The love of a good party is universal, but organizing one is a completely different story. Harry Forde gives players the chance to be the hostest with the mostest in his new title Analog Party Sim. Does this casual arcade game get the party started, or is this shindig dull as dishwater?
Analog Party Sim Review
Nobody likes a dull party and it’s your job in Analog Party Sim to make sure that never becomes a reality. A number of guests are looking for a good time, and players must make sure they are constantly happy. This means getting them beer and shots (or water if they need to sober up), and changing up the music when people get tired of the current tunes. Everything is dictated by the Party Bar – if it drops below 15% before the night is over, things are a bust.
However, each guest has two bars of their own that players must manage. The green bar is the all-important one, showing how happy a guest is. However, one could say the blue bar plays a major role too, as it determines how intoxicated they are. If you can keep in the yellow range of the blue bar and keep the music going, everybody will have a good time.
If this sounds like a lot of work, that’s because it is. The idea of keeping multiple guests happy from 10pm to 6am is absolutely draining, and though hardcore strategists will enjoy keeping on their toes and balancing everything out, we felt like the constant nagging of the guests was grating. Though there are cute emojis that show how players are feeling at any given time, there is also bold messaging demanding players to change up the music amidst the chaos. Nobody likes a party with ungrateful guests, and the guests of Analog Party Sim are a fickle bunch that you’ll no doubt want to ghost.
Thankfully, the average playthrough doesn’t last too long. Once 6am rolls around, players win the game and get a chance to put their initials on the offline leaderboard. This title practically begs for an online leaderboard, so its omission is a questionable one. One can also quickly wipe the scores from the leaderboard at the press of the button, so those who are working hard to rise the ranks best be careful.
There are also multiple difficulty settings that vary by guest number and an endless mode where “every day is your birthday and death is the only escape,” but the formula – and the grind – remains the same no matter which mode players choose.
The presentation leaves something to be desired as well. Though the pixel art is inoffensive, there is little variety between each of the guests and the environment. The music is also lacking, offering up bland chiptune versions of hip-hop, blues, pop, and other genres. It’s a style players have no doubt seen before in other games, and it does not make a lasting impression when all is said and done.
Analog Party Sim fails to be the life of the party, feeling more like a chore than a blowout bash. The short length of each playthrough and the constant attention guests require proves to be an annoyance, rather than a jolly get together.
