Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

"The game show was nice - I'm not so sure about the PC version."

I'll keep this short and simple: I don't own this game, but I have two friends who do and yes, I have played it, otherwise I wouldn't be reviewing this now.

GAMEPLAY - If you've been in your shell the last year or so when it comes to primetime TV, I'll keep this short and simple. To win the million, you have to answer fifteen multiple choice questions correctly. Once you reach question 5 or 10, you're guaranteed to leave with $1,000 or $32,000. To help you are 3 lifelines: 50:50 which removes 2 wrong answers, Ask the Audience where in this game it will tabulate the results of an Internet poll of 50 people, and finally you can phone a friend where the host (Regis Philbin, if you want to know) will call a friend up and help you with the answer. Just like the real game show. By the way, everytime a question comes up you have 30 seconds (unlike the real show where you have infinite time).

GRAPHICS - Impressive. A very, very, *very* realistic simulation of the game show. It almost puts you right in the hot seat sitting in the comfort of your own home. But one complaint I have is that the board (to the right which shows where you are and the lifelines you've used) isn't exactly perfectly realistic. It could have been a little better.

SOUNDS - Very amazing. You hear the audience clapping, Regis talking to you, and the entire thing. Again, another way of putting you right there. Sometimes, when you don't answer for a while, then finally pick an answer, Regis will ask you (just like on the show): ''Is that your final answer?''

MULTIPLAYER - This is one of the neater functions of the game. If there are 2 or more players playing the game, then you can do the ''fastest finger'' competition. It works simple. Four answers will flash around on the screen, and you have to press your key the instant your answer is in the right combination. But when the player who wins walks away or loses, he or she can play again, but if you want to keep it the way it is on the show, well, sure.

LASTING APPEAL - This is what I don't like about the game. I was totally addicted but then, suddenly, I started seeing repeat questions! Now that's stupid! I guess it was to save memory. If you want more interactive play, go to ABC.com and play the online game. It's much better. Say, there should have been a way to incorporate extra questions into the game from the Internet or somewhere...

Overall Scores
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GAMEPLAY - 10.0
GRAPHICS - 10.0
SOUNDS - 9.0
MULTIPLAYER - 9.0
LASTING APPEAL - 5.0

AVERAGE SCORE - 8.6
WHAT I THINK - 8.3
FINAL SCORE - 8.5 (rounded off to 9)

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/05/00, Updated 03/05/00