First Impressions: If you’ve never played a quiz game on a console before or have a better half that doesn’t understand the gaming obsession I would recommend you get your hands on this game.

The game is an update of the PS2 version with a few improvements over its predecessor like the wireless remotes, downloadable question packs and user generated questions.

Hardware: Not a common point of discussion in a game review but this game comes with four wireless controllers and a wireless USB dongle. Sony is kind enough to include 8 AA batteries, 2 for each controller. Setup is pretty straight forward; plug the USB dongle in, flick a switch on the side of the wireless controller and you’re buzzing…

The controllers have a large buzz button which apart from helping you buzz your way to the front of the queue is also used to highlight the specific user when questions need to be answered in turn.

Four other coloured buttons are used to select the multiple choice answers and also for stealing points from other contestants in a multi player environment.

The Game:

The Buzz quiz game supports three main modes:

A solo mode that a user can play against the clock, this can be quite an non event with the aim of getting the highest score in a set time.

A local multiplayer mode in which 8 people can play. This in my opinion is what gives this game a high score of 80. The multiplayer mode makes Buzz and excellent party game and more the merrier. One can’t ignore the educational value of this game for a family with the ability to make the learning experience a fun family exercise.

An online multiplayer mode where one can test their ability with other quizzers from around the world. This is somewhat limited because only one person can play this game online.

At the start of the game questions can be picked from five different categories:

1.    The Music Channel,

2.    The Movies and TV Channel,

3.    The Knowledge Channel,

4.    The Sports Channel

5.    The Lifestyle Channel.

You also have the ability to choose the Channel Hopper which gives you a mixed bag of questions from all categories.

The game also comes with a MyBuzz channel based on user-generated questions and the ability to download new question packs.

The questions are not difficult for trivia buffs but with over 5,000 questions and different types of rounds such as

Fastest Finger

Pie Fight,

Point Builder 

Pass the Bomb

And thus it makes a good party game. Each question is asked in full audio with animated action and multimedia clips. The person with the lowest score at the end of each round chooses the topic for the following round.

The Bad:

The Pie Fight round seems to deviate from the theme of the game. In the pie fight round the person wit the fastest correct answer can chuck a pie at an opponent and 2 pie’s determine the outcome of this round.

The throwing of the pie needs to be timed well in order to avoid pie”ing” yourself which makes you wonder why would anyone want to pie themselves and also asks the obvious question “What has chucking pie got to do with a quiz show”?

The outcome of this round can make or break you as 1000 points are awarded to the winner.

The other aspect which I found irritating was the inability to exit the game without a ps3 controller but then again I guess the buzzers have certain limitation.

The Ugly:

After a few rounds the fat buzz host can become a bit irritating with his limited set of introductions and catch phrases.

The Bottom Line:

Overall it is a fun game with good production and game play. It mimics a TV game show including a quirky host with cheesy catch phrases and a number of contestants to choose from.

It is a great game for parties or some light family fun.

Rating:

80 out of 100