You can play Movie Night using either a standard controller or the Big Button controller from early Scene It? games.

Following a trio of retail releases, popular film-trivia franchise Scene It? finally makes the natural — and smart — jump to digital distribution. Though Movie Night lacks some of the polished presentation and features of its full-priced predecessors, this XBLA entry more than feeds the addictive need to impress family and friends with your superior film knowledge.

Focusing on blockbusters from the last few decades, Movie Night sports a single mode where up to four competitors try to earn the most points over the course of seven rounds. Within each match, a variety of challenges pop up to present the questions in fresh ways: as in previous Scene It? games, players have to list films in chronological order, answer questions about clips, match actors to the movies they starred in, and identify promo posters as they slowly morph into focus. The coolest challenges, though, are still those that use 8-bit graphics and child-like sketches to re-create famous scenes.

Those who’ve already proven they know Tom Hanks’ films from Tom Cruise’s in other Scene It? games will feel right at home here, but may miss some of the features — online support, Avatar integration, additional modes — found in those earlier entries. Still, there’s no denying the spirited competition that spawns from gathering your movie-loving friends for a night of cutthroat trivia. Trust us: you won’t be worried about the game’s shortcomings when you’re racking your brain trying to remember the specifics of a scene starring Forrest Gump’s momma.

PUBLISHER: Screenlife  •  DEVELOPER: Sarbakan  •  ESRB: Teen  •  MULTIPLAYER: 2–4 local only  •  ACHIEVEMENTS: Appropriately paced  •  COST: 800 Microsoft Points ($10)

On Xbox Live Arcade

+ Addictive trivia fun in a smaller-but-way-cheaper form than past Scene It? games.

+ Entertaining challenges — especially the 8-bit–styled clips.

– Less content and fewer features than the retail Scene It? games.

? Did the announcer really just say “Redonkulous”?

7.0