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With many best selling board games like Monopoly, Clue, and Risk still absent from XBLA, this week, a third lesser known European title arrives on the Xbox 360. Following the release of Carcassonne and Catan, developer Next Level Games launches an adaptation of the board game, Ticket to Ride.

Ticket to Ride is not for everyone. Expect slow-paced gameplay that requires thought before each move. The objective of Ticket to Ride is to travel from one North American city to another. Colored cards are necessary to make connections from city to city until reaching the ultimate destination. The game complicates things by adding wildcards and points awarded based on distance traveled. Also, a variation of the number of cards is necessary for each move. With multiple options always a possibility, strategy is at the forefront. A tutorial explains the basics, but doesn't fully detail the scoring system. The game's graphics are no better than average. The playing surface is colorful but as a port of the board game, it is understandable that Ticket to Ride does not push the graphical limits of the system.

Multiplayer features up to four players locally and up to five players over Xbox Live (although you'll have a tough time finding many players online). There is already information about a USA 1910 expansion in the game's option menu, but no pricing details are currently available. Like Uno, the underused Vision camera is also compatible with this title.

Ticket to Ride will split gamers' opinions. For those who love this genre, there is no reason not to enjoy this game. But for people who do not like slow-paced European board games, Ticket to Ride is not likely to change your view of the genre.

Fun Factor: 2.75 Graphics: 2.5 Sound: 2.75 Controls: 4.0

Pros: True to original

Cons: Slow gameplay not appealing to most gamers

The Info: Platform: XBLA, Publisher: Playful Entertainment, Inc., Developer: Next Level Games, ESRB: E, Players: 1-4 (2-5 online) , Price: 800 MS Points ($10)

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