Fuzion Frenzy is a launch title for the Microsoft Xbox. At its core, Fuzion Frenzy is a four-player party game featuring 45 different mini-games (not including the titular Fuzion Frenzy). A demo of the game was included with some other launch titles in the US, including Halo, Munch's Oddysee and Amped. The title was among the first to be released as a part of the Xbox Originals program.
A sequel was later released for the Xbox 360, entitled Fuzion Frenzy 2.
Characters[ | ]
Gameplay[ | ]
Up to four players can compete in two different game modes: "Tournament" or "Mini-Game Frenzy". Mini-Game Frenzy is the simpler of the two, involving players selecting individual mini-games while an ongoing tabulation of wins per player is maintained. In contrast, the Tournament mode is the core game mode, where players attempt to earn the highest number of points after playing through two or more play zones.
Tournaments potentially involve six zones, each with its own set of mini-games:
- Coliseum - Rolling Ball and Ice Car mini-games.
- Downtown - Fireworks and Music mini-games.
- Outlands - Demolition and Tail-bone mini-games.
- Military Base - Pod and Tank mini-games.
- Power Station - Hopper and Splat mini-games.
- Waterfront - Jetboat and Orb mini-games.
During game setup, players choose from one of six characters (the differences are cosmetic only), with extra player slots being filled by computer AI. The number of zones to play through is also selected (2, 4, or 6). The exact zones which are used during play (if fewer than 6) are determined randomly. Unlike other party games such as the Mario Party series or Sonic Shuffle, Fuzion Frenzy has no overarching game board; rather, players proceed from one random mini-game to another, and from zone to zone, in an order determined without player input. The traversal between zones is depicted as a route on a map which never crosses itself, limiting the possible transitions between zones.
In each zone, three random mini-games are played. For mini-games which are team games, players are paired randomly. Some mini-games are timed, and some are not. Mini-games that are timed usually have a time limit of 60 seconds (1:00) or 90 seconds (1:30) to play. At the conclusion of each mini-game, players (or teams) are awarded a number of orbs (6, 4, 2, or 0) proportional to their final standing (1st through 4th) in the event. If there is a tie for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place; the orbs are split proportionally.
Once the third mini-game is finished, the zone ends with the special "Fuzion Frenzy" mini-game. Each player must decide whether to bank their orbs (converting each orb directly into 10 points), or put them into play for this Fuzion Frenzy.
The players are then put in an arena, where glowing orbs appear at random. Some of these orbs are colorless, while others are the colored orbs wagered by the players. Within 80 seconds (1:20), each player attempts to grab orbs and deliver them to the goal zones in order to score points. A player can only pick up colorless orbs or orbs that match his color. However, once a player picks up an orb, it becomes colorless, and others players can steal it by attacking the carrier. Players can carry more than one orb at once, and delivering more than one orb at a time provides a score bonus.
When the 80-second (1:20) timer ends, the points earned in the Fuzion Frenzy are added to a player's total, and it is this total which actually determines the winner of the zone. Thus, a player who didn't finish first after the three mini-games may still win the overall zone if he performs well in the Fuzion Frenzy. If there is a tie between two or more of the players, a tie-breaker mini-game is played to determine the winner.
Reception[ | ]
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The reception of Fuzion Frenzy in the media was generally positive, with reviewers enjoying the colourful visuals and fast-moving mini-games. While most of the mini-games were well liked, a few were noted as being little more than "push the buttons" activities. Additionally, detractors noted that the title had only limited single-player appeal, requiring multiple players to get the most out of the game. Nonetheless, most agreed that the title was solid fun, even if only as a "rental title" for those who require more depth.