A cool idea and setting bogged down by lazy writing and clunky gameplay. Unfortunately this game does not quite reach the level of quality and charm that Oxenfree had, and I think that's for a few reasons:
1. While the setting and premise are fun, and much more silly than Oxenfree, I think this choice takes away from any attempts at emotional investment the game tries to plant in you. I really like the contrast from the studio's first game, and think its fun and interesting. But at the same time, the developers try at certain points to get you to be more invested in the main characters, and it just doesn't work. There's no stakes, and the main conflict between them feels underwritten and shallow.
2. This game tries to have more gameplay than Oxenfree, and while I applaud the devs for doing so, their attempts are a bit frustrating. All of the games revolve around some sort of "alcoholic party game", and as such you have to play them as if you were drunk. I get it - but that doesn't mean it's necessarily fun. Padding time at best and frustrating at worst, and the icing on the cake is when the game's ending is solely reliant on how well you perform at the worst one of these games.
3. There's actually less choice in this game than Oxenfree, at least choices that MATTER. On the surface, the game is a lot more dynamic, which I appreciate. But in Oxenfree, the choices you make over the course of the game, the ENTIRE playthrough, determine the ending. In Afterparty, the only thing that changes is which of the two characters gets mad at the other for a portion of the game, making them leave. And this conflict gets resolved fairly quickly. It doesn't even affect what ending you get, like stated earlier it just depends on a MINIGAME. Very underwhelming.
I really do wish that a game with this much visual style and cool ideas was executed a lot better. I do still think its worth playing through at least once, but don't expect too much from it. And, again, making me play through the game TWO MORE TIMES to get achievements is never fun.
1. While the setting and premise are fun, and much more silly than Oxenfree, I think this choice takes away from any attempts at emotional investment the game tries to plant in you. I really like the contrast from the studio's first game, and think its fun and interesting. But at the same time, the developers try at certain points to get you to be more invested in the main characters, and it just doesn't work. There's no stakes, and the main conflict between them feels underwritten and shallow.
2. This game tries to have more gameplay than Oxenfree, and while I applaud the devs for doing so, their attempts are a bit frustrating. All of the games revolve around some sort of "alcoholic party game", and as such you have to play them as if you were drunk. I get it - but that doesn't mean it's necessarily fun. Padding time at best and frustrating at worst, and the icing on the cake is when the game's ending is solely reliant on how well you perform at the worst one of these games.
3. There's actually less choice in this game than Oxenfree, at least choices that MATTER. On the surface, the game is a lot more dynamic, which I appreciate. But in Oxenfree, the choices you make over the course of the game, the ENTIRE playthrough, determine the ending. In Afterparty, the only thing that changes is which of the two characters gets mad at the other for a portion of the game, making them leave. And this conflict gets resolved fairly quickly. It doesn't even affect what ending you get, like stated earlier it just depends on a MINIGAME. Very underwhelming.
I really do wish that a game with this much visual style and cool ideas was executed a lot better. I do still think its worth playing through at least once, but don't expect too much from it. And, again, making me play through the game TWO MORE TIMES to get achievements is never fun.