-
Source: Gamefreaks -
Related
Genre: Puzzle/Quiz
Platform: PlayStation 3
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony's game show sim makes its PS3 debut, compiling a handful of previous Buzz! titles and adding a dash of the new.
The simple concept still delivers solid hours of party gaming fun. If only we could do something about that host.
There's something about the completely unnecessary peripheral that, when done right, oozes a sort of irresistible charm. The Buzz! buzzers are perfect examples - they're just five coloured buttons in a row, but without them few people would even look twice at a game show videogame. That this is the seventh game in the series speaks highly of their novel appeal.
There are not a lot of fresh ideas in Quiz TV, which is hardly surprising considering the limited genre, but the well-travelled ground still holds up to replay. The game offers the standard single and multiplayer tournaments, testing players' knowledge across the fields of film and television, music, sports, lifestyle, and general trivia.
The rounds all have particular caveats for winning; Points Builder simply rewards all correct answers, pass the bomb is a hot potato game played with explosives, Fastest Fingers is rather self-evident, High Stakes lets players place bets on their knowledge in foretold category, Pie Fight has correct players deplete others with creamy justice, and Points Stealer allows question winners to pilfer from an opponent's score.
The new content in Quiz TV, and its only real case for existing on the PlayStation 3, is the online portion of the game. One of the first games to utilise the incredibly original "trophies system", Buzz! also allows contestants to go couch-to-couch across the internet.
The most ingenious addition, however, is the user's ability to create their own quiz and upload it for other gamers to play through. This is a huge bonus as the original quiz questions are woefully simple, so some specialised quizzes are just what the doctor ordered (I totally dominated the Dirty Dancing section).
Anyone who has picked up previous Buzz! titles might feel a little cheated when Quiz TV covers the exact same material, but for newcomers the package is an ideal starter set. And the wireless buzzers are a very welcome improvement.
Summary: The largest, multi-disciplinary Buzz! game thus far, TV Quiz offers much to enjoy even if it's not particularly groundbreaking. The added value of user-generated content should extend the game's lifespan much further than previous incarnations.
This review bought to you by Gamefreaks.
