Countdown Game (DVDi)

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Liked it
Educational Value	Good
How good are the presenters?	Outstanding
How good is the content?	Good
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	In keeping with the classic TV show .  Fun and educational .  Entertaining .
Disadvantages:	Don't get to choose the letters or numbers .  Rounds repeat too often .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

This Countdown DVD (presented by the now departed Des Lynam and Carol Vorderman, as it was produced in 2006), is based on the long-running classic TV show. It allows users to play the game for themselves against family and friends (or on their own if they wish) and recreate the fun and excitement of the show. For those who don't know the rules of Countdown, here's a general rundown.

Countdown comprises of letter rounds, number rounds and a conundrum. In the letters rounds (of which there are 11 in the 15-round format that the DVD follows), series of random consonants and vowels are chosen, and the object is to make the longest word you can from these letters (the longer the word, the more points scored. One point for each letter in the word and double for using all nine letters, which equates to 18 points). You have to try and score a longer word than your opponent to outscore them. This is done 11 times during the game. Next there are 3 numbers rounds, which is where 6 numbers are randomly chosen and they must be used to reach a randomly chosen target between 101 and 999. There are 4 large numbers (25,50,75 and 100), and 20 small numbers (the numbers 1 - 10 twice). Unlike in the letters round, any combination can be chosen i.e. 3 large and 3 small would randomly create the selection 75, 25, 50, 3, 8, 5 with a target of 642. If the contestant is within 10 of the target, 5 points are awarded, within 5 and 7 are awarded, and if spot on the target, 10 points are awarded. In each round of the game there are 30 seconds (shown with a huge clock ticking down in rhythm to the famous catchy Countdown music). Finally the game concludes with a conundrum, which is simply a nine letter word jumbled up. This is on the buzzer and the first person to buzz in and get it gets 10 points. Simply, the person with the most points at the end of the 15 rounds is the winner and receives the legendary teapot (not in the DVD game though clearly).

So what about the DVD game? There is a lot of witty, scripted banter between Des and Carol as they explain the rules and proceed through the game, which is entertaining, but once you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times and it does get a little bit boring. The game rather pleasantly is set in the actual (now revamped) studio of the show, which is nice. Also, with the rounds, there are over 300 featured in the DVD, but these quite quickly get used up, and only after a few games will you come across a selection you have seen before (which leads to another disadvantage, whereby you cannot choose whether you have a consonant of vowel; this is automatically chosen by Carol, and applies to both the letters and numbers rounds). Also, there is a strong possibility to cheat, as when you declare what you have, there is no way of checking your word, so even if it's invalid, you could give yourself the points anyway. Plus, you only see an animated clock ticking down during the rounds as opposed to the real McCoy. So overall, there are a few disadvantages and snags with the game, but these don't really prevent it from being a thoroughly enjoyable game for all the family.

In addition to the main game, there is also a function whereby you can play 5 conundrums in the Conundrum Game. You buzz in by pressing the enter button on your DVD remote control, and at the end of the 5 conundrums, you get a special message from Des (which could be complimentary or slightly derogatory depending on how you do). Though, you have to memorise the selections as unlike in the real show, they do not appear across the bottom of the screen, which could be detrimental to certain players.

The presenters are just as witty and affable as they appear on screen (though it is clear that their words are scripted, unlike in the show), and in the rounds you are shown the maximum potential solutions to each round, which is useful for practising. The value for money aspect is also reasonable, at as low as a fiver for a brand new copy. Though to negate this, the longevity of the game is rather poor. Nonetheless, it is still a thoroughly entertaining game, suitable for a rainy day, that is mostly in keeping with the actual show. So what are you waiting for, get counting down.