Recent reviews by DeGendered Dragon

Backed on Kickstarter. Reviewed #3 and realized I forgot to review #2.

Monster Camp is just more Monster Prom, but in all the right ways. Monster Prom was a very basic game with a simple to understand set of systems, but was more about nailing the style, humor, and basics of the series. Monster Camp expands on all of it. Adds lots of options that more games need like Trigger Warnings for certain types of content, a built in alternative "streamer mode" end theme to avoid copyright, while maintaining the vibe.

More characters both playable and non-, appear here and is super inclusive on all fronts.

The crew are amazing at continually creating fun and engaging characters and events, but listening to and including their community in the development process.

(Shout out to the main storyline being a meteor shower, which I suggested in the Discord when they were previewing/deciding the base ending polaroid pose and both variants either featured looking at the sky as a key element. I suggested "Hey, if there is a big meteor shower predicted for the last day of camp, that's a reason to want a date, but could be easily overlooked for a bigger ending." It makes the game a little bit more special to me, but hey, it's just one example of the MANY things people have suggested and gotten included.)

Seriously though, if you like "mature" humor that doesn't feel childish, and characters that will eventually feel more nuanced and deep than most in other works of fiction, or if you just really want to jump Calculester's circuits, play this game.

Backed the sequels on Kickstarter. Been following the development and keeping up with everything every step of the way. If Monster Prom was kicking the door open and getting the style, vibe, and humor figured out and Monster Camp was pushing the formula and mechanics to their limit while expanding the world, then this is the real evolution of the series.

The first two games had a clear goal, find someone and make a connection (be it physical or emotional) in a set amount of time. They were about the destination as much as the journey, getting a good ending or a special ending took a small amount of luck and planning. Here it's all about the journey. Where you are going can change pretty fluidly, you could (with careful play) spend hours just roaming and seeing events. It's not about a final hookup or a big event that's certain at the end.

It's about finding out where the road takes you, finding adventure, finding stupid roadside attractions, finding sex, drugs, and rock&roll, finding your destination, and maybe even finding yourself. You just have to be young, unafraid, and ready to start...

This is the best story of the series. It mixes humor and darker elements well. The characters are well realized, and the clothing and car customization is more in depth than 3&4 would have later.

However it is a buggy port with at least one game breaking bug during standard story play. There are fan patches on the web to fix these issues however, and the game is worth the effort.

This is the first game I have just bought for someone so they have it, and considering putting some +MONEY aside to buy gift copies to pass around to random people on Discord.

I swear these are my own opinions and not in anyway influenced by Vera Oberlin.