We've all heard the old saying: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Berkeley Systems has apparently taken this advice to heart with the release of You Don't Know Jack Volume 3.
Of course, it's hard to argue with success. When You Don't Know Jack first made its appearance in 1995, it was rightfully hailed by critics and gamers alike for its dead-on gameplay, intelligent questions, and irreverent atmosphere. Volume 3 of You Don't Know Jack keeps all of these features intact and makes only minor adjustments to this proven formula.
Veterans of the You Don't Know Jack series will be instantly at home with the gameplay. One to three players compete for cash by answering a series of seven or 21 questions. But of course this isn't just any normal trivia game: You choose from categories like "Would You Like To Touch My Primate?" and answer outrageous questions on subjects ranging from medieval warfare to the popular sitcom Friends. The entire package is punctuated by cheesy music, wicked commentary, and enough insults for three more Beavis and Butthead movies.
There are a few minor additions to the mix this time around. Bizarre guest hosts make appearances during the game, and there's a new type of question called a ThreeWay in which you try to associate a clue with one of three words. (As an aside, the ThreeWay is the first true dud of the You Don't Know Jack series; the associations are often stretches, and the woman squealing "Yes!" each time you get an answer correct grates on the ears, especially after the seventh time.) You Don't Know Jack Volume 3 is also a bit more subdued in its tone than its more hectic predecessors: Colors are softer, the music is more laid back, and the game atmosphere seems less chaotic than previous volumes.
All of these changes are obviously minor ones, and none of them affects the gameplay significantly; Berkeley knows that it has a winning formula. Perhaps it's best to leave well enough alone. In any case, You Don't Know Jack Volume 3 is a superior trivia game, and fans of the series certainly won't be disappointed.
