Tedious Play

User Rating: 6.5 | Trivial Pursuit PS3
Trivial Pursuit struggles to justify itself as a full price release; especially with so many great value PSN titles. The addition of new game modes offers something different, but Trivial Pursuit is littered with design flaws that can make gameplay a chore.

Clear the Board is a single player challenge, most similar to a speed run option. Once a question has been answered, it's permanently removed from the board. Stringing together correct answers increases the score multiplier, which determines the players overall score. Classic mode is fairly self-explanatory. 2-4 players can compete against each other, battling to win wedges in the usual categories. Facts & Friends mode is very similar, but allows bets to be placed on whether the current player knows the answer. It adds a new layer of competition, because wedges can also be won this way. Multiplayer can be handled with just one controller; players simply pass the pad after their turn.

The trophy set is interesting, split across all 3 game modes. Awards are given for answering category questions correctly, or getting consecutive answers right or wrong. There is a free to download `movie pack' from the store, which adds some longevity to the overall experience, although the premium content is way overpriced. Furthermore, irritating design choices can impact on the games enjoyment, particularly after a few hours. Questions that require an answer to be selected from a map do not list the options available. So not only are you required to know the answer, but where it is geographically. The games announcer is bi-polar to say the least, with no consistency to his relentlessly enthusiastic observations. He'll praise your abilities and call you a loser, usually within seconds of each other. Inevitably, he will force you to mute the television. During multiplayer games it can be difficult to see which person is next. Despite picking a specific puck colour for each player, I've noticed Facts & Friends mode has one colour which is shared. The current player box is slightly larger than the rest to indicate their turn, but the difference is negligible and doesn't always help.

Trivial Pursuit is a fun multiplayer title, but very expensive for what it is. There are much better party games available for the system, and for a fraction of the price.