Parents Video Game Reviews for Families- Who Wants To Be A Millionaire: 2nd Edition

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire:
2nd Edition

Overall: B
Violence: A
Sexual Content: A-
Language: A
Drugs/Alcohol: A

Platform reviewed: Playstation
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
ESRB rating: E

Based on the ABC Television show that turns normal everyday people into sweating nervous wrecks, Who Wants to Be A Millionaire -- Second Edition does its best to give you the Regis experience in your own home.

With the quizmaster at his perky best, the game begins with the simplest questions: "How many players?" followed by "What's your name?" Just for fun, make Regis wait awhile on these responses or enter Regis' name instead of your own... trust me, this is possibly the most entertaining part of the game.

While the game appears to support one or two players, you or your friend may get bored when the only two-player action is the moment you are pit against each other to answer the question determining which contestant gets to go into the circle with Regis (similar to the television show). If you're the lucky winner, you get to play while your friend sits and watches.

My first trip to the hot seat was memorably short. Okay... I'm no sports expert. How was I supposed to know an American touchdown was six points and not seven? Our other video game reviewer, Jim Fleming (who has difficulty writing reviews on these more cerebral games), is rolling on the floor at this point. Amidst snickers he points out that Canadian touchdowns are only six points as well. I have no excuse. Booted out on the first question, Regis rubs it in -- "Well at least you won't have to pay taxes!"

A few minutes later Jim wins the toss (see... I know football lingo) and gets his first question: Who was Guinevere's husband in the story of Camelot? Obviously too busy watching sports to read classic literature or see the movie, his answer of Lancelot permitted him to join me in the losers' circle.

After telling Jim to get back to work, I went out on my own -- just Regis and me. After a few attempts I peaked at $32,000. Determined to tell my readers what would happen if you won the big mil, I resorted to the Internet and the game's pause button to find the answers. A few minutes later I was rewarded with music, confetti, and Regis informing me that I really didn't win a million dollars but only had a fun time. (I'll bet that disclaimer was the lawyers' idea!)

While only hearing one mild comment of sexual innuendo during a telephone "life line" call, the rest of the game is clear of any objectionable content -- notwithstanding Regis. But the simulated experience of being on the show wanes after a few plays, especially when presented with questions I had already seen. Considering our playing time was only an hour; that was not a good sign. Perhaps if you could save your name and "profile" the game would "remember" what questions you've already been asked. And considering most of the questions require at least a couple of decades of trivia knowledge, children and even teens may find the game too difficult.

Complete with life-lines (audience polls were conducted using 50 random people on the Internet, while "phone a friend" gets you one of Regis' knowledgeable buddies), drum rolls, and dramatic pauses ("Are you sure that's your answer?"), the game has all the style of the television show, but one thing is missing: "The million dollas" -- as Regis would say.

Rod Gustafson