GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

+
Simple fun
+
Neato custom controllers
+
5000 questions is a lot

Cons

-
Moves slowly
-
isn't very funny
-
Highest score might not win
-
Can't buy an extra controller?

Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

Nov 2, 2007

With game show style and support for up to eight players at once, Buzz! The Mega Quiz is designed first and foremost as a party game. The overcaffeinated, muppet-looking host and his Vanna White-like sidekick rattle off questions that most everyone should have at least a shot at knowing, and the only folks likely to have trouble operating the custom controllers - which have one giant red button and four smaller rectangular ones that correspond to the possible answers onscreen - are those who can't remember the rules to Rock, Paper, Scissors. Simply put: if you understand English, you can play this game.

Article continues below

In fact, you may be able to win it. Buzz keeps the field level to a fault. With 5000 questions on offer, it's unlikely that your competitors will have memorized everything already, and many rounds don't even require you to answer first - you just have to be right - so those with slow reflexes have a solid chance.

Now for that fault we mentioned: in a move that could tweak off serious competitors, being in the lead can be a curse. Many matches end in a pie fight, in which your score is turned into hit points and the player who buzzes in first knocks a point off of whatever competitor they select. It's fine with only two or three players, but in a larger group of 6 or 8, it's not uncommon for the field to gang up and first eliminate the leader, then the second place guy, then the third, and so on until someone in the middle of the pack ends up the victor. Unless the leader can be first seven out of every eight questions - which isn't likely.

Sure, it's all in fun, The Weakest Link gives lesser players a similar chance to get all mob rule on more skillful adversaries, and some would say it's not even a flaw - but if you're really competitive, this could still drive you nuts. So could the glacier-slow pacing, which burns a ton of time showing the host dorking around or making campy, but not actually funny comments instead of moving quickly on to the next question or round. It's fine with big groups because it leaves time to chat, but it quickly wears thin, especially with fewer players.

CATEGORIES

I was the founding Executive Editor/Editor in Chief here at GR, charged with making sure we published great stories every day without burning down the building or getting sued. Which isn't nearly as easy as you might imagine. I don't work for GR any longer, but I still come here - why wouldn't I? It's awesome. I'm a fairly average person who has nursed an above average love of video games since I first played Pong just over 30 years ago. I entered the games journalism world as a freelancer and have since been on staff at the magazines Next Generation and PSM before coming over to GamesRadar. Outside of gaming, I also love music (especially classic metal and hard rock), my lovely wife, my pet pig Bacon, Japanese monster movies, and my dented, now dearly departed '89 Ranger pickup truck. I pray sincerely. I cheer for the Bears, Bulls, and White Sox. And behind Tyler Nagata, I am probably the GR staffer least likely to get arrested... again.