Too busy to devote 12+ hours a day to your gaming habit? Here's a review that's sensitive to your needs: Short and focused on just the things that a busy gamer like you really needs to know.
Reviewed On: Xbox 360. Also available on PS3, PC, Wii and Nintendo DS.
In a Nutshell: An often-suggestive comedy show disguised as a trivia game, wrapped in a Generation X wrapper. (Say, when's the last time you heard anything about Gen X?!) The conceit is that you are part of a slickly produced game show, complete with ads, bumpers and a snarky host. Up to four people can participate in the festivities, with every correct answer earning money. The faster you answer, the better the rewards. Miss an answer, lose your cash.
Your long-time host and resident smart-ass Cookie (also known as Tom Gottlieb in real life) returns to quiz you and, more importantly, sarcastically ridicule you when you get the answer wrong. Seriously, I'm pretty sure he's rooting for you to lose! Cookie's questions can be mind-bendingly hard due to phrasing. Things that should be pretty straight forward are twisted and warped into pop-culture candy that both entertains the palette and confuses the taste buds. Don't spend too much time trying to get the reference; it probably has zero to do with the answer.
The final event, the Jack Attack, asks players to match up two things based on a topic. A name or item appears on screen followed by a series of flying options, including many that either sound alike or just sound plausible. First to buzz in on the right one gets the points. Get too itchy and buzz in wrong, and you lose. The massive point build up means that even a doomed player can come from behind and own the category for the win... and the "Came From Behind" achievement. (See, I told you it was freaky!)
Learning Curve: If you know your game controller (or PC keyboard), you can play. If you aren't sure which button is where, you might want to brush up before you get started. Otherwise, it's very straightforward. Your only limitation is trivia knowledge. Don't have a name (or too rushed to enter it)? One will be assigned to you, and it's usually pretty amusing.
The Save Game: Each game session takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. The game records your progress, including questions answered, at the end of the game so you don't repeat any. There are 73 games on disc, and PS3 and Xbox 360 gamers can buy packs containing 5-10 more for $5 each.
Family Factor: Not as crude as South Park, but definitely some questionable material. Language runs to the damn/hell/ass variety. Heavy sexual innuendo. While small kids won't get most of it, you probably don't want them running around screaming "I CAME FROM BEHIND!" following a victory, either. Teens probably won't understand half the humor unless they watch a lot of Nick at Night. Finally, a game you can beat them at!
Buy, Rent or Skip? With 730 questions and add-on packs of new and "classic" (read: old) sessions coming down the DLC pipeline, this is a solid buy for those who enjoy trivia games, bawdy humor and screwing their neighbors.
On a Personal Note: We played You Don't Know Jack about a decade ago on the computer back in our Macintosh days, and we loved it. The new game feels just like the old one, which is a good thing. The addition of Achievements/Trophies makes it even sweeter – finally, I can up the sexual innuendo factor in my gaming score!
On the flip side, there are some seriously WTF questions mixed in for "fun." For me, these typically involve the word "physics." As in, I barely passed algebra, and don't go near the stuff (well, unless I trip and get a real world schooling). These don't show up every game, but they do seem like frequent occurrences. And when they do appear, it's the perfect opportunity for Gamewatcher to screw me! As in, hit the button that takes a small piece of hardware (a screw) and drills it down into the words, "Player 1." (Queue obligatory suggestive Cookie comment.) This option, available once per game, forces your neighbor to answer in 10 seconds while a dramatic clock counts down. It's worse than it sounds. The losses are bigger, but get it right, and the screwer becomes the screwee.
Gamewatcher and I especially enjoy playing mid-day during work breaks. If you're wondering, he usually screws me first. Damn physics questions.
More Busy Gamer Reviews:
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- Fable III
- Dead Rising 2
- Dead Rising 2: Case Zero (with Tips and Tricks)
- Costume Quest
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Busy Gamer Audio Reviews and Features (MP3):
Comments (1)
between the demo and a few reviews including yours I think this may be the surprise of the year for me. I was like the only kid in school who never actually played YDKJ back in the day. Always wanted to. I'll be keeping an eye on this when it drops I"ll try to pick it up. I hear the replay sucks but the single play is so good you get your money's worth. If it happens for me this will be the game that makes me get some more PS3 controllers.
Posted by wolfkin | April 12, 2011 8:27 PM
Posted on April 12, 2011 20:27