What an excellent idea for a game, but not as many bells and whistles as you might be wishing for.

The Politcal Machine is a game about running for president of the United States. At your disposal is a variety of options from hiring smear campaigners, spin doctors and Press Release people. Along the way you have to watch out for all those politcal Activist who can either help or ruin your campaign. You can raise your poll ratings if you do good on a variety of spin off news shows. There is a hardball show called Hardhitter, a 60 minutes program called 60 Seconds. Last, what good campaign would be complete without speeches, advertisements and winning endorsements from the Religous Right or The Gun association. It's all here in this game!

From what I just explained, any political and news fan would be excited, but when you actually play the game its bland. There is no voice interviews or speeches(everything is read). The questions on the TV shows are very limited. You get 2 or 3 questions and they can be repetitive. Some of the animated faces don't look like the candidates and when you pick a female character, the game refers to you as "HE", not "SHE". The game really isn't bad, but it's not up with todays standards and expectations of what should be in a game.

If you are a political fan like me and you must have the game, then go ahead and buy it. It might not have the bells and whistles that it should, but it's a fun little time waster and somewhat addictive because its challenging.

Graphics=3
Commentary and Music=2.5
Fun Factor=4
Replay value=4

Total=3.4 STARS
What an excellent idea for a game, but not as many bells and whistles as you might be wishing for. The Politcal Machine is a game about running for president of the United States. At your disposal is a variety of options from hiring smear campaigners, spin doctors and Press Release people. Along the way you have to watch out for all those politcal Activist who can either help or ruin your campaign. You can raise your poll ratings if you do good on a variety of spin off news shows. There is a hardball show called Hardhitter, a 60 minutes program called 60 Seconds. Last, what good campaign would be complete without speeches, advertisements and winning endorsements from the Religous Right or The Gun association. It's all here in this game! From what I just explained, any political and news fan would be excited, but when you actually play the game its bland. There is no voice interviews or speeches(everything is read). The questions on the TV shows are very limited. You get 2 or 3 questions and they can be repetitive. Some of the animated faces don't look like the candidates and when you pick a female character, the game refers to you as "HE", not "SHE". The game really isn't bad, but it's not up with todays standards and expectations of what should be in a game. If you are a political fan like me and you must have the game, then go ahead and buy it. It might not have the bells and whistles that it should, but it's a fun little time waster and somewhat addictive because its challenging. Graphics=3
Commentary and Music=2. 5
Fun Factor=4
Replay value=4

Total=3. 4 STARS