Buzz is a
nice franchise, bringing home the pacing of television quiz shows with
the near-depth of knowledge-based games like Trivial Pursuit. The game was a PS2
exclusive, featuring wired controllers that tethered players to the console and
gave them colored buttons to push to try to respond with the right answers to
the plethora of questions asked. And the questions ran the gamut, from
television and movies to music, to geography, science and technology … well, few
general category stones were left unturned.
It was only
a matter of time before Buzz (the blond spikey-haired host) transitioned to the
PlayStation 3 console. That transition has been made and what has been brought
to the PS3 is a delightful game that addresses some of the knocks about the PS2
versions and delivers fun in a big way.
Sure, some
of the glitz of the PS2 versions is gone … like the way each game element had
its own musical intro (like the last game, aptly named The Final Countdown, used
Europe’s pop-rock hit as the musical intro), but that is negligible with Quiz TV
for the PS3. The animations are bigger and better – even on a high-def
television – the pacing is great, there is a deeper options package and not only
is there online play, but the wires to the controllers has been removed and the
controllers are now wireless.
To give a
quick overview of the game – you select a play mode (solo, against friends on
the same machine, or online now – though only one person can play online). The
way the game plays depends on the game mode. You can select categories
for the game, like music only, sports, all, or even the new MyBuzz, which
consists of categories created by other players. The latter can be very, very
specific … like Yankee Stadium facts.
There are
character models to use to represent you in the game, and they are extreme
characterizations – quirky and fun.
Then you
jump into the game. The questions are all multiple guess, so even if you don’t
know the answer, you have a 1-in-4 chance of guessing it. Some of the questions
can sort of be figured out by process of elimination. There is a slight problem,
though it rarely rears its head, in the phrasing of some questions. They seem to
indicate one thing and yet truly mean something else. This is very rare, indeed,
but it can be frustrating.
With the
introduction of the wireless controllers, players have the ability to spread out
and input answers from across the room. This is very nice and there does not
seem to be any lag between the time you punch in a response and actualization
onscreen.
When it
comes to the multiplayer, the online element is absolutely wonderful. Very few
times were there instances where there were not players to play against, and
because the online portion consists of three general areas, strategy comes into
play. The games in online consist of fastest finger (trigger your answer as
quickly as possible; the faster you answer, the higher the scoring potential),
all that apply (you are given a list of answers and select all that apply to the
questions, from one to four possible matches) and then High Stakes where you bet
points (50, 100, 250 or 500) based on a general category and whether you can
answer the yet-to-be-revealed question. In the latter, you have to watch your
score, take a few chances when appropriate, or hedge your bets and play to a
safe lead.
Buzz Quiz TV
is graphically compelling, and while Buzz’s banter can be a bit repetitious, he
infuses a lively, upbeat spark to the proceedings. This is a game that is a lot
of fun, and has a broad appeal.
|
|
Gameplay: 8.8
A few of the
questions are not presented in an understandable way, but the interface is a
breeze to use. Yes, this is reflexive, but those reflexes have to be driven by
knowledge … or some good guessing.
Graphics: 8.8
Some nice costume
texturing and the animations are generally well done.
Sound: 7.5
Some of the
musical elements have been removed from the PS2 version, and Buzz can be
annoying with repetitive phrases, but this is serviceable.
Difficulty: Medium
Concept: 9.0
Any of the knocks
against the PS2 iterations seem to have been addressed and the incorporation of
online multiplayer is great fun.
Multiplayer: 9.0
Whether you have
four people playing or go online, the multiplayer is where this game really
takes off.
Overall: 8.8
Buzz Quiz TV is a
solid and entertaining game. The PS3 version clearing outshines the PS2
iterations, and the incorporation of online multiplayer, as well as the wireless
controllers, is a definite boon. This is a whole lot of fun.
