Another Christmas, another quiz game. Scene It?’s 2007 leap from board game to virtual toy wasn’t quite up to Buzz’s often lofty standards, but marked a promising foray into the genre for Microsoft nonetheless. Now that it’s backed up by casual titles Lips and You’re in the Movies the movie quiz’s second outing is a much stronger prospect than before.

For the most part it’s been a case of righting the wrongs. Branching out into Xbox Live multiplayer territory is the biggest new feature, letting you participate in a battle of wits against three other players from across the globe. It’s ideal for when playing solo just doesn’t cut it, although Scene It?’s greatest appeal is definitely when there are four people crowded around one television set.

But Live multiplayer and DLC additions aside, Box Office Smash is more than just a new set of questions. Old games have been rejigged to cater for less-knowledgeable gamers (such as giving people multiple guesses in the date-ordering round), and more custom options lets players create quizzes of all shapes and sizes. It’s the reboot Scene It? needed, and we couldn’t be happier. Now commission a music quiz please, Microsoft.

Dec 3, 2008