The Crush House – Review
The Crush House, developed by Nerial and published by Devolver Digital, throws players into the cutthroat world of 1990s reality TV. Stepping away from the usual role of contestant, you take on the mantle of a show producer, tasked with crafting the hottest, most drama-filled season of a dating show called “The Crush House.”
This darkly comedic experience blends reality TV satire with point-and-click gameplay, making for an addictive, albeit shallow, journey through the world of manufactured romance and audience manipulation.
Gameplay
The Crush House unfolds across multiple in-game days, each requiring you to film the cast of attractive (and often shallow) singles living it up in a luxurious Malibu mansion. Your days are segmented into key tasks:
- Planning: You choose which cast members to film, setting the stage for potential sparks or manufactured drama.
- Filming: You navigate the mansion in a first-person perspective, capturing footage of your chosen cast members interacting.
- Editing: You assemble clips from your filming sessions into short segments that will air on the show.
- Audience Feedback: You receive feedback from the show’s target demographic, indicating if you’re delivering the kind of content they crave.
The success of your season hinges on maintaining high viewership. To achieve this, you must appease the fickle demands of different audience segments, balancing romance, drama, and scandal.
Key Features
- Reality TV Satire: The Crush House hilariously pokes fun at the tropes and behind-the-scenes manipulations of reality TV, highlighting the manufactured nature of drama and the exploitation of contestants.
- Choice and Consequence: You hold the power to shape the narrative, guiding the relationships and creating the drama that will keep viewers hooked.
- Multiple Endings: The choices you make throughout the season lead to unique endings, offering some replay value.
- 90s Aesthetics: The vibrant colors, tacky outfits, and cheesy music accurately capture the spirit of late 90s television.
- Hidden Depths: Beneath the surface of lighthearted humor lies a commentary on the voyeuristic nature of reality TV and its impact on viewers and contestants alike.
Review
The Crush House delivers a fun and engaging experience for the first few playthroughs. The novelty of manipulating the lives of reality TV stars and navigating the demands of a hungry audience is undeniably entertaining.
The satire is spot-on, gleefully dissecting the formulaic nature of reality TV and highlighting the manufactured drama that keeps viewers glued to their screens. Witnessing the cast members engage in staged confrontations or forced romances for the cameras is entertaining, and the game’s writing offers plenty of witty commentary on the genre.
However, the gameplay loop can become repetitive after a while. While multiple playthroughs offer different cast members and some branching narratives, the core mechanics of planning, filming, editing, and receiving feedback remain largely unchanged.
Furthermore, the “hidden depths” the game seems to hint at fail to truly materialize. The commentary on the dark side of reality TV is present but underdeveloped. While it sheds light on the superficiality and manipulation of the genre, it doesn’t delve deeper into the potential psychological impact on participants or the ethical issues surrounding such shows.
Pros:
- Hilarious satire of reality TV tropes
- Engaging gameplay loop (initially)
- Multiple endings offer some replay value
- Spot-on 90s aesthetics
Cons:
- Repetitive gameplay loop in the long run
- Underexplored potential for deeper commentary
Audience:
The Crush House is a perfect fit for fans of reality TV satire who enjoy lighthearted, quick-paced experiences with a touch of dark humor.
However, players looking for a game with deep mechanics, complex storylines, or a profound commentary on society might find The Crush House lacking in substance.
Conclusion
The Crush House is a fun and addictive experience, especially for a few initial playthroughs. It serves as a lighthearted but insightful jab at the ridiculous world of reality TV. However, its repetitive gameplay and lack of in-depth exploration of the genre’s darker side prevent it from being truly remarkable.
If you’re looking for a quick and entertaining game with a healthy dose of humor, The Crush House might be worth checking out. Just be prepared for the experience to lose some of its luster after the initial novelty wears off.
