Make it Rain (XBLIG)

There are a handful of things I look for in a video game. Originality is likely the most important to me, but subject matter also plays a huge role in the games I'm seeking out. During one of my daily XBL marketplace browsings I happened upon a an XBLIG title that caught my undivided attention. It featured an original subject matter (pole dancing), and seemed to be interesting enough to inquire about. This indie which is appropriately titled, "Make it Rain" had some sexy elements to it that obviously would appeal to an adult film journalist as myself. I sought out the developer (24kt Studios) via the world wide web, and humbly asked for a review code. They replied shortly afterwards giving me two codes for review. I quickly downloaded the game, grateful for the opportunity to once again supply my readers with something new to read about. In the end I played the game only for a short while realizing that the review would not be as lengthy as the ones I usually provide. Even so I bring you this review on a positive note, thankful to the developer for the chance to get back in the game (so to speak).

Make it Rain is an indie which plays heavily on the assumption that you are a gentlemen who dreams of "making it rain" cash on the female pole dancers at various clubs. For some reason, or another your dream has finally been realized, and you can "make it rain" as if you were Donald Trump himself. In order to fulfill this fantasy of sorts though you must button mash your way to higher dollar amounts via your Xbox 360 controller. Why a video game controller would be taken to such a show is beyond me, but I can dig it. Anytime I can shower the deserving ladies of the night with an unending supply of Benjamins makes me a happy man, even if it is with an Xbox 360 game pad.

Gameplay in "Make it Rain" is unfortunately restricted to button mashing, and as such is somewhat mundane in presentation. While watching the digital dames pole dance while you "Make it Rain" is a pretty cool concept, button mashing to the absence of music is not so much. The game, for some unknown reason is completely void of music. Had the developer added some music to the pole dancing shows it probably would not have been as bland as it was. Basically all you get to do in your time with the game is press a sequence of random buttons, showering the onstage ladies with money as a 60 second timer counts down. Sure you'll hear them give that sexy porn moan from time to time when your tossing Benjamins in their direction, but other than that there are no noteworthy sound effects.

As far as the visual aspects of the game are concerned they are not too bad, but they are also not overly impressive either. There are four available dancers to choose from at the start of the game, who each have very similar faces. The skin tones do vary giving the gals a proper ethnic variety, but other than hair/skin color that's about the only visual differences you will find. The bios included do shed some light on the girls' backgrounds (Age, Locale, Interests ...) making them more interesting,  but definitely do not flesh them out enough to make them memorable. With that being said though I did notice the blue haired Atlanta, Georgia gal since she hails from the state I live in. As far as the actual pole dancing goes the animations are nicely done. The motions are fluid for the most part, but sadly each girl looks, and performs in a similar manner while dancing the poles.

Aside from the visual, and gameplay offerings 24kt Studios does attempt to add in some replay value to their indie title. The local-only leaderboards, titled "High Rollers" allows you to view your current top spendings as well as the girl associated with that splurge. The "High Rollers" menu also doubles as a stats record keeper which keeps track of your spending for each of the four available girls. How much of each money type you have spent ($1, $5, $20, $100), as well as how many times you've watched a girl dance are also included in the records. While this is most certainly a unique addition to the game it offers little reason to return for more. As I mentioned earlier the game is void of music, and is solely based on button mashing to a mundane presentation. In all honesty, considering all that I've experienced during my playthrough I cannot recommend getting this game. I found little enjoyment in it, and at best I think this game could be used for a Youtube video series about XBLIG's sexiest indies.