Beautiful Glitch struck sweet, sexy gold in 2018 when they released Monster Prom, a dating simulator that lets players woo various hot monsters and eventually ask them to Spooky High’s annual prom. Combining the typical visual novel format with table-top RPG inspired mechanics, it’s a revolutionary game that oozes positivity. There isn’t a sour note in the game’s messaging or themes, and its unabashed inclusivity is something we need more of. Thankfully, now there’s Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp.
Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp
Developer: Beautiful Glitch
Price: $12
Platform: PC
MonsterVine was supplied with Steam code for review
Narratively, Monster Camp takes place the summer following Monster Prom, which means any timeline we canonize has probably ended in heartbreak. But that’s OK because we’re young, dumb, and on our way to sleepaway camp with a bunch of horny sex fiends. Rather than asking one of them to the prom, however, our conquest is to enjoy an evening under the stars. It’s a low stakes outing that accurately conveys the inconsequence and memorability of young love.
Monster Camp doesn’t reinvent the wheel. Minus a few elements, it uses the same basic principles and mechanics from the first game. The not-so-hallowed grounds of Spooky High’s campus are replaced with log cabins and forests. The gameplay loop still involves going to various locations within the campgrounds to raise a particular stat before engaging in a whimsical and comedic dialogue that will check one stat against another. These interactions are Monster Camp’s heart and soul, dispensing exposition, and character information that will aid in winning the favor of your paramour. But it’s very much blazing the same trail its predecessor set before it.
This isn’t to say that Monster Camp is a simple rehash. There are enough new components and plots to freshen it up. Four new love interests take the main stage, three were side characters from the first game and one who is entirely new. Each one also reinforces Beautiful Glitch’s philosophy of creating a wholly inclusive game. Dahlia and Joy are a testament to body positivity, which was sorely lacking in Monster Prom’s primary cast. Milo Belladonna, a sexier take on the grim reaper, is the game’s first genderqueer character, adding another dimension of inclusivity that was seemingly forgotten in Monster Prom.
If there’s anything to complain about, it’s that the dating paths are too predestined. After choosing which items you’ll take to camp, you’re asked a single question that determines who you should be pursuing. You may choose to win the favor of anyone else, but the game highly encourages you not to do this by forcing most early interactions to involve your predetermined love interest. Giving players a goal from the outset isn’t a bad way of maintaining focus, and the chosen amour is easily manipulated. But the way Monster Camp (and Monster Prom for that matter) chooses to go about it is too rigid. I’d have loved an option to ignore the deciding question altogether, having early interactions with all candidates and choosing the most compelling one from there. It’d have also prevented me from garnering interest from the same character twice in a row, which didn’t happen too often but enough that I should point it out. Milo, you’re hot and I love you, but sometimes I want a little Calculester action.
While there are settings to remove any references and allusions to the first game, Monster Camp relies heavily on familiarity. Aside from a few characters, everyone is reprising their role from Monster Prom. Former relationships and interactions I had in Monster Prom sat on the back of my mind as I made new engagements with the same cast. There’s a strong sense of continuity in this regard, and it only helped to ground me further in this strange but welcoming world of spooky sex freaks. Newcomers, however, are likely to feel they’re missing necessary context. Having a history with the series makes Monster Camp all the better, but I’m not sure the same could be said if I didn’t have innumerable hours invested in its world beforehand.
Regardless, Monster Camp (and by extension, Monster Prom) is a masterpiece. It maintains good vibes throughout and is a near-perfect game for anybody looking for a wholesome and inclusive experience.
The Final Word
Monster Camp embraces everything that made its predecessor so wildly charming. Some of the charisma is lost in the second go-round, but the series maintains its infectious positivity throughout the sequel.
– MonsterVine Rating: 4 out of 5 – Good
