Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash Review: Neigh or Yay?

Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash, is a party game brings the world of horse girl racing to your living room with a mix of mini-games, visual novel storytelling, and hidden surprises. In this review, we’ll dive deep into the game’s story, gameplay mechanics, multiplayer features, and even uncover a hidden gem that might just steal the show.

Story

Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash centers its narrative around the Slapdash Grand Prix, an exciting tournament that pits four teams of horse girls against each other. These teams—Cosmos, Freesia, Rose, and Lily—each bring their own distinct personalities and motivations to the competition. The story unfolds through a visual novel format, allowing players to immerse themselves in the rich backstories, intense rivalries, and entertaining interactions between the horse girls as they face off in various events.

The narrative strikes a light-hearted and humorous tone, which is particularly appealing to fans already familiar with the Umamusume series. The story provides context for the mini-games into the overarching story, exploring team dynamics and highlighting the quirky nature of the characters.

However, newcomers to the franchise might find themselves at a disadvantage. The story relies heavily on established lore and pre-existing character relationships within the Umamusume series, which could leave uninitiated players feeling confused or overwhelmed by the whimsical nature of the plot.

Gameplay

The game offers a light-hearted and fun gameplay experience, focusing on chaotic party-style mini-games. Each of the four main mini-games presents unique mechanics and objectives, creating a mix of competitive and unpredictable entertainment:

Blazing Baskets: Players race to score a target number of points by shooting balls into hoops, but the similarities to traditional basketball end there. The game introduces super-powered balls, multiple stacked hoops, and various obstacles that can dramatically alter the course of play.

Dodgeball Demolition: This mode reimagines dodgeball as a high-stakes battle royale. Players must eliminate others by hitting them with dodgeballs, but the game spices things up with different types of balls, each boasting unique powers. The ability to catch or deflect incoming balls adds a defensive element, requiring quick reflexes and strategic thinking.

Hurtling Hurdles: In this racing mini-game, players control the horse girls as they sprint down tracks. The objective is to navigate obstacles, collect beneficial items, and activate speed boosts to outpace opponents. However, this mode has somewhat clunky controls, which can lead to frustration. Its simplicity and lack of fluidity make it generally considered the weakest of the four mini-games.

Gourmet Gauntlet: This quirky mode transforms a food-eating contest into a team-based challenge. Two-player teams consist of a server and an eater. The server must swiftly deliver colored plates of food to their partner, while the eater gains bonuses for consuming matching plates in succession, creating combos.

While the variety of mini-games offers different experiences, they are too easy to beat. The absence of difficulty options is particularly disappointing for long-time fans who may be seeking a more competitive experience.

Multiplayer and Clubhouse

Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash supports both local and online multiplayer modes, allowing up to four players to compete in the various mini-games. This feature is designed to amplify the chaotic and fun nature of the game, with the unpredictability of the mini-games theoretically creating exciting and memorable multiplayer experiences.

However, the multiplayer aspect of the game faces a significant hurdle. There are persistent connectivity issues, with error messages stating “the network connection was interrupted” even when connections are stable. This technical problem potentially hampers the game’s multiplayer appeal, as players may struggle to enjoy the communal aspect of the party games as intended.

The Clubhouse feature offers a different kind of engagement for players. This customizable space allows players to invite their favorite horse girls and decorate the room with various items. These items can be purchased from in-game shops using currency earned through playing the main story. While the Clubhouse doesn’t significantly impact the core gameplay, it provides an additional layer of enjoyment for players who appreciate customization and collecting elements in their games.

The Clubhouse serves as a relaxing counterpoint to the high-energy mini-games, allowing players to express their creativity and showcase their affection for particular characters. It also provides a sense of progression and achievement as players unlock new items and expand their collection.

Hidden Gem

Golshi’s Grand Adventure 2 emerges as a surprising highlight within Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash, offering a gaming experience that diverges significantly from the main mini-games. This side-scrolling roguelike is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the game, providing a fresh and challenging experience that contrasts with the simplicity of the party games.

Initially hidden from view, Golshi’s Grand Adventure 2 must be unlocked by purchasing a game console in the in-game clubhouse. This unlocking process is relatively straightforward, requiring players to complete only one or two chapters of the main game before they can buy the console from the shop. This accessibility ensures that most players will have the opportunity to discover and enjoy this hidden gem.

The game puts players in control of Gold Ship in an auto-runner game. The objective is to survive as long as possible while progressing through procedurally generated levels and collecting power-ups, introducing a roguelike element that adds significant replay value.

This mode stands out for several reasons:

1. Challenging Gameplay: Unlike the main mini-games, Golshi’s Grand Adventure 2 offers a genuine challenge that increases as players progress, satisfying those looking for a more difficult experience.
2. Depth and Replayability: The roguelike elements ensure that each playthrough is unique, encouraging players to improve their skills and try different strategies.
3. Contrasting Experience: It provides a satisfying diversion from the main party games, offering a more traditional gaming experience within the Uma Musume universe.
4. Skill Progression: Players who invest time in mastering the game are rewarded with a sense of accomplishment and improved performance.

Verdict

Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash presents a mixed bag of experiences that will likely divide players based on their familiarity with and attachment to the franchise. The game has its strong points, particularly for fans of the Uma Musume series, but falls short in some areas that could have broadened its appeal.

On the positive side, the game offers a unique blend of party mini-games, a quirky story mode, and the hidden roguelike Golshi’s Grand Adventure 2. These elements provide different layers of entertainment and cater to various gaming preferences.  However, the game’s shortcomings are notable. The lack of challenge in the main mini-games is a significant drawback, especially for experienced players or those familiar with the more difficult mobile games in the franchise.

The absence of difficulty options feels like a missed opportunity to cater to a wider range of players. Additionally, the heavy reliance on existing knowledge of the franchise may alienate newcomers, limiting the game’s broader appeal.

In conclusion, Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash is a game that knows its audience but may struggle to expand beyond it. It’s best suited for existing fans of the Uma Musume series who are looking for a light-hearted, nostalgic gaming experience and are willing to overlook some of its shortcomings.

Ultimately, your enjoyment of Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash will largely depend on your prior connection to the franchise and your expectations for a party game. While it has its moments of charm and fun, it may not have the depth or broad appeal to become a standout title in the party game genre.

Reviewed on PC via Steam

Join Us!