Review: 1 vs. 100, season 2

A while back I did a review of the Xbox Live game 1 vs. 100. While I liked the social aspect of the game, there was a couple of things that caught my eye that I was hoping that the game would fix when it launched in its final form. Well, season two has started, some changes are good and some still need to be implemented.

In the first review, I mentioned the countdown timer. While it’s still the same timer from the last game, there are some changes. Now after the timer runs out and the correct answer is revealed it shows, in seconds, how long it took you to answer. Instant answer returns, but now I know that I have to answer in less than one second to qualify. I still don’t like this, but not for the twitch answer reason. The “instant” in instant answer is based off of when the correct answer revealed, regardless of which answer you pick. So if the first answer is correct, but you instant answer the third answer, it shows as an instant answer, but then times you on when the first answer was revealed. While this doesn’t affect you in the long run (since the answer was wrong), it’s still quite odd.

Achievements are new to the second season. Two-hundred points are up for grabs, since it’s a live game. Nothing really jumps out about them, outside of the fact that they are there. A couple might be hard to get, since they require a full four player group and/or really long correct answer streaks. While I like getting achievements, they are nothing I have gone out of my way to get. But still, it’s nice to have to make the game “official.”

My biggest problem with the game from the first review is that you can’t change your answer. Sadly, this is still the case. Now that you can get achievements from correct answer streaks, being able to change your answer is more important, especially since you get so little time to answer. If you are going for an instant answer, that means pushing the button within the first second of its reveal. Passing on the option of instant answer bonuses to let the question is a risk, but so is having the wrong answer.

Still, 1 vs. 100 is a great social experience. It can be a lot of fun to be grouped up with your friends, answer questions and taunting each other when they get an obvious answer wrong. Since it’s a free game and you still have the chance of prizes, it’s worth checking out.