It was as if on the day I was born the powers that be said "And lo, twenty five years and not quite two months from this day in May of 1992, this incredibly socially awkward child shall be blessed with a game that shall appeal to her. She shall spend somewhere close to 1,011 days of accumulated time on the YouTube, fangirling over Let's Players and becoming obsessed with their pet projects. And her youthful days shall be filled with anime visual novels, mindless Quizilla romance quiz-based fan-fiction, and endless hours of The Sims 2. Then, in the summer of 2017, a game shall come forth from the haziness of Steam in both Mac and PC compatibility. And it shall be filled with the dadliest of all the tropes, and shall relate to her like the dankest of memes. It shall be christened Dream Daddies, and we shall see that is indeed very good." - Aaaaand so began the journey of Al Holcombe, punk-hipster dad alter ego of yours truly, and the last three days of my life have been nothing but an extravagant and painful struggle to find the dad of my dreams, falling in love with a goth and being rejected by Joseph FOR THE FOURTH TIME. So, I shall give thanks to the Game Grumps for blessing what little free time I had with this incredibly fun, down-to-earth visual novel treat. It's Dream Daddy, and it's the reason I was up at 5:09am replaying the third date with Joseph for the fourth time (MARY WILL NEVER LOVE YOU LIKE I DO, COME BACK TO ME JOSEPH!!!) But in all seriousness this game is a blast. If you haven't been on the internet in the last week or so, or just live in under a rock, then let me catch you up to speed. YouTube super group The Game Grumps, along with the powerhouse duo Vernon Shaw and Leighton Gray, have FINALLY released their highly anticipated first video game (worth the wait, trust me), lovingly titled Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator. With some of the most detailed and smooth visual story-based artwork to ever grace the Steam Store, impeccable writing that's both entertaining and heart-wrenching, and a very catchy intro song by Bath, it quickly became a rapid seller that's flooded with positive feedback and became a Steam top-seller within the span of just a few days. It's rated highly by fans, Tubers, gamers, and critics alike. Overnight it became a trending topic on Twitter upon its release just this past Thursday and it's the biggest thing on every Let's Play channel right now. Needless to say, if you aren't playing it you're wasting your life (seriously, put down the Destiny 2 Beta, it's not worth it). The game is simple, you - the dad - must maneuver your way through your new life in Maple Bay all while befriending and ultimately wooing some of the most delightful and handsome dad tropes out there, all while raising your soon to be college-bound daughter, Amanda. It's a pun-tastic adventure filled with incredibly clever dialogue, some very heart-warming moments, and some serious Telltale Games level choices on your journey to a happy ending. You get to design your dad, date other gorgeous dads in the cul-de-sac, play utterly ridiculous mini-games, and ultimately discover a lot more about what really matters to you in your potential partners in life (I am into goths, go figure). It tugs on personality and heart in ways that are real and wholly immerses the player in the scenarios at hand. Oh and the trophies are solid, so go forth completionists, it's a worthy journey. Still not convinced? Then come, let me explain further. So, what makes this game worth the purchase? How about a bunch of hot dads, a ton of replay value, beautifully written and strong character development, and that complete shock factor of accidentally going home with Robert (AKA "Bad Dad") on night one and regretting every life choice you've ever made? That's just the beginning. Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator, takes the player on a journey of self discovery narrated (through your choices) by Dad, the widowed, single father of a rebellious teenage girl as they move to the quiet side of a quaint town called Maple Bay. There the players are introduced to a cast of seven date-able dads and their children through brilliantly written dialogue and an abundance of references to tickle your nostalgia bone. There's a dad for everyone, all with moving stories and personalities to compliment every player's preferences. For all you rebels out there you can set your sights on Robert, the brooding, leather jacket clad enigma or Damien, the suave goth with a flair for Victorian fashion. If you're into a bit more of the competitive spirit you might shoot for Craig, your former college room-mate and workout junkie, or Brian, the lovable ginger giant who will out-do your every move - with kindness! For the more shy/chill player, perhaps coffee shop owner Mat with his music puns would suit you more, or you could go for Joseph, the 'cool minister' with a sharp smile and calm demeanor, or get hot for teacher with English Lit professor Hugo. Each dad has an in-depth narrative complete with backstory, kids of his own to get to know, and multiple endings depending on your overall score over the course of three dates per dad. It's an immensely fun story driven by the choices you make, in a colorful visual novel style that allows players of all skill levels to comfortably strap in for the ride. There are no wrong answers (you can always throw in your signature dad-joke to lighten the mood if your answer isn't as appealing to your potential mate as you thought) and an insane amount of replay value, with each dads having three dates to determine whether you end up happy and in love or alone when the credits roll. But don't forget, you can't neglect your 'dadly' duties while you're out on the town! Which means have to take care of Amanda and help guide her through that oh-so difficult last year of high school as you go. This allows for lengthy play time that never gets dull. It's a fun experience to get to see what really clicks with you and it gives a surprising insight into your own personal tastes in a way that's subtle and light-hearted. I personally aimed right for the bad boy, like always, but found myself happy in the arms of the poetic Goth (and rejected...numerous times.... by Joseph and his perfect smile *sobs*). The game is immensely fun, definitely something to be experienced if you're a kid of the 90s and early 2000s that grew up on these sorts of stories, and you can rest assured that each purchase is helping the Grumps and the rest of the talented team not only feel supported and loved but helping the group as a whole to continue to make more projects. It's a simple, fun, relaxing game that's worth the purchase to continue to support a hard-working group. So get your tube socks out, put on those sandals, grab your fanny-pack and practice your puns, those dads won't date themselves! Written by Alycia D. (MaybeMockingbird ) All pictures are copyright Game Grumps, in-game pictures taken from my personal story. Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator is out now on Steam for Mac and PC platforms. What did you think of Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator? What dad ended up stealing your heart? Did you manage to get an "S" rank on Joseph, and if so please tell me how! What did you think of the game? Let me know in the comments - connect with me on Twitter or hit me up on Steam, XBOX or Playstation (under MaybeMockingbird) and let's play.
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AuthorJust your average geek chic gamer chick into all things ghostly and geeky (and vice versa) Archives
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