" ...Onward to the next rant... "

   Title: Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Second Edition by Sony Computer Entertainment America

   Format: Trivia game for PSX

   Reviewing Monkey: Simi N.

   The Hype: Hundreds of questions, play just like on TV, with authentic sounds, and Regis Philpin’s voice!

      What This Monkey Thought...

   Graphics: Well, where to start? How about an overview? The graphics in this game suck! I mean this game doesn’t call for a lot of neat looking graphics or effects, so I didn’t expect any. But I certainly expected to see nicer things than this game has. About 95% of the game is a screen full of text, and a few icons, so I can’t understand why the programmers didn’t try to make the text look nice. Sure you can read the questions, but the presentation just looks like shit. Even though it isn’t in hi-res mode, which it should be, I know that text can look better…Onward to the next rant. The backgrounds are pretty simple. Mostly a blank screen with a couple of spiral patterns on the edge, yes it’s authentic, but it’s also boring. And finally, every time you reach a lock-in point, you are presented with a cut scene that involves a camera moving around two empty chairs with computer screens in front of them. Those who watch the show will recognize these, but why are they empty, and why is there no audience? For that matter why do all of the graphics in this game blow? My hypothesis is that SCEA (Sony Computer Entertainment America) made this game in a real hurry so they could get it on the market and make loads of money based entirely on the popularity of the show. 1 ½ out of 5

   Sound: The sound is about average. There isn’t a whole lot of it, but at least sound effects and music are the same as on the real show. Regis’ voice sounds a bit funny to me, and everything he says is entirely lacking emotion. Another problem is that you can’t even decide to turn the voice, music, or other sound effects off. You will just have to turn the volume on your TV set down. 4 out of 5

   Game Play: Um have you seen the show? The game plays exactly the same, except that now you punch in symbols on your controller, instead of using A, B, C, or D. For those who haven’t seen the show, in this game you are asked a question, and given thirty seconds to guess the correct answer from four multiple-choice options. There are also three "lifelines" (hints, on a very basic level) that you can use if you are stuck. For the most part the game play is slow and repetitive. But it can be kind of fun if you like trivia. 3 out of 5

   Level and Environment Designs: Not applicable because there are no levels, or environments.

   Multiplayer: If you really, really, like the television show, then I guess you might like this game. The chances that you will have a friend that will like it too are decidedly slim. However the option is there and the game is still just as boring in 2-player mode, so go ahead and use it but be warned it is a lot different than the actual show. 2 out of 5

   Replayability: In a game like this Replayability depends a lot on the number of questions, and how often they are repeated. In the first five times I played this game I experienced four repeated questions. But is there really a way to get around this? Perhaps they could have a way to save the game to a memory card so the game knows which questions to avoid, just a thought. Other than that, the game is replayable because it is nice and short, and if you like the show, you will probably just plain find it fun to play no matter how many times you already have. 3 out of 5

   Story/Dramatics: The game has no story. There are some dramatics. For example the music is dramatic. Regis tries to be dramatic, but somehow fails, since there is absolutely no feeling in his voice.

   Instructions and Learning Curve: The instructions in this game provide you with everything you will need to know to win, except the answers or course. The in-game instructions are brief and easy to follow, and will have you playing to your hearts content in no time. 4 out of 5

   Installation and Real System Requirements: All this game requires a Playstation controller. It is about as basic as it gets. Everyone who owns a Playstation, or a PS One or even a PS2 can play this game. The fact, however, that they totally crapped out on the graphics and way limited the questions lets it go down in a firey ball of dung. 2 out of 5

   The Verdict:

       This game could have been so much better. Big fans of the show will probably enjoy it to some degree, but if the designers had put more effort, or thought, into to it, it could have been fun for everyone.

   The Good: Doesn’t require a lot of equipment, authentic feel, and interesting questions.

   The Bad: Crappy graphics, pointless cut scenes, and a surprising amount of repeated questions.

   The Overall Ugly: If you really, really like the show, you may like this game. But for those of us that don’t like it so much, the Low quality presentation is just too much to bear.

   What it's Worth: If I liked the show, I could pay up to twenty bucks for this, but if you don’t like the show, but want a trivia game you would be better off getting You Don’t Know Jack.