PAX West Spotlight: Monster Prom
By Rae
One of the booths I was most excited for at PAX West was Monster Prom – a game from Beautiful Glitch and published by Those Awesome Guys that took over my guild this summer. Monster Prom is essentially a dating sim, with lots of humour. It’s also inclusive, letting players select their pronouns and go for anyone their heart desires, regardless of what they choose. When my friend bought it for me, I had no idea what to expect, but I was hooked by the time we were barely even halfway through, and always look forward to playing again!
In Monster Prom, the player gets to be a student at Spooky High. With just three weeks until prom night, it’s time to start romancing some fellow monsters, and find a date! There are six datable characters, including a success-hungry gorgon, drug-addled party ghost, and an adorably innocent werewolf. Along the way, you’ll have to make some pretty crazy choices, which will raise or lower your stats. From goat sacrifices in the school bathroom to Vera’s … unique… business schemes, you’re going to have an adventurous three weeks in which just about anything could happen. Be ready for all kinds of inappropriate “did they really just say that?!” moments. And when it comes time for prom, you’ll need a combination of specific stats, a good relationship with your intended date, and a little bit of luck.
Where Monster Prom really sets itself apart from other games is the multiplayer option. It’s a game that shouldn’t be perfect to play in a group, with its twisted and sometimes completely lewd sense of humour. It’s a game that shouldn’t be amazing to voice with your friends, with lines about tentacles and corpses and eating fetishes. But, somehow, it absolutely is. It actually rewards you for playing with people as well, giving the players longer games with more scenes, including fun weekend events, which involve some group fun. Other players will occasionally get options that include you, which can help them boost both your stats and theirs, or give you a scene you might not have gotten otherwise.
Things get extra competitive when it comes time to choose turn order. If you want to make it quick and easy, you can randomize the order. Feeling ambitious? Opt for a debate instead! You’ll get the chance to argue over a silly question – which celebrity would be best in a zombie apocalypse? What profession would make the best reality TV show?
According to Julian, the creative director for the game, multiplayer was an important experience for them to offer. One big inspiration for Monster Prom is The Yawhg – a one to four player choose-your-own adventure. Otherwise, there was a lack of multiplayer narrative games on the market, and Beautiful Glitch wanted to make one. Julian admitted that they didn’t know how well it would be received upon release – fortunately, it seems to be a hit so far.
At its heart, Monster Prom remembers it’s a game. It doesn’t take itself super-seriously. It just aims to provide a fun time, with a cast of ridiculous, yet somehow lovable characters. Each one has a really clearly developed personality, with plenty of lovable quirks. And, like all ridiculous fun things, Monster Prom is so much better with friends.
Sadly, our PAX West demo playthrough didn’t get us any of the new characters coming in the DLC, but that’s okay! The fun thing about Monster Prom is that it’s always a good time. With a script boasting over 300,000 words and several randomized routes you can end up on, every game is just a little bit different. You can’t plan for the route you want – you never know where you’re going to end up, or who you’ll run into after each turn. Our little group of four players had a great time along the way – and one even got a yes to prom! (Spoiler alert: It was not me :( )
If you’re not quite sold yet, you can find out more about Monster Prom here. But honestly? This is one of those games I highly recommend just jumping into. Your first playthrough – and probably several playthroughs after that – are going to be a mess of laughter and surprises.
Just makes sure you bring some friends who are ready to voice the characters with you for an extra good time!
