Review: Fuzion Frenzy 2 (X360)

Fuzion Frenzy 2 fails to deliver on the promise of a party game for the ‘360.

Fuzion Frenzy 2 is the sequel to a Xbox Classic launch game. The original game consisted of a variety of mini-games that could be played on their own or as part of a series. Criticisms of the original game included a lack of on-line support (XBL did not exist at the time), bleak “running man” visuals, and a lack of structure to the mini-games.

Development of FF2 was handed to Hudson, the creators of the Mario Party series, so expectations where quit high. The Mario Party series has consistently delivered a fun party game on the N64 and Gamecube platforms with a variety of good mini-games fitting into a star-collecting board game (played with dice): in the Mario Party series the mini-games form only part of the overall experience.

Unfortunately Hudson has produced a by-the-numbers sequel that inherits most of the mistakes from the original, and in many ways made them much worse.

Firstly, without the board-game element, you are only left with the mini-games. This would be fine if they where in sufficient numbers (only 40+) and quality. However, there are not enough mini-games to carry a purely mini-game focused party game and, sadly, many of the mini-games just aren’t fun, or are just slight variations on the same game.

There are three game modes: tournament, frenzy, and custom. Tournament has the four players competing in mini-game sets (4 games per set), with each set taking place on one planet. Players compete to win a predetermined number of sets and can use cards to change the outcome of each game (see below). Frenzy is just pure mini-games (no cards). Finally, custom allows players to compete for a prescribed number of mini-game wins.

Hudson have added a new “luck” mechanic, inspired from the Mario Party series, by including cards that can affect the outcome of each mini-game: for instance, the game points can be x2, x4, x6; cards can be stolen, or effects reversed (multiplier becomes divider). Unfortunately, the result introduces too larger slice of luck into the game and you’ll find yourself winning a mini-game only to have a player who game 2nd or 3rd taking all the points by using a card effect. There is a fine balance between fun twists of fate and frustration and in this case Hudson got it wrong as the cards often completely negate winning each mini-game.

FF2 does support online play, but you are limited to four players and the game-play suffers the same problems as the offline game – it just isn’t much fun. I would concede that FF2 would be better with a group of friends plied with alcohol, but Hudson have really missed a trick in not creating a game that is inherently fun or can be enjoyed equally on or offline.

Graphically, FF2 is a mess. The same “future-tech” game-show style has been implemented from the original, with bleak looking environments and clumsy looking character animations. Hudson made the same mistake with the recent Bomberman remake. Personally, party games need to have a fun and funky style to emphasis the party atmosphere (see Mario Party, Warioware or Super Monkey Ball) – FF2 is like a visit to the dentist!

The sound in the game is pretty bland, with weak musical scores and sound effects. The voice acting, however, is something else! FF2 features one of the worse game characters ever invented. The game show DJ is unbelievably annoying, repetitive, grotesque, irritating, and badly dubbed! You can’t even turn him off! He continually calls out inane things during each mini-game like “how are you feeling player 1!”…Arrrggggg!!

FF2 retails well under the usual £50 RRP, but given the limited number and mixed quality of the mini-games, plus poor overall game design, FF2 does not represent good value for money. You can complete the entire game in one weekend, so it makes a better rental.

FF2 is a missed opportunity. The ‘360 lacks a decent party game, and XBL should be the ideal environment for one. Unfortunately FF2 is too weak an offering and fails to deliver any improvements over the original. If you want a party game, wait for Worms HD or play Marble Blast Ultra which are much more fun.

2/5