Party Animals | Xbox Review

Recently I was reminded of that famous Super Smash Bros. commercial from 1999. Surely you know the one, where beloved Nintendo characters begin clobbering each other after skipping through a meadow. It was the humorous ragdoll physics of Party Animals that evoked my nostalgia of that advert. Developed by Recreate Games and published by Source Technology, Party Animals is a fun online brawler where cute critters engage in uproarious battles, creating moments of hilarity. Whether you’re enjoying it with friends in the same room or online, it thrives on the shared laughter, but the novelty wears thin when playing alone or with random players.

Always Be Paw-sitive

Much like other games of its type, Party Animals is an online brawler where each session accommodates up to 8 players. You have the option to jump into a random lobby or create a custom one, allowing you to populate it with friends and fill the remaining slots with AI-controlled bots. The game offers three distinct game modes to choose from. In “Last Stand,” it’s every animal for themselves, with players vying to be the last one standing. This mode can be played in a free-for-all format or with grouped teams. “Team Score” adds a strategic twist, dividing players into two teams of four. Here, maps feature objectives beyond simple brawling. The third mode, “Arcade,” challenges teams to reduce the opposing team’s score from 10 to 0.

Party Animals excels at delivering laughter-filled, multiplayer mayhem. The option to join random lobbies or create custom ones with friends and bots ensures that you can tailor your experience to your preferences. The variety of game modes, from the classic “Last Stand” to the strategic “Team Score” and the competitive “Arcade,” offers a diverse range of gameplay experiences. It’s important to emphasize that the true charm of Party Animals blossoms in a social setting, where shared laughter and teamwork elevate the fun. While solo play and random online matches have their merits, it’s only in small doses.

Mad Max: Furry Road

The game boasts intentionally sluggish controls, a deliberate design choice meant to increase the hilarity. Players can employ various moves, including punches, kicks, head-butts, and the always entertaining drop kick. There’s also the option to pick up objects and weapons scattered throughout the arena. The catch is that picking up objects isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Approach the item the wrong way, and you’ll find yourself awkwardly dragging it behind you, which not only impedes your movement but also leaves you vulnerable to attacks. A powerful blow will knock the recipient unconscious, opening the door to be grabbed and tossed out of the arena. This element of unpredictability and player interaction keeps the matches engaging and entertaining, with a constant undercurrent of humor that ensures Party Animals’ appeal remains consistently high.

While Party Animals leans into the intentional sluggishness of its controls to amplify the hilarity, I personally found it a bit of a double-edged sword. Navigating the game’s arenas, especially the climbing, can be frustrating. The game’s humor and charm would not have been diminished in the slightest if it had responsive controls. However, it did lead to great, memorable moments of hilarity. In one instance, a fellow player and I happened to drop kick each other simultaneously. We were both knocked unconscious and our lifeless bodies ended up in…let’s say a “compromising position”, based on a number between 68 and 70. These unpredictable and laugh-out-loud moments are where Party Animals truly excels, and they serve as a reminder of the game’s primary objective: delivering fun and laughter in every brawl.

Unleash the Beast

The visuals in Party Animals offer a delightful mix of charm and clumsiness. The animals in the game move and fight like people wearing animal costumes for the first time, hence reminding me of that Smash Bros. commercial I mentioned at the start. It’s as if they’re stuffed animals coming to life, struggling to find their balance in the midst of chaotic brawls. The game’s selection of animals is diverse, ranging from dogs and cats to ducks, alligators, even bears. You can also dress them up in different costumes and skins. The default corgi character, aptly named “Nemo,” takes the spotlight on the cover. Unlocking certain animals, like the bear, can be a bit of a time-consuming task, unless you go the microtransaction route. 

I was hoping to unlock the bear character, since it would’ve reminded me of my childhood teddy bear. However, the amount of time it would’ve taken to obtain it honestly wasn’t worth the time-sink, and I wasn’t about to drop real money on it. The graphics, while not groundbreaking, complement the game’s lighthearted tone and, combined with the charming selection of animals, make Party Animals visually engaging and endearing.

Game On, Animal Style

I’m actually feeling a little conflicted with this game. I fully appreciate what Party Animals is in terms of an online party brawler. My review is based solely on my experiences playing either alone with bots in custom matches, or playing online with random players. Sadly I missed out on the GO community game night a couple weeks back, so I’m deprived of its full enjoyment potential. Despite the sluggish controls, I believe this is a well made game. Being a ragdoll brawler featuring cute and cuddly creatures, Party Animals has the potential to be a hit amongst the game streaming community, becoming the next “Twitch du jour” so to speak.

Surely I’ll be returning to this game whenever the next community game night happens, or if I’m able to arrange game sessions with other gaming friends. But like I’ve been saying this whole time, it’s better to play in small doses when playing alone or with random players. Lastly, I should also mention that Party Animals supports cross play between PC and Xbox players, so you can brawl with all your friends as cute animals without the hardware barrier.

To hear me talk more about Party Animals, be sure to listen to the September 27, 2023 episode of The Gaming Outsider podcast around the 1:01:06 time stamp.

This review is based on an Xbox copy of Party Animals provided by Vicarious PR for coverage purposes. It is also available on Xbox Game Pass and PC via Steam.