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Every once in a while, a gorgeous game with huge potential comes along but unfortunately, the wider audience doesn't always get to know and enjoy them at their zenith. We feared Party Animals was at risk of such a fate but the game has a few failsafe systems for that particular scenario even if the adorable competitors don't take the world by storm.
In our opinion, they should absolutely win everyone's hearts and fill the void left by Fall Guys.
The concept
Right off the bat, you will notice the adorable creatures with clunky movement will remind you of Fall Guys, a video game that saw a quick rise to fame in late 2020 but as Epic Games acquired the dev studio, many were left disillusioned with the business model changes which led to an exodus of a large portion of the player base.
That said, Party Animals may have numerous game modes and adorable little characters to represent you in the physics-based gameplay but even though these are the first elements you will notice, the games are quite different.
For starters, this is not a battle royale type of game. Party Animals is generally a competitive arena and more often than not, the games are played with teams. For example, there is the Beast Soccer which is basically Rocket League but it's played with cute plushies that beat each other up.
Combat with different objectives is a theme that is repeated through all the game modes and it doesn't get old quickly at all, leaving a whole lot of room for replayability.
Gameplay and controls
Recreate Games aimed to make Party Animals accessible on various devices and since most of them use gamepads, it is our pleasure to say that the devs nailed it.
Your plushies do not have crisp movement, but depending on how good you are with a controller, it can get very close. Whether you are running with a ball, chasing an opponent to drop-kick them, or headbutting random animals, gamepad players should feel right at home.
Unfortunately, keyboard and mouse controls are not as good, but they still get the job done. The main issues stem from the default camera rotation controls, which rely on Q and E keys while you are in constant movement with WASD, leading to a sub-optimal layout. Some alternatives are possible, such as holding the middle mouse button to rotate or just regular mouse movement, but it never feels as natural as with a gamepad. In short - it's better on a gamepad but completely enjoyable on a keyboard and mouse.
Player base and safeguards
Contingencies in the control settings are just the tip of the iceberg, as the game has them everywhere. Most importantly, there are contingencies in case of a dissipating player base.
Party Animals is currently planned only for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S, which means it does not dip in a massive player base that consists of PlayStation and Nintendo fans, which could seem worrisome at first. However, the game reached a massive number of concurrent players during the Steam demo and climbed to the top of Twitch in viewership, which are good indicators when it comes to the player base.
If that is not enough of an assurance, Party Animals also features crossplay, meaning as long as there are enough people across PC and Xbox ecosystems together, it will provide online matches with no issues.
Additionally, bots are also present as an alternative so even if you want a match in the off-peak hours or if the game is deserted for some reason, you will still be able to get in.
Graphics
The art style in Party Animals is one of those that will never get old. Whimsical characters and backgrounds will always be fun, and since it is not aiming for photorealism, you don't have to worry about it looking aged down the road.
On top of that, the game is not oversaturated with colours, which is rather pleasant on the eyes, whether you are looking for some eye candy or simply a game that will not tire you out to the point where your eyeballs start hurting. The camera is often close to the action, so you don't have to squint or strain your vision in order to avoid missing out.
Everything is designed to be as adorable as possible with only comedic violence, so the game is adapted for all ages.
Monetisation
Party Animals has a rather low entry barrier as it costs €18 / $20 / ₤15.5 but the game does have cosmetic microtransactions. Thankfully, they can be farmed up with in-game currency you get after matches so wallet raiding can be avoided. The system is rather similar to the one Rocket League had before every skin became a ~$20 purchase, which is a big positive. After all, that game had the highest popularity at the time and the monetisation didn't get in the way, which sets a positive precedent for Party Animals.
AltChar team's individual impressions
"Whether you want an awesome teambuilding session at a low cost, to bond with your friends and family, or just have a relaxing period of fun after a long day, Party Animals is a great way to do it. When you stack up the minuscule cost and download size against the massive replayability and fun potential, the decision to jump in becomes a no-brainer." ~ Adnan
"Party Animals is a very funny, action-packed game, and if you've had the privilege of savouring the excitement, you'll undoubtedly appreciate the thrilling and adrenaline-pumping gameplay and come back for more. Your age or level of expertise is irrelevant; the Party Animals experience guarantees an incredibly enjoyable time." ~ Belmin
"If you want a game that is both easy and fun to play, either on your own, against strangers, or with a group of friends, this is your game. It has a mix of Gang Beasts and Mario Party, and that combo can never go wrong. Whether you want to work on your own or in a team, fun will always be guaranteed." ~ Amila
The Good
Easy to get into- Relaxing fun
- Adorable characters
- For all ages
- Lots of variety, good replay value
- Awesome post-match screen
The Bad
KBM controls sometimes feel a little off- Visuals get fuzzy on rare occasions
