Survivor (PC Games)

It's certainly a great idea: a computer game based on the ever-popular TV show. The price is right, too, which is why I bought it. For just a few more dollars, this game could have been fabulous, but as it stands, Survivor: The Interactive Game just barely passes the fun test, and would get voted right off my PC entertainment island if it were a contestant on the REAL CBS 'video game.'

The problem is that you really can't interact with anybody unless you want to try your luck with others online. In the real Survivor, every choice you make and every innocent turn of phrase could send you packing. But in the PC game about all you can do is choose whom to talk to during survival periods and set your "emotional energy" toward tribemates a couple times each "episode." Yes, you get to actually participate in challenges such as shooting, strength tests and puzzle building, but whether your tribe wins or looses seems random. Then it's off to tribal council, where the whole magic of Jeff interrogating everyone to influence the vote is totally lacking, and all you do is click on a tribemate's name to vote them off the island. The whole thing, from start to finish, is basically a series of flash movies designed to give you the FEELING of being on Survivor, but the most you usually do is choose from a few stock things to say to CG tribemates/opponents, who respond in like fashion -- with just a few standard answers.

Given all this, I recommend buying Survivor: The Interactive Game only for the younger (7 to 13) set, who will enjoy the IDEA of the thing more than the program itself. It's cheap enough that you're not out any serious moolah. But given how simple and rewarding it would have been for programmers to produce a REAL game of "Outwit, Outplay, Outlast" similar to D&D and its ilk, overall I'd give this cheap imitator a miss. Go back and watch your favorite Survivor episodes on DVD instead. That will definitely be time better spent.

great game,,outstanding gameplay..graphix a little choppy.over all a great experience well worth the admission price.