Party Animals’ gamescom Demo Proves There’s More Here Than Just Adorable Anarchy

For as long as there’s been the concept of a Player 2, there have been party games. The best of the genre find players alternating between laughing and getting serious because, at the end of the day, we all want to win… even when it doesn’t matter. A recent hands-on of Animals Party at gamescom, both laughter and “sweatiness” were in full effect as 8 of us piled into a room to battle it out in dueling split-screen multiplayer with some of the cutest creatures imaginable.

During our hour-long celebration, we experienced three completely different activities. One of them was an event that has never before been featured on a German game show. First up was an 2v2v2v2 knockdown and dragout on top of a sub. Weapons dropped into play with regularity as players attempted to knock others off the deck… without slipping off the rounded deck themselves. It was no big deal to be thrown or slip in the beginning. In the early going, it was no big deal to slip (or be thrown!)  

This all changed once the sub began to slowly dive, at which point it quickly devolved into an everyone-for-themselves king of the hill, with players scrambling up the conning tower to safety. These were wild games, with the team winning if the final player was swept out to sea.

We moved to a mode that was new for Gamescom: Animals Party‘ take on soccer. Lining up on the pitch 4v4, we attempted to make runs, send crosses, and other footballing tactics, most of which were waylaid by the fact that these adorable, innocent animals were busy beating the stuffing out of each other – no yellow cards here! I was actually first on the board here, though not as intended: my clear counter and shot on target led to me cheering as the ball rolled over the line – but those cheers turned to ashes in my mouth as I realized I had scored an own goal… 

But it’s Animals PartyI couldn’t stay down long. My team rallied to get back in the game. We became better at playing as we got used to the controls. RT is used a lot and grabs things. The opponents sent a gosling wearing sunglasses as an itinerant keeper. The next shot I took went in the right direction. 

The Candy Factory is where we test out our teamwork, improvisational abilities and creativity. In this map, candy of various sizes, from “basketball-sized gumdrop” to “gummi bear that would frighten a grizzly” drop in the middle of an arena. The teams compete to drag the candy to their area and then throw a switch for some points. Our team of stylish corgis won with 3 large candies. 

Animals Party is filled with fun touches; at the conclusion of each event everyone poses for a picture… a perfect encapsulation of the madcap fun, as adorable animals muscle to the front of the shot. We were able to unlock new characters and swappable outfits as we played. Each one was more adorable than the previous. It’s great to score goals, but scoring as a orange-rinded kitten is even better. 

We enjoyed split-screen 4 player, and you can play against many more… up to 20 players in certain modes at launch for maximum mayhem. And it won’t be hard to round up those friends – when Animals PartyS & Xbox One September 20.|S and Xbox One on September 20, it launches day 1 into Xbox Game Pass.

Party Animals Deluxe Version

Source Technology

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$29.99

Order now and receive exclusive content.
– Royal Nemo Outfit
– Royal Nemo Avatar
– Nemo Bucks*240

Exclusive Content:
– Nemo Bucks*1300
– Bathrobe Harry Outfit & Avatar & Frame
– Bathrobe Coco Outfit & Avatar & Frame
– Bathrobe Garfat Outfit & Avatar & Frame
– Golden Nemo Skin & Avatar
– Golden Macchiato Skin & Avatar
– Golden Coco Skin & Avatar