Buzz! Quiz TV Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

System: PS3	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Relentless	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: SCEA (SONY)	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Sep. 23, 2008	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-8 (4 Online)	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Teen	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

If your PS3 is hooked up to the Internet and you're ready for some online action, Sofa vs. Sofa is the way to go. In this case, you'll have to earn living room bragging rights by beating other online competitors. I have to admit, this mode had me hooked right from the beginning. I'm never one of the best contestants, yet I still have lots of fun with it. Just like online races added the needed spark to the Mario Kart series, online competition is just what the Buzz! series was missing. Now you can actually feel like you're part of something bigger…you're the star of a hot game show!

Buzz! Quiz TV screenshot

Whether you play online or offline, there are a few steps to follow before you begin to play. First, you get to choose a contestant, then your costume, and finally, your buzzer sound. The sound library is packed with interesting noises and effects, from train sounds to laughter, cows, babies, and of course, the belch. I'd say the one thing this game is sorely missing is character customization. You can only choose from 11 premade characters. Each of them has a closet "full" of costumes. Unfortunately, there aren't many combinations available, which makes character selection more of an afterthought. However, I did enjoy the taunting and teasing animations. By pushing one of the colored buttons, you'll make your characters laugh, complain, threaten, show off, or even throw a bat at their own head! These hilarious moments add a bit of a glimmer to the otherwise somewhat plain feel of the game.

If there's anything that makes this game special, it's the HD visuals. Buzz, the contestants, and the game show environments look awesome in high definition; the textures are incomparable, and everything looks really sharp. They should have taken advantage of that and sent the game to the next level. New stages and a bit more variety in general would have completely separated this game from the rest. Unfortunately, though it's better than the previous titles, Buzz! Quiz TV doesn't guarantee a purchase from those who already own one of the other versions.

The questions you need to ask yourself before deciding on this purchase vs. one of the PS2 offerings is: Do you have a spare $60 in your pocket? Do the old wired Buzz! controllers really bug you? Are high definition visuals important to you? Does online gameplay sound exciting? If you answered yes to any or all of those questions, you should probably go ahead and do it! On the other hand, if you're happy with wired controllers, paying less money, and playing just with friends in your own living room, then the upgrade to Buzz! Quiz TV may not be necessary.

By Maria Montoro
CCC Site Director

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.4

Graphics
Looks great in HD. Makes you feel like the star of a game show! Characters need some more detail and customization options.

4.5

Control
Wireless buzzers work like a charm, and menus are easy to understand and navigate.

3.7

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Soundtrack is typical of a game show, and therefore suits the game. It's a bit repetitive though. Multiple sound effects add dynamicity to the formula.

3.9

Play Value
Playing alone is no fun, unless that's how you roll. However, it's a great party game, and online play makes it extremely addictive and entertaining - perfect for a rainy day at home.

4.0

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Play by yourself or with friends in the most complete Buzz! game to date. Up to eight players can share the fun in the comfort of your living room.

Five quiz channels covering over 5000 questions on every topic imaginable.

Online gaming: Another key advance introduced on PS3 will be Sofa vs. Sofa online multiplayer gaming. Rather than just competing with your friends and family, this new functionality allows you to join forces with them and take on other groups of players across the world in games involving up to four teams at once. And that's just the start - in the future, there will be leagues and tournaments that'll leave the Buzz! community in no doubt as to who rules the world with their game show skills.

Write and share your own quizzes: Finally - just to make sure that your Buzz! buzzers will never, ever see the inside of a cupboard - you'll have the opportunity to write, upload, and share your own quiz content on the all-new MyBuzz community site which links directly to the game - and then play them in the Buzz! Studio. Make them exclusive to your own PS3 or share them with the whole community - and they can be created, played and rated via PC as well as PS3.

Downloadable content: The fun doesn't end with the Blu-ray Disc; it's actually just beginning. The disc is a gateway to a huge variety of constantly-updated downloadable Quiz Packs available from PlayStation Store on PlayStation Network.

Screen Resolution: Up to 720p (Standard HDTV, Widescreen).