Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen! Review


Like many others, I’ve spent an inappropriate amount of my time enjoying video games, movies, and the occasional board game. When two of these recreations are combined, a certain synergistic quality takes place, as evidenced by Lego Star Wars or even- The Last Starfighter. When all three are amalgamated, the condition can be heightened even further, which might explain the popularity of the Buzz: Quiz TV and Scene It? line of videogames. Beyond the whole fusion factor, these games are incredibly enjoyable in social settings, and require no prerequisite gaming skills- making them exceedingly family friendly.

The recently released Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen! represents the third iteration of the game for Xbox 360 owners, and a new addition to PS3 and Wii libraries. Like the renowned board game it’s based on, Scene It’s focus is solely on movie trivia. As such, appreciation for the game is correlated on how savvy participants are with film facts.


Players start each session by selecting one of the game’s dozen movie-themed avatars, which range from samurai warriors, starlets, to pirates. Inexplicably, the option to use your own Xbox avatar is missing. Next, players may choose from three game types: Classic Scene It, a revolving Party Play mode where players can drop in and out, and the five minute Fast Fire variation. Additionally, players may alter the length of the classic game, or even opt to deduct points for incorrect responses.

Although players have the ability to turn off the title’s star-based bonus system, its implementation is slightly puzzling. At the commencement of each round, players may use their stars to enact a 50% bonus for each question answered correctly. In order to keep things competitive, the system reward failure- giving stars to the lowest scoring player. While this balancing technique was kept things interesting is the Mario Party series, it seems out of place in the more straight-forward Scene It.


Each of Bright Lights Big Screen’s 22 puzzle types offer a range of diversity. Invisibles removes an item from a movie still, requiring players to identify the missing prop. Sequentials tasks participants with sorting four films in chronological order. Although the disk includes over 2800 different questions, the game doesn’t seem to recall which puzzles have been previously displayed.  By the fifth game, the sporadic instance of repetition was evident. At least the game’s questions feel unusually fresh- some of the queries revolve around films is current circulation.

The title’s other quibbles emanate from the game’s presentation. Winning a half hour long game should be an exuberant affair, allowing the victor to bask if their display of celluloid expertise. In the Buzz titles, players are rewarded with ersatz prizes, concluding each game in a gratifying and memorable manner. Scene It’s finales feeling woefully abbreviated. Additionally, the game’s host is regretfully bland; his most conspicuous attribute is his inability to keep his mouth synchronized to his dialog.


While the last year’s Box Office Smash included the ability to play locally and online, internet play has been curiously abandoned by this edition. As such, the level of enjoyment in Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen! is dependent upon its number of participants. While I couldn’t recommend the title to solo or even a duo of movie fans, once a group of thee or more film enthusiasts gather, Bright Lights will shine. With a few small changes, the next installment in the Scene It series could sparkle even more radiantly.

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Posted by DesertEagle at 11/28/2009 3:00 PM
Categories: PS3,Wii,360,Reviews
 

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