1 vs. 100 for the Nintendo DS is finally trickling into stores. I got my copy from Amazon delivered within the past half hour. DSI actually got something somewhat right, for once.
After loading the game, the ActImagine video codec logo showed up on the screen. That right there gave me a glimmer of hope, as that codec has created some great looking animation on other DS titles like Professor Layton and the Curious Village, and Madden 08. (FWIW, Professor Layton gets two huge thumbs up, while I'm glad Madden 08 only cost me $10 new at MicroCenter a few weeks back.)
The game is just like season 2, with the money ladder. The only difference is that you do not get a preview of the question after running out of helps. The animation is better than previous DSI titles like the abysmal Deal or No Deal or any of their card/board game titles. Bob Saget is not pixelated, like Howie was on Deal or No Deal or the game cards and pieces are on DSI's board game compilations. Some of the video shown in the upper screen is repetitive and unnecessary. The questions are not all about pop culture; in my few playings, I've seen 2 questions about current pop culture and I made it down to <10 mob members in each game.
The mini games, 1 vs. 100 Poker and Temptation (Rossi-free!) are crap. In poker, you bet pre-determined increments of money, $1000, $2000, and $5000, on whether you'll get a question right. The rules are the same in Temptation, except you're given just the category.
Bottom line: Is it worth $20? I like 1 vs. 100 enough to say 'yes', despite the useless minigames. As always, YMMV. It's miles better than Deal or No Deal and Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?, not that being better than either of those two steaming piles is saying much.
Since there hasn't been much talk about 5th Grader for the DS, I got it from MicroCenter 3 weeks ago USED for $3, after a $10 coupon. 5th Grader is worth $3 at most. Thus, I got my money's worth. ;-) All questions are multiple choice except for the Million Dollar Question. I LOL'ed at how the previous owner never won more than $25K, yet I won the million on my first time out. My DS has told me I am smarter than a 5th grader, just in case 5 years of college wasn't proof enough.