Disappointing Version of TV Phenomenon

The awesome power of Regis Philbin continues to spread unabated, from daytime TV to prime time and now, with the release of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Second Edition, to the Mac. Hard-core fans will be pleased that the computer version retains the look-and-feel of the televised game, right down to the mind games Regis plays with doubt-riddled contestants.

But aside from a few nice touches, Millionaire falls flat. If multiple players want to take on Regis, for example, they have to crowd around the keyboard. And although the game’s graphics nicely re-create Millionaire’s futuristic set, the empty chairs become a little boring. As a result, Millionaire doesn’t hold up well with repeated play.