Desperate Housewives: The Game

With heavy representation from four basic soap-opera food groups (murder, sex, jealousy, and amnesia), the game is a pleasant surprise for those of us who were expecting something more, well, Wisteria Lame.

This game has got it all: a contrived plot, bad voice acting, terrible dialogue, and loads of technical bugs. And let's not forget about the slew of obvious advertisements, which gives the impression that this should have been a "free-to-play" sponsored game, especially since it downloads real product coupons to your computer as you play.

It’s lacking in customization options, but there’s still a good deal of content to partake in. The episode-style campaign is an absolute pleasure and will no doubt please fans of the show.

The game does fill up the day, even if the experience isn't very satisfying. And at least you're not watching the show.

A cleverly designed tongue-in-cheek conversion of the show for the main-stream-friendly price tag of $19.99. [Holiday 2006, p.112]

It is easy to jump into, has some interesting plot points that will draw fans of the show in, and has high production values in several key spots that ensures they won't be turned off, like by poor voice actors or graphics glitches.

Without a doubt one of the most surprising games of the year. If you're a fan of the show or the Desperate Housewives television show then the game comes highly recommended.

Desperate Housewives: The Game is cheapened, slightly, by rampant product placement. Every time your character washes her hands or throws a dark load into the washer, you're exposed to the name of some corporate sponsor.

Not even the most jaded gamers are this desperate. [Jan. 2007, p.71]

Desperate Housewives isn't much of a game, but it does a pretty good job of telling an original, interactive soap opera story in the quirky tone of the hit show.

Overall, this is a pleasant surprise best suited to gaming newcomers and fans of the show.

I slept with the mailman then insulted his performance. It had no affect on the game. I spent the first day in bra and panties, even while having lunch in someone else's home. No one noticed. I can only suggest you tune into something else instead.