Buzz! for PSP? I must admit I was a little apprehensive on whether
this would be a good game for the PSP and more to the point, whether it would
contain the same excitement from the PS2 or PS3 versions.
Needless
to say I was pleasantly surprised and Buzz! Master Quiz for PSP is
not a port for this popular handheld gaming console but rather its
own master that successfully converts the franchise to the portable
gaming market.
For those unsure of the Buzz! phenomena, it's basically a quiz show
that allows the player to answer a variety of questions from movies,
music, science and TV to name a few of the genres available to the
player.
With over 5,000 questions and a variety of new gameplay
options for the PSP, Buzz! Master Quiz is definitely an entertaining
game on the PSP and also supports a sturdy multiplayer mode.
Some of
the gameplay modes are almost like a brain trainer as the player is
racing against the clock to answer the questions. The PSP version
also has access to over 1000 pictures, videos and every question is
spoken by Buzz's co-host.
In single player, the gamer must compete in a variety of different
challenges in order to become a quiz master. Similar to the PS2 and
PS3 versions, the gameplay modes have been modified quite well for
the single-player mode as the gamer must answer a plethora of questions
on TV, music, science and the like.
Gameplay modes such as Picture This, Rollover, Pass the Bomb, Snap
Shot and Virus do make the single player aspect of the game quite
entertaining and keeps the quiz questions quite varied and
challenging. Generally as you are playing against the clock, the
title is sometimes frustratingly
difficult yet thoroughly enjoyable.
In order to progress, you must achieve "bronze" in certain
gameplay modes in single player,
however silver and gold are also available. Once you have finished
the level, you can attempt to play it again in order to beat your
score and after playing it for more than a week now, only a few
questions have been repeated so far.
The multiplayer aspect of Buzz! Quiz Master is a little lacking on
the PSP but it does try and gives the player three different modes. Quiz host allows you to play
against 2 to 6 players with one player being the verbal quiz host
who reads out the questions to the players with a choice of answers
and then they assign points to the correct players. It's basically being a
game host, however on the portable world of the PSP. This is
probably the title that is a little lacking, however if you're stuck
in the middle of nowhere, it might be kind of cool
The game sharing option allows you to play fastest finger across the
WLAN and is unfortunately quite limiting, however where the game
does shine in multiplayer is "Pass Around" that allows you to play
up to 6 players, with each player getting a chance to use the PSP as
it is passed around. Quite fun and does pay homage to the original
Buzz versions.
Graphically, the title is quite reminiscent of Buzz on the PS2 with
quite a few characters making a return on the PSP Version. The video
and sound bites are good and although the graphic engine is quite
simplistic, it suits the genre perfectly. Sound wise, Buzz (Jason
Donovan) is as
annoying as ever and the game contains enough "quiz" show sound
effects to assist in the gaming experience.
In
conclusion, Buzz! Quiz Master will definitely cop some negativity in
terms of the limiting multiplayer options and that the solo version
is not as entertaining as the original game. I beg to differ, as the
solo mode is more a brain trainer quiz game that is quite addictive,
especially to those that enjoy the quiz type games. It's a well
presented game that captures elements of the original title and
successfully converts it to the PSP.
