I’ve always had a soft spot for video games of the genre “party” designed for entertainment with friends. It is one thing to pass the storyline of the game alone and quite another to share my joy with people who love you. This could include dance projects like Just Dance and Dance Central, games like SingStar and karaoke, of course, the quiz. That’s about one a game for the PlayStation 4 today I really wanted to tell you. It is called “Znanie — Sila” (Knowledge is Power), and I’m sure that this game can give you and your friends many wonderful evenings at the TV screen.
Game: “Znanie – Sila” (Knowledge is Power)
Platform: PlayStation 4
Genre: Quiz
Release date: 29 November 2017
Developer: Wish Studios
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
My favorite quiz before that day was game series Buzz!, created by British Studio Relentless Software for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable. The games are usually sold complete with a special controller with colored buttons. Each player picked up on this controller and was able to participate in the quiz, choosing the right answers to the questions. Only two games Buzz! of the entire series was translated into Russian language and published in Russia is incredibly small edition. Buy today this kit is very difficult, as the cost due to the rarity can go up to 40, 000 and above. Fortunately, I have a set in stock there, and periodically my friends and I face off each other erudition while playing a fun party.
Unfortunately, the Studio Relentless Software disbanded in 2016 due to financial difficulties and internal disagreements. But her former employees not to waste time and founded two new studios to start with a clean slate. The first Studio was named Finger Snap Click and immediately released multiplatform quiz It’s Quiz Time, which, sadly, was never translated into Russian language. And the second Wish Studio Studios has remained true to Sony platforms, and with the help of the Japanese publisher first created as a fun party game “It is you!” I recently told you, and then decided to revive old and released quiz “Knowledge is power” in the spirit of the Buzz!, we all remember and love.
We should not forget that this is a regular project, released by Sony as part of their new technology PlayLink. This means that the controllers need not to use DualShock 4 and mobile gadgets: tablets, phablets and smartphones. The game begins with the fact that the players (here they can be from two to six people) are downloading on their smartphones official app from Google Play and the App Store. Unfortunately, owners of smartphones running Windows Phone will be disappointed – their device is not supported. Once the application is installed on all devices you want to run it and connect your gadgets to the same Wi-Fi hotspot that your PlayStation 4. If you don’t have Wi-Fi router, the console can emulate the access point yourself, giving you its name and password. Once all of the preliminary steps completed, you can start the game.
Each player must choose a unique avatar and enter your name using the keypad on the smartphone screen. The TV screen in this moment is a kind of “shared hub” where the perky presenter named Max encourages players and explains the rules of the game. Among the characters until eight outstanding personalities: goth girl, the person-hot dog, grim, bearded mountaineer, alien and others. Something tells me that in the future the developers plan to gradually introduce the game to new heroes. All of them have different style of behavior during game play, unique facial expressions, funny antics and gestures. Everything is exactly the same as before was in the series Buzz!, so fans of the old works of the Studio Wish will be satisfied.
Each quiz is broken down into 12 levels, 8 of which are questions on various topics, 2 – special stages, which we will discuss below, and the final level 12 – the finale, in which the players must show each other their skills in the battle for the right to become the winner. Before you ask a question that led offers the players to vote and choose the subject matter of the next round. Before participants be four doors (just like in the animated film “Corporation of monsters”), each of which is signed by the name of the topic for the next question. This may be a “Cinema”, “History”, “Sports”, “Science”, “Art” and dozens of other options. Players choose the nearest them and stand around the corresponding door. The topic, which was voted the most wins. If the game is played by only two people, and thus they choose different themes in the game is included randomayzer. Thematic areas a great many, as, indeed, of the questions. The developers claim that their game a few thousand, and that would be enough for months of entertainment.
To answer the questions is necessary as follows: on the screen shows you a leading question (it may well be accompanied by photo/illustration), and on smartphones players appear four possible answers. Poke your finger in the right, in our opinion, the answer and try not to show their choice to other participants that they should not exploit your knowledge. If the answer is correct, you get prize points. And the faster you answer – the more points you get. In the game there is one interesting detail, the so-called Power Plays, or “podlyanki” if we talk in plain language. Before each round you can choose one of six such pranks, and throw it to another player of their choice. For example, you can freeze his buttons, he can’t press the correct answer until your fingers break the ice. Or you can fill it a tiny rodent that naturally will eat some of the letters in the answers, preventing the understanding written. Players will constantly interfere with each other to achieve success, and this, undoubtedly, is one of the entertainment factors of the game “Knowledge is power”.
Very original in the game is made of so-called special rounds. Only two of them. The first is called “Communication,” and the players offer on the smartphone screen to contrast different parts of something one other thing. For example, in the upper part appear the names of the actors, and just below the different roles these actors have played in his career. You must connect each actor with his role, trying not to make a mistake. Actually it’s very fun, engrossing you in the game. I left it round very happy. However, the second special round of “Sorting” me too much. In the center of the screen of the smartphone, there are various names, let this be the names of composers and artists. And you need memory to sort them into those who paint and those who compose music. To do this, just brush off the names to the left or right side of the screen (they are signed, so don’t get lost). It seems that everything is pretty straightforward, but you should have seen how it all in action!
In the end players will enjoy a Grand Finale when they will be asked to answer a series of questions, with each correct answer rising higher on the improvised “Pyramid of knowledge”. The faster you answer correctly the higher we climb its steps, in parallel, not forgetting to throw enemies of various podlyanki. Is the game and another special mode — “Quick quiz” when using just a single smartphone players can divide into two teams and play against each other, passing it in turn to different participants. In this case you even do not need TV, everything will happen directly on the smartphone screen. This mode, in my opinion, not as interesting as the primary. However, he will fit you in if someone from home suddenly occupy the television to watch a favorite TV show or the news.
The graphics are not particularly fancy, but it is bright and of high quality. The characters are well animated, the backgrounds are carefully crafted and full of details. The special effects look nice and not out of the General picture. What else to have expected quiz for the fun of it? This is not a AAA game with an open world like Horizon Zero Dawn, as a niche project for those who want to stretch their grey matter. I’m glad such clever games in General there are still not extinct at the background popular, but for the most part completely soulless genres like first-person shooters. And the cost of “Knowledge is power” will please many. The game will cost you ridiculous by today’s standards 1299 rubles. It is a pity that you, our readers, the game will be available only on November 29 (reporters review-copies of games sent a little early). I really can’t wait to hear your opinion about it.
Pros:
- The perfect way to entertain yourself and your friends at the party.
- The game not only entertains, but also makes players significantly smarter.
- A huge number of interesting questions on a variety of topics.
- The game can be played by anyone who has a smartphone.
- There is a bonus game mode “Team”.
- The opportunity to conspire against the other players.
- Great graphics, animation and memorable characters.
- Low cost games in the PlayStation Store.
- A worthy successor to the series Buzz!
Cons:
- The gameplay between rounds tightened somewhat.
- No support for smartphones running Windows Phone.
“Knowledge is power” — great fun for friendly company, when you can flaunt in front of friends with expertise in a particular topic, whether it is modern cinema, the world of science, nature, literature or politics. The game, of course, there are some minor cons. For example, it is unfriendly to owners of smartphones running Windows Phone, but between rounds of gameplay sometimes feels too slow and leisurely, quickly becomes annoying. However, Knowledge is Power is very smart, funny and mischievous, perfectly translated into Russian language (don’t be afraid of screenshots with English text – I just haven’t had the time to make them yourself), and indeed – quickly draws players highly additive gameplay. I’ve been waiting for something like this for the PlayStation 4 and finally came. Highly recommend the game to all those who are tired of the monotony of the modern gaming industry. And I give her 9 points out of 10. Play really good, smart game.
Review of the game “Knowledge is power”: smart fun for a large company
Sergey Grey