Ah, good old Noel Tidybeard. It’s nice to see his casual yet crisply pressed shirts adorning this latest mobile version of Deal or No Deal, and in many ways TV's most well-presented presenter epitomises this new iteration of an old game.
It’s very much the same digital outing of the TV show that we’ve previously enjoyed, but none has been quite so smartly dressed or neatly trimmed as New Deal or No Deal.
What’s the big deal?Obviously the bulk of the game revolves around carefully considered guesses about the amount that’s in your box. By eliminating the pre-determined amounts hidden away in the other contestants’ boxes, you’re asked to decide whether it’s worth the risk of pushing on to the end and taking the unknown amount in front of you, or whether to accept one of the offers made by the banker.
Several other modes of play are included, including one allowing you to play as the banker. This essentially reverses the objective, with you attempting to convince players to accept a low offer as quickly as possible or, on occasion, coaxing them to go the distance and lose everything.
You can also jump in mid-game, and test your reflexes against a game board that’s already in play. This isn’t unlike the sporting management games, which include an option to take over a pre-existing season at a crucial juncture, and offers a great way to play a shorter, and sometimes more intense, game.
Gosh that’s a tidy beardThis new version also sports some great visuals. Digitised animations of Noel guide you through the game, while the micro-studio looks impressively similar to the TV show, with all the effects, crowds, lighting, and tension in pixel-perfect detail.
There’s no avoiding the fact that anyone who finds the gameshow itself to be a chore won’t find much to enjoy here, and the more in-depth game modes might also prove prohibitive for total newcomers.
Ultimately, however, this is a grand and accurate representation of Deal or No Deal that even a console or computer would struggle to best, so if you have a thing for tidy beards and bankers, open this box.