Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp Review – These Damn Sexy Monsters

Similar to card-based party games, Monster Prom took the gaming community by surprise. It combined creative writing with high RNG narratives surrounding the themes of monsters dating. Now, developer Beautiful Glitch is here to do it again in Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp. As a follow-up entry, it does some new things in terms of added systems, but it seems to have really doubled down on its wacky elements and addictive gameplay loop, at least when playing with friends.

Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp sets up the basic premise of a group of monsters going to camp for the summer. The games can range from a short or long session and include up to four players. A typical long-form game can take over an hour to finish, depending on how quickly you and your friends can read, but it centers around rounds where you can choose where to go on a map, which then progresses the time.

Visiting places on the map will have a direct impact on your character’s stats. However, following the event, you’ll have a separate encounter with your crush. Now, your only real goal for this camp experience is to watch the meteor shower with your crush. This character is chosen from a choice made in the opening of the game. However, it’s still semi-random because the game will ask you a question, and your answer will choose your crush.

This theme of randomness is what Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp is all about and will play into every different area you visit. Following the general stat boost, you’ll have to resolve an event with your crush, and hopefully, you choose correctly, which will add a bonus stat increase. However, these answers are far from typical, and I feel like you have to play several rounds before you truly understand what each character enjoys and their personalities.

However, even though there are wrong and right choices, every choice leads to amusing dialogue moments. The writing for each character is amazing, and there are seemingly endless possible outcomes. Well, not endless because the game shows you how many events you’ve unlocked and how many are left. The writing itself has a dry sense of humor mocking popular fads for the time. I’m not sure if this will be relevant in 5 years, but it works for now.

At the end of the day, you’ll get to sit around a campfire to interact with characters. This will spring another event that you can hopefully get your crush to like you more after. Following the event is a drinking mini-game that can raise or greatly lower your stats, depending on what you get. It’s quick and fun as it offers some new gameplay systems, such as an increase in stats for the following week.

At the end of the session, you’ll choose a love interest. However, the game really tries to sell you on the chosen person in the beginning for you, so I’m not really sure why you even have this choice. Regardless, they’ll look at your stats and your standing with them and say yes or no. There are several endings for each character and plenty of epilogue narratives for your characters.

If you’re playing the shorter session, you may have difficulty getting your stats high enough for you love interest; there’s not enough time. The longer sessions make this more manageable, especially if you mess up with a response or get a bad drink. I had a tough time getting a good ending, but something funny is bound to happen no matter what you get.

Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp relies heavily on its multiplayer systems. Playing single is not that fun. I had no one to laugh with, and it felt like I was approaching each event more like a game than a party experience. On the other hand, playing with friends is where this game shines as the narratives are each just clever and bound to provide a laugh. Like other crude-party games, this game is probably best with a few drinks and open-minded friends. The writing encompasses many nerdy and whimsical elements that some might not get, and that’s something to keep in mind.

Several other online modes let you customize your experience with friends and some settings if you don’t want to see some jokes. The art style is very bold, but I enjoyed the unique character designs, costume changes, and portraits found across each playthrough. The music caught me off guard at first, but there are some catchy tracks. The voice-over work is minimal but enough to reflect the character’s moods. I wouldn’t mind having the game with full voice-over, but I know that would be a lot to implement considering the game’s length script.

Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp is a great evolution of this series as it builds on the foundation of the previous entry, capitalizing on what makes it so great. The multiplayer mode will provide the best experience this zany monster dating game has but at the cost of a dull single-player offering. With so many collectibles and charming monsters to date, this is one prom you don’t want to miss.