PlayLink in Test – Knowledge is Power: Decades & Chimparty

PlayStations PlayLink series has grown again to my great pleasure. As a big quiz game fan I have been looking forward to knowledge is power for a long time: decades – and also Chimparty has aroused my interest. Unfortunately, the local multiplayer mode has receded into the background in recent years and PlayLink is bringing the much needed fresh wind into this area. As usual, every player needs a mobile device (mobile phone or tablet) with the respective app, which you can download for free from the respective iOS or Android store, a W-LAN connection, as well as a few friends who are in the mood for a fun gaming evening.

knowing is power – decades

The basic principle has not changed much in the new offshoot of the quiz series. Up to six players can compete against each other and measure their knowledge in different rounds. This time, as already mentioned in the title, the focus is on different decades – the80s, 90s, 2000s and 2010s. For the different epochs you have to choose from an extensive catalogue of questions on pop culture, music, TV or sports and collect points. At the end of the game your points will be counted and converted into your starting place on the knowledge pyramid. Optically, the presentation hardly differs from its predecessor, but some animations are unnaturally jerky. In order to make answering the questions more varied and exciting, you also have the opportunity again to sabotage your fellow players with “Super Actions”. In addition to the already known attacks such as goo, bombs and ice, there are now four new obstacles, such as the zipper – which covers all answers with a zipper and must be opened as quickly as possible on the display of the mobile device.

Developer Wish Studios also presents four new touchscreen challenges designed to loosen up the regular rounds of questions. For example, missing letters in film titles must be selected correctly. In addition to the normal quiz mode, you can also take part in the “Lightning Quiz” on your mobile device, in which you can participate in a quiz of the day and then compare your results with players around the world. Even if the puzzle is fun, the game is still very entertaining and at the latest after a third round you want to play something else. For the future I would like to see more varied modes and shorter or skipable animations.

With knowledge is power: Decades you have to choose an epoch again and again.

Chimparty

Affy strong fun promises developer NapNok at Chimparty and lets you compete against each other and collect stars in different mini-games. Once you’ve selected your primate and customized its appearance to your liking, the mini-game session can begin. In total you have four different modes to choose from: a classic board game mode – reminiscent of Mario Party, survival mode – in which you can’t lose your stars in different mini-games, flash mode – fast mini-game round and the personalized mode in which you can choose from a total of 90 levels. Chimparty is fun and surprisingly varied with its different modes and levels for a PlayLink game.

The game doesn’t take itself very seriously and captivates with its lovingly funny game world and its silly tasks. On your mobile device you can control your character by simply pressing or wiping on the display: Jump, run, dodge and – no kidding – fart. Because in some games it is important to secure an advantageous gust of wind for you. This leads to funny debates in which fellow players regret the loss of a mini-game with the words “I just couldn’t fart at that moment” – a sentence I would have bet never to hear at a game night with friends!

Here you have to swing a ball into the opponent’s goal at Chimparty.

FAZIT

PlayLink games are for me a welcome innovation for multiplayer games and mostly a guarantor for funny game evenings. Knowledge is power: Decades has become a solid quiz game, which unfortunately – like its predecessor – can’t keep up with the legendary PS2 quiz game Buzz! At times, the moderation is dragging on and doesn’t seem as humorous as planned. For quiz lovers and fans of the first game absolutely recommendable.

Chimparty is a successful party game and captivates with its funny presentation, as well as varied design. The different modes and 90 levels make sure that it doesn’t get boring and offer a high replay value. For me it’s one of the best PlayLink games yet and I’m already curious to see where the journey in the PlayLink universe will take us.

If you want to know more about the PlayLink games released so far, you can find more articles here.

What is Playlink? Social-Gaming based on the principle of Second Screens.
Platforms: PS4, iOS, Android
Tested: PS4, iOS
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Link: Official Website