This format of Password departs somewhat from its predecessors in terms of gameplay. The first half of the game is an elimination game featuring two contestants and two celebrity guests. The contestants alternate playing 30-second rounds in which they attempt to match as many as five given words with a celebrity partner using the traditional one-word clue method. There is no limit on the number of clues for each word. Words can be passed on and returned to later; the gameplay has similarities to the bonus round of the original series, as well as the elimination round of the various Pyramid series (created by Bob Stewart, whose son is on staff). The contestants are each paired with one of the celebrity partners for the first two rounds, and then switch partners for the next two rounds. The rounds alternate between the contestant giving and receiving clues, such that they give and receive once to each celebrity. After four rounds, the contestant who has matched the most words moves on to the Million Dollar Password game. For the final round, the contestant who is trailing in score plays first. Their opponent does not need to play their final round if they are still leading after that, and otherwise has their round cut short as soon as they have passed their opponent's score. If the contestants are tied after four rounds, a tiebreaking word is given to both teams, starting with the winner of a coin-toss. The teams alternate giving clues and responses in "classic Password" format, until one contestant gets the word and wins the game. |
