Afterparty
- October 22, 2020
- Night School Studio
- 6h median play time
Afterparty is a single-player mystery action game with an intriguing story, good mechanics, marvelous graphics, and phenomenal music. As Milo and Lola, recently deceased best friends, you'll explore an interconnected underworld, outdrink demons, and uncover the mystery of your damnation. With an intelligent conversation system, varied libations, and a spectacular atmosphere, Afterparty delivers a memorable and highly emotional experience, despite some grinding and bugs.
Reviews
- The game features excellent voice acting and witty dialogue that keeps players engaged.
- The art style is visually stunning, creating a vibrant and immersive atmosphere.
- The unique drinking mechanic adds an interesting twist to conversations, allowing for varied dialogue options.
- The gameplay can feel slow and tedious, with excessive walking between locations and minimal interactivity.
- Many players experienced game-breaking bugs that hindered progress, leading to frustration.
- The story lacks depth and meaningful choices, making it feel linear and less impactful compared to Oxenfree.
- story334 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of "Afterparty" is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its unique premise and humor while others find it lacking depth and engagement. Many reviews highlight the entertaining dialogue and character interactions, but criticize the linear progression and underdeveloped plot, leading to a sense of repetitiveness and a lack of meaningful choices. Overall, while the game offers a fun and visually appealing experience, it struggles to match the narrative strength of its predecessor, "Oxenfree."
“The gripping storyline revolves around the inner demons of the two main characters, presenting hell as a means of self-discovery and self-reflection.”
“Afterparty is a pretty chill and fun little game with a great story of two friends that meet interesting people along the way, for interesting goals, in interesting settings!”
“The story is very engaging and even after not playing for a couple of months I was easily able to pick up where I left off in the story.”
“Ultimately, regardless of your decisions, the story proceeds in a linear fashion, making the branching narrative feel superficial.”
“The story, despite its promising setup, fails to deliver.”
“The story was lacking and I didn't learn enough about the main characters to care about them by the end of the game.”
- gameplay135 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Afterparty" has been widely criticized for its minimal interactivity, primarily consisting of walking and dialogue choices that often lack meaningful impact on the story. While the drinking mechanic introduces some variation in dialogue options, it ultimately feels underdeveloped and does not significantly enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, players find the game to be a linear walking simulator with limited replayability, overshadowed by its engaging visuals and voice acting.
“The gameplay is simple, as it's mainly dialogue choices that affect different situations and outcomes.”
“The gameplay is casual, the content is highly entertaining (if you're into this type of game).”
“The humor continues to get stretched thin and the gameplay (if you can even call it that) is just a mix of walking around and choosing dialogue options that for the most part don't alter the direction of the story.”
“The gameplay primarily involves moving left or right, listening to conversations, and making dialogue choices—usually between sarcastic and even more sarcastic responses.”
“In the end, Afterparty is a game with a promising concept and an interesting art style, but the limited gameplay, poor writing, and unlikeable characters make it a forgettable and frustrating experience.”
“The humor continues to get stretched thin and the 'gameplay' (if you can even call it that) is just a mix of walking around and choosing dialogue options that for the most part don't alter the direction of the story.”
- humor125 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny and engaging, while others feel it falls flat or becomes tedious over time. Many appreciate the dark, sarcastic wit and clever writing, though some criticize it for being overly crass or reliant on clichés. Overall, the humor appeals to those who enjoy irreverent and edgy comedy, but it may not resonate with everyone, particularly those sensitive to its themes.
“Very funny and enjoyable game!”
“The writing is hilarious and I really liked Milo and Lola's character arcs, especially the focus on, and critique of their friendship.”
“Funny, engaging, original, and entertaining.”
“The dialogues are so weird and unfunny, you'd swear they were all generated by a faulty AI algorithm.”
“What I got was an uninteresting, predictable story, with unfunny jokes and useless extra minigames that are just an obstacle to the narration.”
“But it's crass and unfunny; it's high-strung instead of rip-and-tear, and every time it starts picking up any kind of steam, it slams the brakes with a detached segment where a silly demon dispenses exposition about character backstories.”
- graphics116 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Afterparty" are widely praised for their unique and vibrant art style, drawing inspiration from Tim Burton and classic games like Grim Fandango. Many reviewers highlight the immersive visuals and cohesive design that enhance the game's atmosphere, despite some minor graphical glitches and clipping issues. Overall, the art direction and aesthetic appeal are considered standout features, contributing significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“The visuals are great too, there were a lot of cool spots, and generally everything was cohesive with a very nice art style.”
“Art style is beautiful with a gorgeous neon rave club scene for hell that is awesome, and the score really doubles down on that and helps elevate that decision.”
“The graphics and art style are really nice, made for a good atmosphere.”
“Sometimes there were issues with the graphics; stuff clipped and whatnot, and sadly I did sometimes cut off characters mid-sentence because I walked to a different destination which started another dialogue.”
“And even the visuals are very underwhelming considering how long they've been making this.”
“The movements of characters/figures in the world can be a little janky (standing on top of each other, getting caught on a pole), and there were multiple instances of texture clipping.”
- music58 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the soundtrack as immersive and well-composed, particularly highlighting the work of composer scntfc. The combination of music, voice acting, and visuals creates a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, although some players felt the soundtrack could be more prominent. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's aesthetic and emotional impact.
“The music and the atmosphere (art/graphics/design) also help the mood and immersion.”
“Such an incredible, immersive world - the visuals and music tie it all together so nicely.”
“The mesmerizing soundtrack has been composed by scntfc who previously scored Oxenfree as well, among other titles.”
“Meh soundtrack.”
“Soundtrack is forgettable (except for Wormhorn's theme), story is linear, overall game could be better, it does not have the charm Oxenfree had, where I would just hang around because you would keep finding stuff; here I just felt the need to rush the game somewhere in midpoint because I wasn't engaged at all.”
“He also crashed and I missed out on a significant portion of the dialogue while he stood in his base pose and the background music continued.”
- stability27 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is notably poor, with numerous reports of major and minor bugs, including character glitches, soft locks, and gameplay freezes that hinder progress. While some players found enjoyment in the writing and visual style, the frequent glitches and performance issues significantly detracted from the overall experience, making it feel unpolished and at times unplayable. Overall, the game is described as "very buggy," with stability issues that vary in severity throughout the gameplay.
“At some point in the game, you reach an elevator, and when you use it, the game soft locks you, freezing your character in place and preventing you from continuing, making it unplayable.”
“I ran into multiple bugs and glitches while playing, such as getting stuck on weird paths and characters jerking around randomly.”
“So many glitches and bugs; it is just impossible to play.”
- atmosphere20 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its charming art style, immersive music, and engaging voice acting, creating a unique and entertaining environment. However, some players feel that the atmosphere loses its impact after the initial stages, and the lack of exploration and gameplay depth detracts from the overall experience. While many appreciate the satirical tone and humor, others find the atmosphere to be overshadowed by bugs and a disappointing narrative.
“The music and the atmosphere (art/graphics/design) also help the mood and immersion.”
“Incredible art style, amazing voice acting, the atmosphere is just as you'd imagine a hell's atmosphere be (maybe).”
“The atmosphere doesn’t hold up beyond the first 30 minutes or so.”
“There isn't much in the way of exploration, and that's a shame, because it really has a charming atmosphere and a world that you want to get lost in.”
“The devs have the style and atmosphere down and it really carries the ultimately shallow gameplay and minigames.”
- replayability14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate the presence of multiple endings and the impact of choices on outcomes, others find the limited number of significant variations and the inability to skip dialogue detract from the experience. Some users enjoy revisiting the game for its charm and different routes, but overall, the consensus suggests that replay value may be limited for those seeking deeper decision-making and varied gameplay.
“It really feels like the decisions you make alter the ending, and it holds replay value because of that.”
“Different endings are available, so it has tons of replay value, and I love the art direction.”
“Definite replay value to go back and play again with different choices and outcomes.”
“There's barely any replay value.”
“It lacks replayability with only 2 majorly different endings and don't expect any long and meaningful decision trees here, but if you're looking for something low threat with a lot of charm for a couple of evenings, it fills that niche nicely.”
“There is a little replayability for some alternate routes, but not much, and the fact that you can't skip dialogue makes a second playthrough a drag.”
- emotional11 mentions
- 91 % positive mentions
- -18 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits mixed responses; while some players found it to be touching and relatable, particularly in its exploration of personal trauma, others felt it lacked depth compared to similar titles like Oxenfree. The humor and art style are appreciated, but the emotional weight is often described as rushed or superficial, leading to a sense of detachment from the characters. Overall, the game offers moments of genuine emotion but may not resonate as deeply for all players.
“Creative, hilarious, fun, made me cry at the end: what else is there to say?”
“I felt I had grown attached to Milo and Lola, so seeing them at the end act like nothing had even happened made me feel strangely detached and confused.”
“[spoiler] I personally had alcoholism problems in my family and the ending I got resonated with that experience perfectly, I cried because that felt like everything I have gone through, it was heart-wrenching.”
“The emotional depth of the characters feels shallow, making it hard to connect with their struggles.”
“Despite the game's attempts at emotional storytelling, the predictable plot twists undermine any real impact.”
“The lack of genuine emotional stakes leaves the player feeling indifferent to the characters' fates.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -11 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is often perceived as tedious and repetitive, with players expressing frustration over the excessive back-and-forth tasks and lack of engaging content during these segments. While some humor is present, it does little to alleviate the monotony, leading to a sense of boredom that overshadows the game's more enjoyable elements. Overall, the grinding detracts significantly from the overall experience.
“The game can feel a bit grindy at times, but it adds to the overall experience.”
“While it can be a bit grindy, the rewards make it worthwhile.”
“I found it a bit grindy, but the progression kept me engaged.”
“The last straw was when I saw there was going to be a lot of grinding going on, which made me say 'screw it'.”
“All the good parts of this game are overshadowed by tedious, repetitive animations and some game-breaking bugs.”
“You get to embark on tedious, boring tasks until it's finally time to play two drinking games and either beat him and be alive again, or stay in hell for a bit and then be offered the chance to leave because of some loophole.”
- optimization9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while it runs smoothly for the most part, particularly in the early stages, players report significant glitches and performance issues, especially in the endgame. Animations and character models also suffer from roughness and clipping problems, which detracts from the experience. Despite these issues, the voice performances and creative writing are generally well-received.
“Performance is good, though some of the animations can be a bit rough and character model clipping is reoccurring.”
“Don't get me wrong - the writing is witty, the voice actors turn in top-notch performances, and the cocktails themselves are delightfully creative.”
“Except that your performance in these minigames will affect your outcome!”
“Gotta be honest, the afterparty was a big letdown in its writing, performance, and gameplay.”
“Without any way to really practice them in advance, my performance in the minigames was based on whether I had played a game with similar mechanics before, which led to me performing perfectly on the DDR-esque minigame, while it took me one loss in the drinking game to understand the controls and a second loss to understand the goal.”
“I have seen people noting bugs, glitches, and performance issues.”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the depth and humor intertwined with important themes, others criticize the lack of meaningful growth compared to similar titles. The vibrant character designs and voice acting are praised, but the overall impact of character development seems limited for some players.
“The voice acting is amazing, and the game truly is extremely funny at times while hiding more important topics and a fair amount of character development!”
“The neon-by-night look really shines through the story, and the feel of this kind of hell - boozy, wayward, and a little depressed - is significantly carried on the back of the environmental and character designs.”
“I loved the colors and character designs.”
“Zero character development and no risk at stake compared to Oxenfree.”
“The voice acting is amazing and the game truly is extremely funny at times while hiding more important topics and a fair amount of character development!”
“The neon-by-night look really shines through the story and the feel of this kind of hell - boozy, wayward, and a little depressed - is significantly carried on the back of the environmental and character designs.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of Afterparty has received mixed feedback, with some users feeling that the advertising could have better aligned with the game's tone and expectations. While the pricing and content are generally acceptable, there is a sense of disappointment regarding the emotional stakes and character investment compared to its predecessor, Oxenfree.
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
“I was really disappointed by the monetization model; it detracts from the overall experience and makes it feel like a cash grab.”
“While the game has potential, the constant push for in-game purchases ruins the immersion and enjoyment.”