Do Not Feed the Monkeys 2099
- May 25, 2023
- Fictiorama Studios
- 2h median play time
"Do Not Feed the Monkeys 2099" is a surveillance-themed simulation game where you observe strangers through secret cameras and uncover their secrets. As an observer for the Primate Observation Club, you must decide whether to intervene or remain uninvolved in the lives of those you watch. With multiple endings and various events, each playthrough offers a unique experience.
Reviews
- The game is a fun and addictive sequel that retains the charm of the original, with new content and improved quality of life features.
- The storytelling and humor remain engaging, making it enjoyable for fans of the first game.
- The futuristic setting adds a creative twist, and the gameplay mechanics are still compelling, providing a satisfying challenge.
- Many players feel the game lacks the depth and variety of the original, with repetitive cages and less engaging stories.
- Resource management is seen as unbalanced and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.
- Some technical issues and bugs have been reported, leading to a less polished gameplay experience compared to the first installment.
- gameplay26 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of satisfaction and frustration; while some players appreciate the familiar mechanics and new settings, others criticize the lack of interactivity and resource management challenges. The game retains its quirky charm and replayability, but many feel it suffers from repetitive elements and a need for more engaging features. Overall, it offers enjoyable moments but may not meet the expectations for innovation compared to its predecessor.
“After a surprising first game because of its gameplay, the originality of its cages and its replayability.”
“Great sequel to the original game, has all the humor and gameplay of the previous game but in a brand new setting.”
“I burnt the first game til I got to the 100% and I craved for more, and here it is, it's literally the first game but it's a new one, with new content, new cameras, it's fresh and original, has its own essence and setting, but it's the same, same humor, same gameplay, I'm glad they didn't change the game trying to make it different when the first one is that good.”
“Just want to mention most of the cages aren't interactable, so you spend most of the gameplay sitting and doing absolutely nothing. The management of resources such as food and sleep is really unmanageable due to not getting enough to sustain yourself.”
“Normally I wouldn’t be interested in the graphical fidelity of a game in the pros and cons, but in this instance, it affects the gameplay by taking longer to scan each cage and identify important information easily, making the game feel worse to play.”
“The first game was content-rich enough to get a different experience on every play, and this one sadly feels like the same thing over and over again.”
- story24 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its richness and engaging investigative elements, with many players appreciating the continuation of storylines from the original. However, some critiques highlight that the narrative can feel rushed or less important, with recycled content and a less emotive setting compared to the first game. Overall, while the story offers enjoyable moments and intriguing arcs, it could benefit from more depth and clarity.
“I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes story-based gameplay.”
“I absolutely love this game (and the original), the investigative elements, the interesting storylines, the art style, the music!”
“This was so fun, it's neat that the overall story from the last game carries over to this one.”
“It is shorter than the first game, uses the exact same mechanisms, and even recycles some storylines (example: the alien boar who is lost and needs to be rescued like Melissa in the original).”
“The storyline is a bit of a mess and doesn't really feel important.”
“Story is boring and hard to engage with; the searches/keywords don't make much sense, and there's less content (cages).”
- graphics12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some users noting a significant downgrade in detail and a lack of futuristic aesthetics, which negatively impacts gameplay by complicating interactions. Others appreciate the art style and visual execution, describing it as well-done, but some players experience technical issues like overheating and freezing due to the graphics density. Overall, while the visuals have their merits, they seem to detract from the gameplay experience for many.
“I absolutely love this game (and the original), the investigative elements, the interesting story lines, the art style, the music!”
“Visually, I think the game is well-done, with excellent art styles.”
“I did enjoy the futuristic artwork but a lot of the plot lines would've still worked in a modern day setting, and there was something about the first one being set in the modern day that made it more emotive and engaging - you could imagine these storylines playing out in reality.”
“Graphically poorer with less attention to detail.”
“I was also expecting the aesthetic of the cages to be a lot more futuristic.”
“Normally I wouldn’t be interested in the graphical fidelity of a game in the pros and cons, but in this instance it affects the gameplay by taking longer to scan each cage and identify important information easily, making the game feel worse to play.”
- music9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed feedback; while many players appreciate the soundtrack for enhancing the atmosphere and storytelling, some find certain tracks, like the lunar new year music, grating. There are praises for the unique and enjoyable compositions, but criticisms arise regarding long periods of silence that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the music is seen as a strong point, though players desire more variety and options to engage with it in-game.
“I absolutely love this game (and the original), the investigative elements, the interesting storylines, the art style, the music!”
“Nice soundtrack with great story.”
“Throw in incredible atmosphere, resource management, sci-fi setting, and an incredible soundtrack and you have a unique indie gem that you literally cannot find anything else like it.”
“I found the lunar new year music on the pause/start screen grating.”
“However, there are long periods of silence, which kills the atmosphere mostly during the night. I just wish there were more to it, like a music app or something in-game.”
“Toggling the DLC option off returns the normal music for this screen (except when this bugs out).”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its dark comedic elements and quirky nature, reminiscent of the original. While some found the jokes less impactful than in the first installment, the overall presentation and premise are praised for their fun and engaging qualities. However, technical issues have affected the enjoyment for some, detracting from the humor experience.
“I will say that the humor is good and that the resource management between not starving and stalking random people was fun.”
“The jokes aren't hilarious, but there are some funny ones if you like dark humor.”
“Beautifully presented, amazing premise, and very funny as well!”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is seen as lacking compared to its predecessor, with many players noting a decrease in engaging content and variety after multiple playthroughs. While some aspects, like different endings and seasonal DLC, offer potential for replay, the general consensus is that the game does not provide enough incentive to revisit it extensively.
“After a surprising first game because of its gameplay, the originality of its cages, and its replayability.”
“Tons of replayability with the different endings and outcomes when you feed or don't feed the monkeys.”
“I'm genuinely amazed that Fictiorama was able to find new ways to make the 'voyeur simulator' feel more fun and replayable.”
“The replay value isn't there.”
“A tiny piece of procedural iteration in the dialogue here could have done miracles for the replay value.”
“But of course it also reduces replayability as there's less content.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and less intuitive compared to its predecessor, with many expressing frustration over the time-consuming search for clues and the repetitive nature of the gameplay. While some appreciate the attempt at unique storytelling, they feel it often results in a corny and mundane experience, leading to a desire for fewer grindy elements and more engaging content. Overall, the consensus is that the game could benefit from a more streamlined approach to clue discovery and storytelling.
“The cages also felt more grindy and less intuitive than in the original.”
“I don't have the patience to sit through these cages grinding my time away trying to get some kind of drastic clue.”
“Stories are grindy and boring; it feels like the game creators tried to make the game more unique and instead made it cornier and more mundane.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its incredible sci-fi setting and soundtrack, creating a unique experience. However, some players feel that long periods of silence, particularly at night, detract from the overall ambiance, suggesting a desire for more in-game audio options.
“Throw in incredible atmosphere, resource management, sci-fi setting, and an incredible soundtrack and you have a unique indie gem that you literally cannot find anything else like it.”
“However, there are long periods of silence, which kills the atmosphere mostly during the night; I just wish there were more to it, like a music app or something in-game.”
“However, there are long periods of silence, which kills the atmosphere, especially during the night. I just wish there were more to it, like a music app or something in-game.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, including audio problems and persistent glitches, such as the unresolved mac cage glitch that has been present since May 2023. Troubleshooting these issues can be time-consuming and detracts from the overall gaming experience.
“I had to spend about 30 minutes troubleshooting the game because I wasn't getting audio when I ran it.”
“I don't normally write reviews based on just glitches, but the Mac cage glitch (cage views are glitched out completely) discovered in May 2023 is still not fixed.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a struggle to fully engage with the game's emotional depth due to personal challenges, such as depression, which can hinder their ability to connect with the experience.
“The game has a profound emotional impact that resonates deeply with me.”
“I was moved to tears by the storyline and character development.”
“The emotional depth of the characters made me feel connected to their struggles.”