Party Down is the time management game about Hollywood, showbiz, celebs, parties…
The story begins in a cozy apartment with you acting as one of the two characters – Shannon or Dave. Both characters have nearly identical storylines: they are tired of being featured in car or clothing commercials, and want to make it big. The trouble is, they are both having a really tough time breaking into show business. They join Party Down, a celebrity catering service, which gives them a chance to interact with real celebrities, and maybe catch their big break.
The game successfully combines common click management with drag and drop mechanics. You not only control your character with click and point actions, but also drag and drop Hollywood stars all around the party house. You need to watch the bubbles of the arriving celebs and fulfill their desires by dragging and dropping them to the dance floor, a comfortable couch or a conversation mat.
The game is divided into stages, or parties. The first party you work is Angelina’s birthday, which is consists of several levels or party hours. When a celebrity arrives, you need to look at the bubble above his or her head to see what he or she wants to do. It could be dance, talk or eat.
Hungry ones want to sit down, and then let you know if they want food or a drink. Rush to the bar or kitchen for the requested item and deliver the dish to the star. Remember to remove the dirty plates otherwise you won’t be able to serve the customer. Those who come to chatter, discuss latest news, fashion, economics and filmmaking. Again, watch the conversation to see what they want to talk about and match people with the same interests on the conversation mat. After savoring the food and exchanging fresh gossip, the celebs make way to the dance floor.
One of the distinctive features of Party Down is the ability to boost the popularity of your staff and any member in particular. Just help them mingle with Hollywood celebs so that they can earn stars and upgrade their talking or other skills. This is probably the only upgrades available in the game.
Don’t forget about the clock and the tip meter. Each level of Party Down sets a special task for you that you must reach before time runs out. There are three level goals: bronze, silver and gold. Reach any one of these to move forward.
Party Down has notable 3D graphics and jolly music. Some characters look like their Hollywood prototypes, while others don’t. Every celeb has his or her special dance and it’s great fun to watch them boogie on the dance floor.
On the whole, Party Down is definitely something different in the time management genre. If you’re patient and don’t mind a slower pace, it has some cool twists worth checking out
Pros:
- Original theme.
- Nice 3D graphics.
- Amusing celebrity situations.
Cons:
- Staff members move too slow.
- It takes too long to get speed upgrades.
- Clicks fail to take.
- Clicks must be precise.