Umamusume: Pretty Derby - Party Dash
- August 29, 2024
- Cygames
Umamusume: Pretty Derby - Party Dash is a decent party game, but some poor events and a lack of tutorials spoil the experience a bit
Get on Steam"Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash" is a rhythm game where players take on the role of a racehorse girl and compete in races. The special edition includes the full game and the "Party Dash Team Bundle," which grants access to three DLC packs and special titles. The DLC content will become available in-game after their respective release dates.
Reviews
- The localization and English port of the game are well done, making it enjoyable for fans of the series.
- The minigames, particularly basketball and Golshi's Grand Adventure II, are fun and chaotic, providing a good time when played with friends.
- The character designs, voice acting, and overall art style are charming and appealing, especially for fans of the Uma Musume franchise.
- The game suffers from a lack of content, with only four main minigames and no significant updates or additional story content promised with DLC.
- Online multiplayer functionality is severely broken, making it difficult to connect with friends or find matches, which undermines the game's party game appeal.
- The price point is considered too high for the limited content offered, leading many to recommend waiting for a sale before purchasing.
- story35 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story mode is generally well-received for its engaging character interactions and quality voice acting, but it is criticized for being short and lacking substantial content, especially with the DLCs offering no new story elements. Players appreciate the charm of the narrative but feel that the limited gameplay variety and high price tag do not justify the overall experience. While fans of the series may enjoy the story, many express a desire for more content and gameplay options to enhance replayability.
“Where the game shines the most is the voice acting and story modes.”
“Regardless, it is lovely to finally be able to see these characters interact with each other outside the anime, and while the story mode is pretty short, what is there is very fun for fans of the series just on the characters alone.”
“Love Uma Musume, and it's really neat that the story mode is fully voiced.”
“As for the DLC, there is no story content added with any of the DLC characters, which is downright criminal.”
“There's basically only a short story mode for each team, the gold ship infinite scroller mode, and free-play, none of which bring enough variety to warrant playing them more than once.”
“Story mode is cute but extremely short for the $45-60 price tag.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming art style and lively pixel animations, with some users highlighting the quality of the translation and voice acting. However, there are mentions of minor graphical glitches and a desire for more content and polish. Overall, while the visuals are enjoyable, some players suggest waiting for a sale before purchasing due to concerns about the game's overall value.
“I'm a big fan of the art style!”
“I love the franchise, I love the pixel art style, and with online play I was really looking forward to having a good time with my friends.”
“The sprites are very lively and well animated, and the artists did a good job with the low pixel art style.”
“While the graphics and styling of the game are charming and enjoyable, and there are a couple of great fanservice pieces, the game itself is unbearably boring and should not be purchased.”
“The content itself is fun, but one can only hope more stuff is added and polished (graphical glitches, nothing major) as time goes by. Unsure if $45 is worth it; I very much recommend waiting for a sale.”
“I love the franchise, I love the pixel art style, and with online play, I was really looking forward to having a good time with my friends.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally enjoyable, particularly in the basketball mechanics, which are praised for their quality. However, users criticize the shallow nature of the main minigames and express frustration over limited online matchmaking options, especially outside of Japan. Additionally, some mention that delays negatively impact the overall experience.
“Basketball has to be the most hype I've been over a basketball game since the mechanics are really good as well.”
“The gameplay is really fun but it's impossible to find an online match outside Japan.”
“Every other 'team' in the game's purpose is the story mode gameplay, and there is no mention of the limited functionality in Japanese or English, so the effect is really underhanded.”
“The main attraction minigames are shallow and empty, lacking strategy or the opportunity for emergent gameplay tactics.”
“The delay is killing the gameplay.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted as a standout feature, with players finding the characters and dialogue genuinely funny, enhancing the overall experience. The story mode, complemented by engaging voice acting, adds to the comedic value, while the inclusion of various minigames provides additional entertainment. Overall, the game is praised for its humorous elements, making it more enjoyable than initially expected.
“An epic funny Umamusume title party game.”
“Despite it seemingly being advertised as a funny appetizer, it's better than the main course.”
“The story mode is nice; hearing the voice actors say the funny lines and talk to each other adds to the experience.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that the lack of custom team options and character drafting makes the grind feel tedious and unfulfilling. While the minigames themselves are enjoyable, the limited content and heavy reliance on grinding to unlock features or characters detracts from the overall experience. Many feel that the game is designed to encourage prolonged grinding rather than providing meaningful updates or content.
“There's no custom teams option right off the bat, and the grinding for it is abysmal.”
“Each of the minigames is really fun, but there's just so little content, and when half of the game's content is based on grinding minigames, it becomes tedious.”
“I wouldn't be surprised if they're not going to give the 'free' update regarding adding more game modes, but instead will either milk you for the waifu(s) or make you grind all day to get them.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received positive feedback, with particular praise for the main menu theme of "Golshi's Grand Adventure 2." Reviewers appreciate the overall quality of the soundtrack, noting that it enhances the enjoyment of the mini-games and complements the vibrant visuals.
“The soundtrack is pretty good; I especially enjoy the main menu theme of Golshi's Grand Adventure 2.”
“Again, the mini-games are fun, the sprites are gorgeous, and the music is good too.”
“The music in Uma Musume feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I found the soundtrack to be underwhelming and not memorable at all.”
“The background music doesn't match the intensity of the gameplay, which really detracts from the overall experience.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
While the game is generally enjoyable and has potential for replayability, the lack of dynamic mini-games limits its overall replay value, leaving players wanting more variety.
“A really unfortunate situation for a game that is fun and replayable, and for a franchise that really had the opportunity to put its best foot forward in the anglosphere.”
“There is not much replay value if all the mini-games are static.”
“The lack of variety in gameplay makes it hard to want to play again.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to return.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Many users feel that the game's pricing, set at $45 for the standard edition and $60 for the special edition, suggests a cash grab, especially with additional DLCs already announced. They recommend waiting for significant discounts before purchasing.
“As much as I love this franchise, for $45 (or $60 for the special edition), this game feels more like a cash grab.”
“Wait for a very heavy sale... I hate to say it, but it feels like a quick cash grab at full price, especially with the already announced DLCs.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, users find the game enjoyable but note the presence of minor graphical glitches that could benefit from further polishing. Many recommend waiting for a sale before purchasing, as they are uncertain if the current price of $45 is justified given the stability issues.
“The content itself is fun, but I hope more is added and polished over time. There are graphical glitches, nothing major, but I'm unsure if $45 is worth it. I highly recommend waiting for a sale.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy the experience. Stability is a major issue that needs to be addressed.”
“I encountered several bugs that disrupted gameplay, and the overall stability of the game is lacking. It feels unfinished.”
