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It's an extremely well-known fact (well-known to the sort of people who count, anyway) that if you want to get anywhere in this world (i.e. if you want to be a Blockbusters champion or one of those people who smile a lot on "Going For Gold") you have to be a really snotty-nosed smart-alec trivia expert. Obvious really.

Not so obvious is the fact that you have to be just as much of a clever-clogs to succeed on every other world as well. Ha! Bet you didn't know that. Oh, you did. Well you clearly know everything about this game already so why are you bothering to read the review? Honestly, some peope are never satisfied (mumble, mumble, mumble).

We know this because far into the future, when the earth is dying, a number of traveller-players (between 1 and 6) will be sent out into the galaxy to seek out Genus II - the only alternative planet fit for human habitation. To get there, you need to collect six artefacts scattered on different planets throughout space. And we know *that* because, er, well because it says so in the instructions, that's why.

Once you've answered a correction correctly to get out of the loading bay, you whizz into your rocket and nip off to one or other of the galaxy's planets. On each one, a green alien asks you a question, sometimes based on audible music or a visual graphic. You give the answer out loud to your fellow players (or just whisper it quietly to yourself). A press of the fire button, and the computer reveals the right answer. Then it's up to you to confirm whether or not you got it right. Your turn continues until you get an answer wrong.

If you make it to Genus II, some pretty ugly planet elders ask you the ace Trivial Pursuit question. Fail and you try again next go - get it right and you're a really smarmy smartypants who deserves to be banished to another world. Bleargh!

I agree with Paul (for once), in that Powerplay is still the best adaptation of a trivia game onto a computer - it's also over a tenner cheaper to get hold of now. However, this doesn't mean Trivial Pursuit is bad: it's definitely an improvement over the original (which I thought as a bit literal and boring).

The graphics are really cute and add a lot of atmosphere to the huge variety of questions - some of which are a *bit tough* - but the sound isn't all that brilliant.

Of course, if you can find six other players to play with, the range of options is great - but I doubt that this (expensive) version of the classic boardgame would appeal as much as buying the real thing. One to fill the bottom of a Christmas stocking - maybe.

Give me a set of trivia questions, a big creamy bun and a mug of tea and I'm happy for ever - well, a couple of hours anyway - so I was pretty, pretty pleased to get hold of the second version of Trivial Pursuit.

Not that it's actually all that different from the first. OK, you've got the added attraction of a mad and wacky sci-fi plot but, to be perfectly honest, whether I'm asked a question by a wriggly wormy alien or some guy called TP (as in the original) doesn't make all that much difference.

Still - it's great fun to play and there are blocks and blocks of different questions - so it should be ages before they start repeating themselves. If you haven't done so already, rush down to your nearest sotware shop and give this a very energetic whirl.

Well, this hasn't quite knocked my favourite trivia game, Powerplay, off its hallowed pedestal but it's really good, clean fun all the same. Every now and again you get some really neat animation and the way music sequences and graphic illustrations are used as actual questions is just as appealing as in the original Trivial Pursuit.

I'm still not absolutely sure that you could realistically get six members of your family, including granny, to crouch round the TV just as they would around a proper board, but then it's probably more fun playing with one or two mates anyway. If you've got the first game you probably wouldn't buy the second unless you had more money than sense, but if you haven't, go out and buy it now.

Oh yeah, the price - £14.95. Bit steep that, innit?

Presentation 85%
Up to six competing players with opportunities to analyse your score in different subjects, turn graphics on and off, set a time limit, edit players and load extra questions.

Graphics 64%
Boldly coloured but slightly blocky sprites with occasional bits of cutey animation. Samey backdrops.

Sound 60%
Basic sound effects with one or two bits of music incorporated into the questions.

Hookability 80%
Well, you've got to prove how clever you are.

Lastability 72%
Over 3,000 questions will take a while to answer.

Overall 83%
A cleverly revamped version of Trivial Pursuit. Probably not worth buying if you've got the original, though.