Physical and mental challenges combine (The Krypton Factor)

Member Name: bruffyboy

Product:	The Krypton Factor
Date:	07/02/09 (71 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good mix of challenges

Disadvantages: dated

WHAT IS IT ABOUT:
Contestants are tested on their physical and mental strength in this quiz show that ran on ITV from 1977 to 1995, and was hosted by Gordon Burns. Contestants complete memory games and puzzles, along with army style assault courses.

IS IT ANY GOOD:
This is one of those quiz-shows that was around before quiz shows got cool and hi-tech. Essentially, the Krypton Factor is a no frills show that was unique in that it combined two distinct categories: mental testing and physical testing. In today's world of TV you have Total Wipeout for physical, and perhaps Eggheads for mental, but the Krypton Factor combined them both. This was the main beauty of the show - you could join in with some of the mental games at home (such as the memory game where you had to watch a video clip and answer questions about small details in it), but then you could also sit back and watch the thrills and spills on the assault course.

As a child, I grew up loving this show, but I recently watched a repeat (on Dave I think) and I have to say it has not aged well. The show is very dated, and looks completely out-done by modern standards. Modern game-shows have mastered the art of developing the character of the contestant, but Krypton Factor hadn't, and as a result the contestants are very wooden and one dimensional characters.

IF YOU LIKED IT:
For the physical side, try Total Wipeout, currently on the BBC. For the mental, there's nothing better than Countdown, on Channel 4.

IN CONCLUSION:
A show that was so enjoyable when I was growing up, but fails to stand up in today's high-tech gameshow arena.

Summary: worth a watch