The Industry Corporation takes you places you never thought you’d be with its novel simulation title Partyboat. In this unique indie entry, players take the role of the skipper, an enterprising master of ceremonies aboard a cruise ship. Will the skipper get in trouble with the loan shark, or will he take his father’s charitable donation and work from a modest sail boat to a huge cruise liner? As long as you make more money than it costs to run the cruise, the possibilities are endless![singlepic id=1295 w=320 h=240 float=center]
From the cheesy ‘70s television show theme to the amusing dialogue, Partyboat ensures that you never forget that the game is all about (mature) fun. With that in mind, players initially have the choice to buy a prepackaged ship or design their own with loads of customizable features. Want a traditional party boat packed with performers and casinos? How about sprucing up the accommodations with strip clubs and S&M themed rooms? Oh yeah, it gets pretty wacky.
Once your pleasure barge is seaworthy, pick your intended demographic, duration, route, and ticket price. It’s then time to put the party in partyboat! Get out on the waters and plan Events to keep your guests happy. You can even zoom in to check up on things if you get curious. Various events like Spring Break and Cocktail Night can be scheduled alongside Sports such as Skeet Shooting and Volleyball. Live Entertainment can also be arranged, as can Hustles like Knife Fight events, just to keep things mixed up. Variety is the spice of life, and you’ll want to keep it salty so the passengers don’t get bored and subsequently lower your reputation.
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The partying ends once you dock, and it’s here that you can restock on supplies, make some cash by dropping off empty bottles, and take a breather. If you’re running low on funds there’s an assortment of options available to you. Visit Lady Luck at one of your casinos while in port, beg your dad for some cash, or take your chances with the loan shark. You could always sell yourself out to corporate sponsorship as well, and your dingy will reflect this with an obnoxious new appearance.
Occasionally you’ll come across a random event that might catch you off-guard. I had finished a brief cruise and was about to start another when I was approached by a shady man who claimed to be “in the know” about my character. He explained that he needed someone to smuggle some ivory for him, and he believed that I was just the guy to do it. For $600k now and $600k after my upcoming cruise, it was hard for me to resist the simple job. Fresh off of a failed first cruise, my limping reputation was not too good to accept this deal. I mean, what’s a little ivory transportation if it will breathe new life into my endeavors? I wouldn’t even have to worry about the loan shark that was breathing down my neck! I accepted the offer, but was soon approached by a do-gooder who wanted to turn me in. I had three options: bribe him with $100k, kidnap him, or try to run away. Naturally I kidnapped him. The cruise went well, I got paid, and the snivelling would-be-tattletale whimpered and scurried home.
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Partyboat’s presentation is just as fun as the gameplay. Built with 3D renders and 2D animation, the sim is not only colorful, but it has a few subtle nuances that might be overlooked during the first few playthroughs, such as the unique skyline for each port. Partyboat doesn’t just spoil you with the visuals; it saves the flattering for its audible aspects. With great music and tons of dialogue, this is a trip that you’ll find yourself taking again and again just to see what you missed before.
However colorful the game is and no matter how witty the voice acting can be, even Partyboat sails through choppy waters at times. Instructions are pretty bare, and as such the game may be a bit too intimidating to those new to the simulation genre. Once you set sail, there’s no save option until you finish the cruise, which can last awhile if you opt for the longer duration. The casino mini game, while fun, called attention to the lack of control familiarity. Throughout the game you’ll have the opportunity to hit a button and check the basic controls, but without fiddling with the buttons during roulette you wouldn’t know that the Right Trigger spins the wheel after betting is finished. Though this is not the only instance of control ambiguity, Partyboat will keep you laughing past these minor transgressions.
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The Industry will have you hooked as soon as you hear the introductory song. That’s just the opener, too; you don’t want to play this game on mute. With cruise ship customization to casino mini games featuring slots, roulette, and blackjack, Partyboat keeps the party going from dock to dock.
Partyboat costs 400 :MSPoints: and you can find more information as well as the trial and full version of the game on the Marketplace.
Review by Iggypu.
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