 Every once in a while, we are graced by the presence of a game show host who is so influential, he permanently changes our daily TV schedule. Bob Barker, Dick Clark, Bob Eubanks, and Alex Trebek have become the default entertainment on sick days, and their constant presence promoted a sense of comfort and security in the ever-changing world of broadcast television.
Over the last few years, another host has joined the ranks of these elite baritones. His name, of course, is Buzz. Host to such acclaimed game shows as the Hollywood Quiz, Pop Quiz, and Mega Quiz, Buzz has brought his game show mastery to a new product: Buzz! Quiz TV.
Finally bringing Buzz’s trivia challenge to the PlayStation 3, Sony has improved upon an already stellar franchise. Under the steady hands of Relentless Software, Buzz! Quiz TV proves to be a clear advancement over its last-gen counterparts, augmenting the entertaining trivia experience to new heights.
Hit the jump for the scoop. And brings your friends; it’s always more fun that way.
If you’ve played any Buzz! games in the past, then Quiz TV will certainly feel comfortably familiar. Trivia modes like Fastest Fingers, Short Fuse, and Pie Fight (my personal favorite) all make a repeat appearance this time around. The buzzers, of course, are still as simple as can be. A giant red button accompanies four smaller buttons, and the entire game can be controlled via the simple device. Best of all, the buzzers are now wireless, so you can steal points from your buddies from the kitchen, should you so choose.
Questions are divided into five basic categories: music, sports, film & TV, brainiac, and lifestyle. These categories are divided even further for more varied in-game options. In total, there are more than 5,000 questions in the disc. And with DLC packs being released on a regular basis, that total continues to grow.
 On top of the questions included with the retail game, players can create and share custom quizzes. Your unique questions have to be created online, which sounds more inconvenient than it truly is. At MyBuzzQuiz.com, the process is extremely user-friendly to create, tag, share, and download custom-made quizzes from the Buzz! community. And for the parents out there, you have the option to disable “mature” user-created quizzes on your PS3. Of course, custom quizzes can only be used locally, so you can forget about taking your obscure Star Trek trivia into the online multiplayer realm. In fact, the online portions of Quiz TV can sometimes feel like the most disappointing. Sure, you can hook up with your friends over the PSN, and it can be just as fun as having buddies sitting on your couch. But playing with random opponents can often be less entertaining. There’s only one type of match that can be played with random gamers, and there’s no real way to create a custom match. So if you just feel like answering trivia about ‘80s music, your only real option is to play locally. Obviously, a watered-down online system is better than nothing, but it would have been nice to see a few more options at your disposal.  Naturally, the rich personality of all Buzz! games has been carried over to Quiz TV. Buzz, our enthusiastic host, is still full of insults and condescending compliments. In fact, the only time Buzz said something nice to me came after I played a perfect round of trivia.
On the other side of the stage, the character models for contestants are as flamboyant as ever. Mimes, wrestlers, cheerleaders, and a snooty French military commander stand behind their podiums, constantly taunting and mocking their opponents. You haven’t played trivia until your Napoleon-lookalike tried to ride the game show host like a horse.
 If, like me, you don’t have many friends, you can always take Buzz on solo, pushing yourself for a new high score. Of course, this can be fun for a few outings, but its novelty quickly wears off. When playing by yourself, you’ll only be playing a single game mode, but you can always customize your questions selections to vary up the experience.
Additionally, Relentless Software included as robust leaderboard, a regularly updated news channel, and even support for the PlayStation Eye. These may not be concepts that will be used by the majority of gamers, but it’s nice to have the tools at your disposal. And if you spend a lot of time playing solo trivia matches, the leaderboards are a nice point of motivation.
Aside from the underwhelming online play, my biggest complaint with Quiz TV revolves around its round types. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good Pie Fight. But, many of the trivia types feel uninspired. Minutia quizzes, of all kinds, have used the same general formulae for so many years. It would have been nice to see some new and creative types of games to play against your friends. Heck, you can only wager points based on your knowledge for so long before it starts to feel extremely repetitive.
 Also, some of the categories’ questions feel way too easy. There’s no reason I should be able to plow through 30 questions in the Science & Technology category without a single incorrect answer. In fact, if you even consider yourself a slight expert on a given topic, you’ll likely be able to rack up an insane amount of point in its category in Quiz TV.
Although, I must say that finally being able to earn trophies for my vast knowledge of Mind & Body trivia is a welcome addition. Sure, it’s rewarding when you can destroy your buddies in a match. But when that little trophy icon pops up in the corner, it’s just icing on the cake.
As with any trivia game, Quiz TV thrives when you have folks sitting next to you, jockeying for 1st place. Online play is a nice addition, but it still feels under-developed. With the addition of custom quizzes, there’s a nearly endless supply of trivia goodness waiting for you. And the small upgrades that come with the transition to the PS3 – wireless controllers, online leaderboards, and upgraded visuals – Buzz! Quiz TV continues to raise the bar for the franchise. If you’ve ever been a fan of trivia games, there’s no reason you should skip over this title.
Final Score: A
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