Buzz Junior: Monster Rumble

Although it’s not as versatile as the Wii remote, the Buzz controller is equally as innocuous. Whereas the standard PlayStation controller has a whopping 14 buttons, the Buzz controller has only five, and one of them is a big red button that screams “Push Me!”

This means that it’s a great controller for introducing video games to those unfamiliar with them, especially young children. To capitalise on this, the Buzz Junior series exists and Buzz Junior: Monster Rumble is the latest addition.

As the title suggests, this game is aimed at small children. And by small, its target demographic is likely to be under seven or eight years of age. Monster Rumble sets itself up on the premise of being scary, but in a very Nickelodeon way. It’s all green goo and eccentric professors that makes even the Addam’s Family seem a bit extreme. It’s definitely a family-friendly affair, which should please parents looking for a great game to put under the tree at Christmas time.

In terms of gameplay, the game is not a quiz game like its older brother. Instead, it is a collection of mini-games that is best played with company. The game always needs four players, although you can have the computer control the other characters if no one is around.

The number of mini-games in the overall game can be set by players, which is nice as after a while the mind can start to wander during the longer games. The games themselves vary between games of luck and games of reflexes, although none of them are particularly taxing. Adults who wish to partake in the game along with their children should find themselves able to cope thanks to the nature of the game and the controller.

Unlike other mini-game collections, Buzz Junior: Monster Rumble forgoes any kind of overall challenge, such as the board games from Mario Party. Whether or not this is a good thing depends on personal opinion.

While some might find that the game lacks a sense of purpose without some kind of meta-game acting as a shell, others will find that such a shell is best avoided as it allows more time to be spent with the addictive mini-games. Monster Rumble isn’t better or worse because it’s missing; it just means that it should not be substituted for Mario Party or similar games.

Ultimately, Buzz Junior: Monster Rumble is a great mini-game collection that is accessible to all ages. Both the simple controller and the easy-to-understand gameplay mean that anyone can have fun with the game. While the theme is definitely family-friendly, it’s cute rather than childish and adults should not find themselves disinterested. If you are looking for a great present to place under the tree this Christmas, Buzz Junior: Monster Rumble is a solid purchase.

"A great family-friendly affair that’s easy to play."

8.2 Great