Game shows have been around in video game form for a long time. Take Wheel of Fortune, for example. This classic game appeared way back on the Apple II and Commodore 64 and still makes the odd appearance on new consoles today.Yes, there’s something about a good ol’ fashioned game show.
While we don’t see as many classic game shows appearing on consoles these days, we are seeing a new breed of game: trivia games that come with their own special buzzers. Scene It! and Buzz! have been the big two as of late. But while Scene It! focuses mainly on movies, Buzz!, Sony’s flagship quiz game, focuses more on pop culture and general knowledge. Throw in some bizarre characters and a wacky host and you have an interesting modern day take on a classic game show.
The Story
Buzz! Quiz World takes place on a game show set. The name of the game is simple: answer the most questions correctly in the least amount of time and you will win! It sounds easy but there are a few twists and turns to make the game more interesting.
Answering questions for 15 minutes non-stop would get boring, so Sony decided to mix it up a little. Some rounds will have characters stealing points from one another, while others will see the losers thrown into a pit of slime. Hey, no one said trivia has to be boring.
The Game Play
Between 2 and 8 people can play Buzz! Quiz World at a time. A basic game has 2-4 players playing in the same room. If you don’t have any friends, you can go online and take on 7 other contestants from around the globe. Or if you want to play together, one group of people can take on another group online in Sofa Vs Sofa mode. No matter how many people you have in your living room Buzz! Quiz World has an option for you to play the game.
You start out by choosing a character. You can choose from many different character types including cheerleader, super hero, magician or mime just to name a few. Then you must select a name. I say select a name because Buzz! Quiz World only allows you to choose from a list of predetermined names. This is done because the host will actually say your name in the game and make reference to your progress or lack there of from time to time. While there are hundreds of names to choose from, not everyone will find their name on the list.
A nice feature added to Buzz! Quiz World is the ability to save your profile. Choosing a character, name, even the sound of your buzzer, all takes time. By saving your profile you can launch into a game within seconds without having to go through the setup each time.
Once the game begins you will go through 4 to 6 rounds of questions (depending on how many people are playing the game). Each round focuses on different ways to score points. In some rounds everyone just needs to answer the questions correctly–you don’t have to worry about who buzzes in first or time. In other rounds the faster you answer the question the more points you will score. A few new rounds have also been thrown in this time. Over The Edge will have the loser of the round thrown into a pit of slime, and On The Spot has contestants answering individually while the others determine the point value based on how likely they think you are to come up with the correct answer.
One of the best features of Buzz! Quiz World is how you customize the game. If you don’t like the new zany rounds, you can choose to play only the more serious style quiz rounds. Pressed for time? You have the choice between playing a 15 minute and 45 minute game. You can download extra quiz packs from the PSN, or create your own quizzes online about any topic imaginable and add them to your game. There is some serious customization with this title which really makes it shine.
The Controls
Buzz! Quiz World requires the specially designed Buzz! controllers or buzzers. Each buzzer has a large red illuminated button at the top for “buzzing” in, and four colored buttons beneath to help you select your answer. The controllers fit nicely in your hand and are easy to use. I liked using the buzzers as they kind of make you feel like you’re really taking part in an online game show. Unfortunately the buzzers do not come with batteries so you’ll have to find 8 AA batteries in your home before you begin playing with a set of four controllers.
Oh and don’t forget to get your Bluetooth headsets out! For the first time you can chat with other players while online, a feature that was missing from previous Buzz! titles. You can also hook up the Playstation Eye to capture your reaction when you win or lose a match!
The Graphics
As far as virtual game shows go, Buzz! does a great job at creating a game show feel. The lights, special effects studio audience, it’s all there.
Real photos and videos are also thrown into the mix for some questions. Every once in a while you may be asked to name a musical group by by watching a 5 second video, or name an actress by looking at her pretty mug. It’s a nice touch that takes gameplay to the next level.
Character animations are also outstanding and at times downright funny. Each character reacts to answering a question right or wrong. I often chose the Mime as my character. When he was doing poorly he’s dangle himself from an invisible rope.
The Downsides
What ever happened to entering your own name? Yes I understand Sony really wanted for the host Buzz to be able to say all the names out loud, but when you have friends over whose names are spelled a bit differently they get miffed. Then you have to spend the next 5 minutes calming them down telling them it’s not their fault their name wasn’t included in the game.
While the setup is a relatively easy process, using the Buzz controllers can be a bit confusing for non-gamers, especially if you have a large number of people playing for the first time. Setup can be a bit chaotic until everyone gets the hang of the controllers and the options you are given to customize your character.
Oh, and although it’s a neat twist to win prizes at the end of the game, it would be nice if there were more of them. I have won more pairs of virtual X-Ray Specs than I know what to do with.
In terms of online play I did notice some lag when more than 3 people were playing online at the same time. There were times where you would have to wait 15 seconds or more for the next question to appear. But I guess when you consider you are playing against people from around the world, it is forgivable.
The Bottom Line
When it comes right down to it, Buzz! Quiz World is a blast to play. The questions are entertaining, the modes of gameplay fun and the options are endless. With so much customization available, you can create a game that is perfect for you, something that is missing from every other trivia game out there! And when you factor in you can create your own quizzes, well that puts other games to shame. Yes, I’ll admit the host can be annoying and grate on your nerves over time, but if you can put up with him you’ll enjoy one of the best online trivia titles to date. Buzz! World Quiz takes home the grand prize!
The Good
5000 new questions
Highly customizable
Chat added for online play
The Bad
Some lag in online modes
Can’t input your own “unique” name
Prizes at end of game become repetitive
8.5/10