There
are exceptions to every rule so don't get on my case
with this next comment, but the general rule of thumb
regarding these classic TV shows is that men prefer
Seinfeld and chicks dig Friends.
That's
why I'm doing this review. I am a chick and I like
Friends. Both Vaughn and Cole are Seinfeld fanatics,
bragging that they followed his career long before
the hit series, but even though they have watched
some Friends episodes, they feel that they would be
no match for any loyal fan of the show when it comes
to Friends trivia. They have even gone on to say that
Friends is a Seinfeld rip-off, though not nearly as
funny or as deeply scathing with the social commentary.
Whatever! I don't want to have to think about my comedy,
I just want a laugh.
However,
it appears the joke is on me.
Friends:
The One With All the Trivia provides very few laughs,
and requires a lot of thinking. I'm certain I've seen
every episode of Friends at least twice, although
I'm sure I've seen the "Smelly cat," episode
at least eight times. Not that it's my fault, I can't
be responsible for what repeats the stations run.
And yes, I did get the question right that referred
to that episode, but it was only one of few questions
that I even had a chance of getting right. This is
one seriously difficult challenge. The questions are
very obscure. I'm sure the actual writers of the show
would have a hard time recalling some of these answers.
Only real, hardcore fans of the show with Jeopary-friendly
memories need apply.
Exploring
all 10- years (or was it 9?) of this series you will
be amazed at what you've overlooked, forgotten or
just never registered. Scenes from some of my favorite
episodes were shown that I don't recall being in that
particular episode. Often there were so many sub-plots
that it's not uncommon for you to separate them into
different shows, even occurring in different seasons.
There
are more than 600 videoclips from the show and more
than 3,000 trivia questions in all. The questions
are read by B-list characters, Janice and Gunther.
Sometimes you'll be shown a scene and then asked to
explain what happens next. The questions are multiple
choice which tends to jog the memory a little since
the actual answer is in there somewhere. Some of the
answers are explained after you get them wrong but
many are left a mystery. Back to DVD box set for another
weeks worth of viewing.
Friends
includes a single-player and multi-player mode that
accommodates up to four players. Each time you get
a right answer a window will light up in a skyscraper.
The first person to light their entire building wins
the game. There's no arguments that with the right
people the four-player mode is the most fun especially
if all of the players are Friends freaks because often
what one person doesn't know someone else is bound
to pick up on and can explain further what the game
skips over.
This
isn't a pretty game. In fact it looks very cheap,
almost like a Friends fan designed it himself using
Flash. The graphics are very basic, reduced to outlines
of a cityscape and garish window framing. I expected
a lot better from such a hit TV show. I just hope
that Seinfeld looks just as crappy if it ever comes
out.
Only
the best friends of Friends will hold their own against
this game. If every answer were explained in more
detail, it might inspire, educate and cultivate more
fans thus selling more box sets and a building a larger
audience for future syndication. We might even recruit
more Seinfeld fans should Arrested Development or
Curb Your Enthusiasm get cancelled. (Editor's note
- AD has been cancelled
damn you!)
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