Hollywood Squares
SCORE: 81
If you’re a fan of this TV game show, you and your family can have some good clean fun playing this trivia game with a handful of celebrities right at home.
You’ll find the graphics in Hollywood Squares to be fairly simple and in the typical style of many Wii games. You’ll begin the game by creating your character. This is done by choosing a “basic look” and then adjusting the hair style and wardrobe to your liking. I was surprised by the limited amount of customization options in this area. While players can unlock more selections later on, the ability to create a unique avatar is quite lacking. The level layout in the game is quite simple and resembles the tic-tac-toe style board seen in the TV show. Oddly, there are only four celebrities actually appearing in the game. They are: Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond), Kathy Griffin, Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development), and Martin Mull. The other eight squares on the board are filled with ambiguous computer generated characters that, as far as I can tell, are not even the likeness of any celebrity. Each time you choose the center square the game presents the questions in the form of a video clip from the TV show featuring the celebrity currently residing in the square. This is probably the most entertaining part of the game. Happily, players will find no violence or offensive imagery to speak of in this game making it safe for the eyes of the entire family.
Hollywood Squares features over 1500 questions professionally voiced by TV host Tom Bergeron. The game is rated E 10+ for alcohol reference and mild language. During the considerable amount of time I put into playing this game I did not encounter either of these things. I assume that these references must be in the game, but they must also be quite sparse. I had some concerns about the comments that may be expressed by the celebrities in the video clips, but even those were extremely tasteful and not offensive in the least. Ubisoft has done a good job of keeping the audio content of this game in check making it safe for the ears of the entire family as well. The game also features the musical theme from the TV show which gets quite repetitive and borders on annoying at times, but it is upbeat and suits the nature of the game.
The game features some unlockable features, such as additional wardrobe items, but this isn’t likely what will keep you coming back for more. The real reason players will find to replay Hollywood Squares is that it is fun to play with another person. While eventually you will likely learn the answer to every question, it is definitely a fun game that is safe to play with the whole family.
In the way of gameplay, Hollywood Squares is very simple. If you’ve never seen the TV show, here’s an overview of how it works. Two players face off in a game of tic-tac-toe with a twist. The board is a 3x3 square grid with a “celebrity” in each square. Players, one playing as X and the other as O, alternate turns choosing a square. Once the square is chosen the celebrity in that square is asked a question by the host which they must answer. The player must then correctly choose to agree or disagree with the celebrity’s answer in order to put their X or O in the square. Players win by getting three squares in a row or by getting five out of the nine squares on the board. I found that the single player mode was pretty simple to win as the opposing computer players are not exceedingly bright. There are no difficulty settings, so playing the game by yourself against the computer can get old pretty fast. The questions in the game are mostly pop culture related with a few science questions tossed in here and there. The majority of these questions are quite simple and aren’t likely to pose much of a challenge to adults, but will make the game enjoyable for younger players. The two player game mode is much more enjoyable as a live opponent adds more of a challenge to the gameplay, not to mention the heckling that is likely to occur as you attempt to take your turn. I will say that one extremely annoying thing about this game is that the gameplay instructions are automatically played at the beginning of every round. While this is helpful when you are just starting out, it becomes quite irritating when you must skip though three screens of instructions at the start of each round. As far as game controls, there’s not much to trip you up. Basically pointing the remote and pushing a button is all you will need to be able to do in order to successfully play Hollywood Squares.
Hollywood Squares is an entertaining trivia game that’s simple to
play and also happens to be a game that is safe for the whole family.
This Wii game may be basic, but it is still a fun way to spend a family
game night. If you’re in need of a way to get your family together for
some good clean fun, Hollywood Squares from Ubisoft is worth a look.
-Roger
Graphics: 74%
Sound: 81%
Replay/Extras: 81%
Gameplay: 82%
Family Friendly Factor: 85%
System: Wii
Publisher: Ubisoft
Rating: 'E10+' for Everyone 10+
{Alcohol Reference, Comic Mischief, Mild Language}
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