Uno has just celebrated its 35th anniversary. Come on, you guys remember Uno, don't you? A skilled card game where the likes of "draw four", "skip", and "reverse" easily came into play as you tried to eliminate cards of various colors, calling out "Uno!" as you came down to the final card. I remember playing various rounds of that game with my family growing up, and now Carbonated Games has brought the title to the digital front. But before you snicker at the fact you could just drag a deck of Uno cards out to play for about the same price, there's a reason the Xbox 360 version succeeds.

Many developers have made card games before that have been laughable. That's because they try to overdress them with computer personalities or quirks to try and complicate them for a new generation, instead of sticking to the basics. Uno wisely moves past this hurdle and instead keeps it simple with the formula that made the game work so well in the card-front all these years. It deals out the cards, and then lets players do their thing by choosing the right card for the right situation. An interface helps keep track of all your cards, as well as the card that's currently in play, via a virtual stack in the middle of it all. There's even some options kept in play to keep opposition at bay, like challenges whenever a draw four is laid down, and the ability to call out a player who hasn't yelled out "Uno!" on their final card, forcing them to draw two more.

There's various modes of Uno here, including the option to modify some of the House Rules to get a custom match going, but the original game really is the way to go, and it's a lot of fun. Probably the best option here is being able to take the game online against three players and taking part in a heated match. Sure, one of your friends may be able to take you down in Call of Duty 2, but once you own him or her at Uno, you can easily rub it in their face with your prowess of intellect. Take that, trigger-happy! There's also various downloads to snag, including a 35th anniversary deck and achievements to unlock.

The gameplay is executed nicely, although lacking in complication. That's a good thing, though. Like I said, card games should continue to be card games, and not a battle of ridiculous wills, and Carbonated Games has done a brilliant job in keeping the formula just the way it is. Graphics are simple, with little card animations showing flipping over and such, and the music is soothing and relaxing, if a slight bit repetitive.

At 400 points ($5), Uno is a perfect value for your Xbox 360. It offers multiplayer that's quite addictive, as well as a single player experience that really helps you get better at the game. And while the interface doesn't scream next-gen, it's fully functional and manages to stay true to the nature of the game it's emulating. Sure, you can just pull out an Uno deck and just play that way at the table, but when you don't have that option, this video game version is certainly nothing to "draw four" away from.

Helpful hint: Don't be so hasty on a draw-four challenge. Sometimes you can call the bluff and give your opponent cards.

Our Final ScoreGood

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