Shark Dating Simulator XL
- August 14, 2017
- Catfood McFly
- 2h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Shark Dating Simulator XL," players navigate a humorous, unconventional world of dating various shark species. Using cat food to attract and win over shark bachelors, players engage in witty dialogue and complete zany missions. This unique game offers a light-hearted, entertaining experience that appeals to fans of simulation and adventure games.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features hilarious writing and absurd humor that keeps players entertained.
- For its low price, the game offers a unique and quirky experience that many find enjoyable.
- The art style and character designs are colorful and add to the overall charm of the game.
- The game has been abandoned by the developers, leaving it incomplete with no updates for years.
- Many players find the gameplay to be very short, with only a few minutes of content available.
- The humor can be hit-or-miss, with some jokes feeling forced or cringeworthy.
- story86 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is a quirky and humorous exploration of a scuba diver's romantic escapades with a shark, featuring branching narratives and multiple endings based on player choices. While some players find the storytelling entertaining and unique, others criticize it for being shallow or lacking depth. Overall, the narrative is described as amusing and engaging, with potential for further development in future updates.
“I have never played anything quite like it in my life and I doubt that anything may ever even come close to its masterful storytelling.”
“It's a strong and immersive experience that manages to tell a gripping story and offers plenty of dangling threads to keep you wanting more.”
“The story contains a deep and interesting narrative, bursting with character, personality, and humor.”
“The story is boring and the artwork is creepy and dull.”
“This game was released way too early, and as such, you can blow through the story in like 20 minutes if you can read fast enough.”
“It really does not give you some sort of excitement in the main part of the story for choosing different options, which makes it kind of unappetizing to bother with the dynamic story.”
- humor81 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its absurdity, clever writing, and ability to elicit genuine laughter, with many players finding the jokes hilarious and the overall premise delightfully bizarre. While some humor may be hit-or-miss and the lack of voice acting noted as a drawback, the game's tongue-in-cheek style and quirky characters contribute to its charm, making it a standout in the dating sim genre. Overall, players appreciate the comedic elements, deeming the game a fun and entertaining experience, especially for its low price.
“The writing is amazing and every joke is hilarious.”
“Shark Dating Simulator XL+ thrives on its bizarre premise and tongue-in-cheek humor.”
“I found myself laughing not only to myself but out loud as well at some of the jokes and choices.”
- graphics23 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Shark Dating Simulator XL+" receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the distinct cartoonish style and humor that aligns with the game's quirky premise, while others find the art creepy or unappealing. Overall, the visuals are described as unique and fitting for the game's tone, though they may not appeal to everyone. Despite the varied opinions, many players acknowledge the effort put into the artwork and its contribution to the overall experience.
“Shark Dating Simulator XL+ doesn't boast the most cutting-edge graphics in the ocean of gaming, but it's evident that the developers aimed to create a world with its own distinct visual style.”
“The gameplay is simply amazing, the graphics are breathtaking, and the story is top-notch.”
“The art style really fits the humor of that game being a weird parody to many different anime dating visual novels, but also tries to be different by surprising me with its unique direction.”
“The game leans heavily on cartoonish visuals and anthropomorphized shark characters, which might not be everyone's cup of chum.”
“Graphics: 4/10. Not a very big fan of the art style; I just think it's not really cute and kind of creepy.”
“The story is boring and the artwork is creepy and dull.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily focused on reading dialogue and making choices, characteristic of visual novels and dating sims, which can lead to a branching narrative. While some players find it amusing and engaging, others note a lack of depth and variety, with minimal interactive elements and a short overall gameplay experience. Despite these criticisms, many appreciate the humor and unique storytelling approach, making it enjoyable for those who embrace its format.
“While it may not be a deep dive into meaningful storytelling or groundbreaking gameplay, it succeeds in offering a unique and amusing experience for those willing to suspend their disbelief.”
“The gameplay is simply amazing, the graphics are breathtaking, and the story is top-notch.”
“Gameplay primarily consists of reading dialogue and making choices at pivotal moments, branching the story in different directions.”
“Is a visual novel, so the majority of the gameplay consists of the player reading the game's story.”
“The only actual gameplay is a single watered down version of Peggle at the end, and it's the same thing every time.”
- music15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in "Shark Dating Simulator XL+" has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its catchy and thematic tunes while others find it repetitive over time. Although the soundtrack is enjoyable and fits the game's quirky vibe, many users express a desire for more variety and additional tracks to enhance the experience. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, but there is room for improvement.
“While the soundtrack features a handful of catchy and memorable tunes that fit the aquatic theme well, it can become repetitive during extended playthroughs.”
“Props to the creator for the great work they produce, the game's soundtrack and artwork.”
“Music: 10/10”
“The music in Shark Dating Simulator XL+ is a mixed bag. While the soundtrack features a handful of catchy and memorable tunes that fit the aquatic theme well, it can become repetitive during extended playthroughs.”
“Honestly, the whole time I was laughing my ass off; I thought it was hilarious and I actually liked the music even though it was only like 3 different songs. It was indeed short-lived though, and I will be intrigued to see more content later on.”
“Needs more music - maybe one extra for each chapter?”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express profound emotional connections to the game, describing it as a masterpiece that evokes overwhelming feelings and a willingness to sacrifice for its impact. The storyline, complemented by beautiful graphics, culminates in a heartbreaking ending that leaves a lasting impression, filled with numerous heart-wrenching moments.
“Words can't describe how emotionally overwhelmed I am after experiencing this masterpiece. I'm still quite shaken that there is something out there that truly means the world to me. I would, without even thinking about it for a single second, sacrifice everything if it was for this game.”
“This game is absolutely amazing. It has a tearful emotional ending where one of the main characters dies (not spoiling which one) and tons of other heart-throbbing moments.”
“Good storyline, nice graphics, and a heartbreaking end.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game exhibits significant stability issues, with frequent glitches that disrupt gameplay, such as unexpected rewinds and unresponsive conversation selections. These technical problems often lead to chaotic scenarios, particularly involving the character Monika, who experiences erratic behavior as a result of these glitches.
“Multiple other glitches occur, such as the game rewinding after the protagonist finds Yuri cutting herself and the game refusing to accept conversation selections that don't favor Monika.”
“Upon doing this, the game glitches once more and Monika panics as she's deleted from the game's world.”
“Monika suddenly intervenes once more, claiming she's changed her mind, and the game glitches again.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in the game features colorful and exaggerated 2D art, with each shark character showcasing unique charm. However, the depth of character development varies, as some characters receive more attention than others.
“The 2D art is colorful, and character designs are delightfully exaggerated, with each shark character having its own unique charm.”
“The character development for each shark varies in depth, with some receiving more attention than others.”
“I found the character arcs to be quite shallow, lacking the complexity that would make them engaging.”
“The progression system feels unbalanced, making it hard to connect with the characters as they evolve.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple endings influenced by player choices, making each playthrough feel unique. Additionally, its entertaining and humorous content enhances the overall experience, encouraging players to revisit it.
“These choices can lead to various endings, providing the game with a degree of replayability.”
“Entertaining, full of memes, pretty funny, replayable, worth it.”
“The game offers multiple endings, but the lack of significant changes in gameplay makes replaying feel tedious.”
“While there are different paths to take, the core experience remains the same, diminishing the overall replay value.”
“Despite the initial excitement of choices, the limited variety in gameplay mechanics leads to a lack of motivation to replay.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is tied to a pachinko minigame that influences the final outcome, specifically the level of undress of a character, which adds a unique layer of interactivity but may not significantly impact overall gameplay performance.
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism, with users expressing frustration over the lack of ongoing support and development from the creator despite previous crowdfunding efforts and promotional activities.
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it seems like the developers are more focused on profits than providing a quality experience.”
“I can't believe how many microtransactions are crammed into this game; it feels like you can't enjoy it without spending extra money.”
“The constant push for in-game purchases ruins the immersion and makes it hard to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend.”
