) I guess the next on will be Poland then...
Post by RegisFan on Nov 27, 2005 12:50:39 GMT -5
Well everyone, I lucked out this past week. I was at the store with my family looking at the various holiday sales, when to my surprise, I saw a new Who Wants to be a Millionaire game on the market! Needless to say, I bought it instantly.
The game is one of the new "plug and play" games. All you do is plug the audio and video cables into your television and you're ready to play.
The design of the system itself is unique: the system consists of a small, round base and four controllers. The controllers resemble the "fastest finger" controllers audience members hold on Millionaire. The four controllers plug into the system in a semi-circle on the front side. A large sticker featuring the Millionaire logo rests in the center of the main system.
Now first, the bad news. The game's graphics are 16 bit- Super Nintendo quality. While this isn't really bad, those of us used to the crisp, realistic CGI movies in the PC games will be underwhelmed. Also, the game's music is very limited. The Millionaire theme does play on the title/setup screens, and one other tune plays during the end of the game, but during the actual gameplay, only one song is played. It's not any song from any of the show's question tiers either- it's the phone a friend song. Yes, this surprised me, too. Fifteen questions of, "tick, tick, tick, tick, BANG"- well, you can't have everything. Speaking of the Phone a Friend, you get 90 seconds intead of 30, which is fun, but not true to the show. Also, the Phone a Friend answers aren't built into the game- you actually have to phone somebody, ask someone in the room, or run and look it up. The question you missed in the last game ALWAYS comes up in the next game- but this can be good or bad depending on how you look at it. There is no host- no Regis OR Meredith. And finally, the game cost me $50. However, (and this is NOT bad news) it was worth every penny.
Now for the good news- the game rocks. The menu screens are very easy to work, and a beautiful illustration of the Millionaire set is displayed before the game begins. There is finally a game based on the syndicated version of Millionaire- and this is it. The new money levels ($25,000, $50,000, and $100,000) are used, and (angels are singing right now) the Switch the Question lifeline is included. Yes, once you reach the $25,000 level, you get the Switch the Question. However, the game's biggest plus is the multiplayer mode. The game is called "Who Wants to be a Millionaire: Party Game". Naturally, I thought that meant the fastest finger was included. Nope- this is even better. FOUR people can play Millionaire at the SAME TIME. It's not a race, unless you want to use a lifeline that is. Only one person can use a lifeline per question, so THAT's a race. Other than that, four people can go at it at the same time. You lose, you're out. It's really great fun to play Millionaire with others and not against others, but then again, that's not where the game truly shines. In single player mode, the game screen is better, displaying all lifelines (they are hidden until use in multiplayer)- also, only in one player mode are you asked if "that's your final answer?" Both modes hava all lifelines AND Switch the Question, and you can walk away at any time in both modes as well.
There is a nice variety of questions, but I have experienced some duplicates. The game sounds okay, and look slightly better, but gameplay, lifelines, and the overall experience have never been better. Playing the game on your television is a plus, and playing either by yourself or with friends is truly fun. I would have liked a host (Regis or Meredith), but the game is fun without them, too. Again, the game is based on the syndicated version, which makes it all the more special.
Overall, this game is great. This is the most innovative Millionaire game I've ever seen, and I can't stop playing it. I fear, however, that it will disappear off shelves pretty fast with both the holiday season approaching and the fact that these things always do, so if you see it- buy it. It's great fun, really, and you'll like it no matter how many Millionaire games you own.
Here is a breakdown of the game's score:
Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 3/5
Interface: 5/5
Single Player Gameplay: 5/5
Multiplayer Gameplay: 5/5
This means I give Senario's Who Wants to be a Millionaire a 22 out of 25. A+ Senario, great job.
Here's a link to Senario's website. Click on the Who Wants to be a Millionaire logo a the bottom of the screen for details and pictures of the game.
www.senario.com/entertainment/entertainment.htm
The game is one of the new "plug and play" games. All you do is plug the audio and video cables into your television and you're ready to play.
The design of the system itself is unique: the system consists of a small, round base and four controllers. The controllers resemble the "fastest finger" controllers audience members hold on Millionaire. The four controllers plug into the system in a semi-circle on the front side. A large sticker featuring the Millionaire logo rests in the center of the main system.
Now first, the bad news. The game's graphics are 16 bit- Super Nintendo quality. While this isn't really bad, those of us used to the crisp, realistic CGI movies in the PC games will be underwhelmed. Also, the game's music is very limited. The Millionaire theme does play on the title/setup screens, and one other tune plays during the end of the game, but during the actual gameplay, only one song is played. It's not any song from any of the show's question tiers either- it's the phone a friend song. Yes, this surprised me, too. Fifteen questions of, "tick, tick, tick, tick, BANG"- well, you can't have everything. Speaking of the Phone a Friend, you get 90 seconds intead of 30, which is fun, but not true to the show. Also, the Phone a Friend answers aren't built into the game- you actually have to phone somebody, ask someone in the room, or run and look it up. The question you missed in the last game ALWAYS comes up in the next game- but this can be good or bad depending on how you look at it. There is no host- no Regis OR Meredith. And finally, the game cost me $50. However, (and this is NOT bad news) it was worth every penny.
Now for the good news- the game rocks. The menu screens are very easy to work, and a beautiful illustration of the Millionaire set is displayed before the game begins. There is finally a game based on the syndicated version of Millionaire- and this is it. The new money levels ($25,000, $50,000, and $100,000) are used, and (angels are singing right now) the Switch the Question lifeline is included. Yes, once you reach the $25,000 level, you get the Switch the Question. However, the game's biggest plus is the multiplayer mode. The game is called "Who Wants to be a Millionaire: Party Game". Naturally, I thought that meant the fastest finger was included. Nope- this is even better. FOUR people can play Millionaire at the SAME TIME. It's not a race, unless you want to use a lifeline that is. Only one person can use a lifeline per question, so THAT's a race. Other than that, four people can go at it at the same time. You lose, you're out. It's really great fun to play Millionaire with others and not against others, but then again, that's not where the game truly shines. In single player mode, the game screen is better, displaying all lifelines (they are hidden until use in multiplayer)- also, only in one player mode are you asked if "that's your final answer?" Both modes hava all lifelines AND Switch the Question, and you can walk away at any time in both modes as well.
There is a nice variety of questions, but I have experienced some duplicates. The game sounds okay, and look slightly better, but gameplay, lifelines, and the overall experience have never been better. Playing the game on your television is a plus, and playing either by yourself or with friends is truly fun. I would have liked a host (Regis or Meredith), but the game is fun without them, too. Again, the game is based on the syndicated version, which makes it all the more special.
Overall, this game is great. This is the most innovative Millionaire game I've ever seen, and I can't stop playing it. I fear, however, that it will disappear off shelves pretty fast with both the holiday season approaching and the fact that these things always do, so if you see it- buy it. It's great fun, really, and you'll like it no matter how many Millionaire games you own.
Here is a breakdown of the game's score:
Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 3/5
Interface: 5/5
Single Player Gameplay: 5/5
Multiplayer Gameplay: 5/5
This means I give Senario's Who Wants to be a Millionaire a 22 out of 25. A+ Senario, great job.
Here's a link to Senario's website. Click on the Who Wants to be a Millionaire logo a the bottom of the screen for details and pictures of the game.
www.senario.com/entertainment/entertainment.htm
