|
|
MI6 reviews the latest James Bond board game - "Scene
It? 007 Edition". Is it well suited for casual
and dedicated fans alike?
|
|
Scene It? 007 Edition - Review
10th February 2005
After creating hugely popular general movie games, "Scene
It?" launched their "007 Edition" earlier this
year, blending both traditional board game play with the technology
of a DVD. So who is it best suited for - Bond fans or general
cinema goers - and does it provide a challenge? MI6 reviews the
game...
The Contents
The game consists of a main playing board, dice, cards and of
course... a DVD! As the name of the game suggests, you will need
a DVD player for this game to work. As well as the main fold-out
board, the box contains a well sculpted metal piece for each of
the four players (Bond, girl, martini glass, Aston Martin) - although
why the game is restricted to only four players is unclear. Despite
the use of the DVD, most of the play comes from the 200 question
cards and 30 "Q" cards - which act as random events
to spice up the play.
The Questions
Questions are split into three categories: Basic Bond, Beyond
Bond, and Brilliant Bond. Basic Bond questions should be
straight-forward to anyone who has seen all of the movies,
especially as they have multiple choice answers. Brilliant
Bond questions are pitched at the more dedicated fan, although
the majority are still quite straight-forward.
Very few of the questions challenge indepth knowledge of
the films. Although, Beyond Bond is where most Bond fans
will find an element of challenge, as the questions escape
the 007 world into areas such as other movies cast members
have appeared in, and connections between elements of the
films.
Right: The cover art for the boxed
game.
|
|
|
The DVD
John Cleese, who played Q in the 2002 film "Die Another Day"
narrates the Scene It? 007 Edition DVD game with his usual wit
and charm, taking the edge off otherwise dry rules and monotonous
gameplay. Coming in with a total length of 73 minutes, including
the frequent menu transitions, the disc is actually quite light
on video content and the clips will become quite repetitive after
a few plays - even if the questions that follow change.
The DVD based questions fall in to two camps: questions that
require no Bond knowledge (such as simple observation), or those
for which the clip is irrelevant. Up until the "final cut"
finale, the DVD is relatively surplus to requirements, but the
climatic challenges to determine the winner give the format a
chance to shine with some quite inventive methods of testing a
players skill. Musically, the DVD relies heavily on "The
Living Daylights" and "Tomorrow Never Dies" to
provide the main score, but other cues are scattered throughout.
The Experience
What is it like to play? Initially the game looks very straight-forward,
but only a minute into the interactive walkthrough with John Cleese
you may find yourself lost. There are far too many rule complications,
especially surrounding how a player can win the game - so much
so that the rules are reminded every time a player reaches the
final stages. Using the DVD as a question timer is quite laborious,
and the various "play modes" for the same questions
seem a spurious attempt to pad out an otherwise familiar format.
The game could have been made a lot simpler and easier to enjoy,
without the unnecessary complexity that adds nothing to the experience.
It is also conceivable that a knowledgeable Bond fan may win the
game very quickly, giving other players little board time.
MI6 Rating
For the average fan or novice, the "Scene It? 007 Edition"
will be fun and challenging for the first few games, but may soon
become quite repetitive and tiresome. "Party Mode",
where the game automatically pitches questions to a larger audience,
may prove to be the most useful setting for the game for social
gatherings.
For a serious James Bond fan this game holds very little in the
way of a challenge, except for the occasional question in the
"Beyond Bond" category. For this audience, the "Reel
to Reel" trivia game is highly recommended, and can be found
regularly on Ebay for a fraction of the cost. Hardcore fans may
also spot the occasional technical error amongst the 200 question
cards.
Note: The game is rated PG-13 in the USA, but
15 in the UK. According the box, the game is suited for players
aged "13 - adult".
Buy
Online - Amazon.com
Buy
Online - Amazon.co.uk
Related Articles
"Scene It? 007 Edition"
Preview