colour; and cards that force an opponent to pick up extra cards and miss their next turn. The first person to play all their cards wins the round!
It's a classic style of game, but the specific Uno deck, especially with the bonus cards, perfects the game play.
So in transferring the game to the mobile, one of the key aspects that Gameloft needed to focus on was the sheer speed of the game – in real life Uno can move very fast. Thankfully they've managed it admirably. While the three other opponents are making their moves on the table, you can flip your cursor hand through your cards to see what you have and decide on your strategy, so when your turn comes round, it's just a quick press on the already chosen card (if you can play it). The animation putting the card into play is realistic and quick, and doesn't get in the way.
It does, worryingly, slow down a touch when you have the sound turned on, which there's really no excuse for on a modern device.
The same essence of speed is available when being dealt extra cards, or when hands of card needs to be exchanged if alternative rules are used. The fact that you don't really notice the code because you are concentrating on the game should tell you all you need to know about how slick the UI is. Thankfully, all the pauses required to load and render games are done in the transition screens, and do not interfere while playing – having some pauses between games is probably a worthy sacrifice.
In addition to the core game of Uno, which is always available under the Quick Play menu choice, you have Multiplayer and Tournament modes. Tournament sees you play solo against various numbers (and quality) of AI players as you attempt to complete challenges, such as winning a game with the 7-0 rules in play (7-0? It's explained in a pop up dialog, a nice touch). As you go through these, you unlock puzzle pieces and extra backgrounds for the game – not vital, but gives a sense of satisfaction.
There are also in-game challenges (such as have five 'choose a new colour' cards played in a single game) that you can aim for, which also provide little extras. This is tailor made for something like the N-Gage Arena's N-Gage Points system.
Finally, the multi-player game is, unfortunately, nothing more advanced than a hot seat “pass the phone around” mode, which allows up to four players to use a single phone to play Uno. With all the hiding of game cards from the opposing players, moving the phone around, it really is not up to scratch and feels like Gameloft added this to tick a “multi-player” box in their spec list. Personally I would have lost this option and concentrated instead on the one thing that irks me about the game.
And that is the sound settings. It's a simple on or off – I would love to have all the card dealing sounds, the shuffles and other effects, but without the background music. Unfortunately it's an 'all or nothing' choice in the options screen.
Uno is really, really great, though. I'd love to see an S60 native version that would accommodate play over Wi-Fi, improved audio, and perhaps some of the lag removed when moving between screens. But that would be icing on the cake. This is staying on my phone and is going to be played for many, many months.
The only remaining question is to Gameloft and Nokia jointly. Given the relative ease that Gameloft have of placing Java titles onto the Next Gen Gaming Platform, and given that Nokia want the best games (in terms of gameplay, ease of access and profitability).... why is Uno not on N-Gage?
Ovi Gaming Score: 85%
-- Ewan Spence, May 2009