Chronicle #28: What’s it Worth? – Review

The World of CD-i Chronicles #28

There is many unpublished or unreleased CD-i titles. I am going to review one for you and I choose What’s it Worth? This one never passed Testing Phase 2 and it is available for download at Hidden Palace. You will need to burn it in a CD-R to play it on your CD-i player, or just unzip the file to play it on CD-i emulator.
Use our CD-i Backup guide to learn how to burn the game!

SOME HISTORY:
This game never passed the Testing Phase 2 and the latest known disc is version 1.03 from 30th May 1994.
Catalogue number 811 004 was already given to this title, but unfortunately, for some reason, it didn’t reach the release status.

SOME FACTS:
Marshall Cavendish Multimedia was an English company related with art and museums, that is why they decided to make a game that will show pieces of art. What’s it worth? is the only game they tried to make and they choose the CD-i due to the pictures quality and promote art in the family.

THE GAME:
This game, as a Testing Phase 2 disc is not fully finished. It is 100% working but this Testing Phase was to verify the good working of what was already done. To be finished, a Testing Phase 3 was needed before a published disc.
I didn’t find an official cover for this title, so I am using the game’s intro as cover. By the way. you will see many large pictures as the screen (of the playing game) scrolls from left to right. I have edited the pictures to get a complete vision of the artwork.

The game starts with a lady talking to you, explaining how to play the game, a background music will be always playing until she finish the tutorial.

So what kind of game is it…?
What’s it Worth? is an auction game, you are a collector and will compete against other collectors to get the most precious items at the best prices, complete collections from pieces that might be in possession of others to increase its value.

To start the game, you will have to choose your character.

This game was intended to be played to up to 6 players alternatively, but I will try it for 1 player only.
I choose Hisashi… let’s see if he will buy something else than rock guitars 😉

Then we have to define how many rounds (items) we will bid to win them and the other option is if we want or not instructions during the game.

Before the game starts all the players will be on a VIP airport lounge, many countries all other the world may appears.
It starts at Round 1.

For this auction place you will read an article on the newspaper about the items that might be there and the buyers.

The first place you are going will happen at the Lion Hotel, after seeing some locals photographs you will get the list of the pieces of art that will be available for bid.

The game will and you are now in the auction room. The first item is shown. In this case we are talking about a collection of 6 cars, but you will bid only on the colored one… the others will be bid separately…
You can choose to bid or skip this one if you are not interested.

Press button 1 to bid and your character will rise his red plate. Depending of the item value, the bid can go from 50$ to 500$ each bid.
All players starts will the same amount.

Many items will appear along the game, depending on how many you choose before beginning.

Be careful, if you spend all your money, you will not be able to bid more…
After the the auction, you will reach the hotel’s lounge.
There you will be able to see your classification and of your opponents.

You will also be able to sell what you don’t need anymore, if you can’t get a complete collection for example or if you need money. Choose items you own…

… and then sell it for the best price!

Auctions will then continue until the last item!

At the end, the players will show scores one by one and the game will end with the credits.

In conclusion, this was a promising title! Auction game wasn’t and still aren’t usual to see nowadays.
We still need to understand the reason why of this cancellation… In family or with friends this game, after finished, would be a cool title to have in your collection!

Other information:
– 6 players (alternatively).
– No Digital Video Cartridge required.
– Gamepad recommended.

CD-i Emulator Compatibility:
Not tested

Good Points:
– 6 players.
– Many pieces of art available.
– The ambiance in the auction room…

Bad Points:
– Not published for a truly test

EVALUATION:
Graphics 7/10
Music 6/10
Gameplay 8/10
TOTAL 7/10

Find all the Chronicles at www.theworldofcdi.com
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