by James Hare

Created on: June 05, 2008   Last Updated: June 08, 2008

Money Tree Review Rating 2/5

Money Tree instantly blinds you with an array of the brightest colours you could ever see as well as the strangest looking protagonist. This over colourful time management game sees William, gardener extraordinaire, trying to win the love of the fair and rich Elizabeth. William inherits his uncle's house and gardens which have fallen into ruin, to win her love William plans to restore it to its former glory.

The object of the game is to restore each section of the garden by growing fruit trees and selling the fruit. You must grab the falling leaves and place them on the buds of the tree to make it grow, once it blooms fruit will appear and ripen, which you must pick to earn money and reach the target goal for the level. You only have a certain amount of time to do this in and certain other factors, such as sunlight, rain and creepy crawlies attempt to thwart your efforts. You do have help in the shape of fertiliser, bug spray, sprinklers and sun lamps.

Graphically the game is one big cartoon, overly bright colours make it a little hard to look at first time but the smooth animation and multi tasking game play keeps you focused on that all important goal.

Some elements of the game play aren't as clear as you would expect, the timer, an important factor to completing the level isn't very clear and a numbered countdown timer may have proved more useful. If it wasn't for the sound effects during play or the fact the game requires a large amount of multi taking ability the actual back ground music would send you to sleep within minutes, luckily options in the main menu allow you to turn down or mute the Sunday afternoon drone' that is the background music.

Creativity wise it's a fun game but for a young audience. Money Tree emphasises hand and eye coordination and multi tasking skills in order to achieve its goals. The idea is good and perks include the ability to buy objects such as fountains, arbours, benches with the money you are earning from selling fruit.The main characters themselves, including their animated depictions on screen aren't appealing in the slightest and do not fit in with the rest of the animation and cartoon world that surrounds them.

A fun game for a little while it soon grows (excuse the pun) boring and lifeless after a few levels, when you see there are 40 to go through you would soon give up on it hoping the love of your life can see past the fact your garden looks a bit shoddy.

The option to purchase items from the garden supply adds an extra dimension to the game play but not enough to want to play 40 repetitive levels in order to save up the money. I wouldn't purchase this game, the rating of 2/5 reflect the smooth animation and possible fun factor for children.

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