Buzz! Master Quiz

I'm gonna be brutally honest with you before I head into the review. I’ve rarely played games that don’t involve shooting someone/ something in the face, so playing a quiz game is – or rather, was – a strict no-no in my book. Sure, I’ve heard about the Buzz! games from friends and co-workers, but sitting on a couch while doing nothing but answering hundreds of questions just didn’t seem all that exciting to me. Boy, was I wrong!

Buzz! Master Quiz for the PlayStation Portable is addictive and can be enjoyed by people who haven’t even heard of it. If like me you’ve never heard of the Buzz series, it’s cool – no one’s judging you. Buzz! games test your general knowledge on a variety of subjects such as sports, music, movies etc. The main draw of this quiz franchise lies in its multiplayer aspect, as there’s nothing quite as satisfying as laughing at your friend’s limited general knowledge after a couple of drinks.

Just like its elder siblings, the portable version of Buzz! is a blast to play in multiplayer – but it boasts of a healthy single player campaign as well, called the Solo Quiz Challenge. You start off by making a profile and choosing a ridiculous, over-the-top avatar, after which you’re subjected to a barrage of various questions that range from "Dude that’s too easy" to "OMG, WTF were they thinking?"

As I mentioned earlier, questions span a wide variety of topics from sports to movies to TV shows to music and more. To make sure things don’t get too monotonous, the single player campaign is broken up into a bunch of diverse modes (all timed, by the way – bummer!). The only gripe I had with this is that it forces you to finish an event, and only after that can you move on to the next.

Also, some modes are way too tough to be fun. I mean, how can you show me someone’s hand and expect me to figure out not only who he/she is but also his/her hometown! Oh, and all this is while the clock ticks away furiously, creating more frustration than excitement.

Once you’re done with the single player mode, you (and up to five of your friends) can get together for some quiz action in three modes: Pass Around, Quiz Host, and Game Sharing. In Pass Around you and a friend can pass the PSP to each other by forming and solving questions. Quiz Host makes one player the host who’s in charge of forming questions for both contestants. Game Sharing allows you to face off against three of your friends in a Fastest Finger Challenge.

At the end of the day, Buzz! Master Quiz is an addictive single-cum-multiplayer that is a perfect in-between game (you know, the kind you play between two games – which for me would be God of War and Killzone Liberation). Play it in short bursts and not only will you enjoy it but also learn from it (cue a soft aaaahhhh).