Party Hard 2 (REVIEW)

Sadistically satisfying is this stealth serial killer simulator. Teeming with many taboos including that of wanton murder, prostitution, and drug dealing 'Party Hard 2" once again puts you in the shoes of a serial killer insomniac known as the Party Hard Killer whose sleep is interrupted by obnoxious party goers. Going postal through pixelated perfection this serial killer that you control must utilize the environmental hazards around him, collected items found along the way, weapons on hand, preternatural abilities, and stealth to do the dirty deeds per checklist while avoiding an untimely death, and apprehension via the local police. Objectives are the key to completing each area themed episode, and unlocking the other protagonists as well as the underlying story at hand. Needless to say there are plenty of Easter eggs hidden among the rogue-like replays, and finding different ways to deal the death blow without being noticed in a timely fashion is where the true fun is to be had. If ever there was a 1,000 ways to die video game this would be it. That is if you consider the endless variety of deaths of the unsuspecting targets, and innocents who happen to cross your path to progress.

As one of four protagonists including the Party Hard Killer himself you will be tasked with completing objectives tied to an onscreen checklist. This checklist changes per episode, and location, but always includes the deadly dispatching of would be targets, and innocent attendees as well as the hiding of their bodies, and the doing of various other things that incorporate the environmental objects within each given locale. Sometimes only main objectives, and the escape to an exit point are all that's required for completion. Other times you'll have alternative objectives that are somewhat riskier, but more rewarding for the extra effort. By completing the episodes, and completing the laundry list of lawlessness you will upgrade your killer via RPG stats, and will also unlock the two other secret criminals who also have a problem with pesky noisy humans.

Depending on the default character you choose from at the beginning it will effect your completion of the entire game, and it's story inclusive benefits. The main killer which is the infamous Party Hard Killer will allow you to fully complete the game, and reap it's rewards. Including trophies, and the ending. The secondary bag headed killer option, which is your only alternate to begin with, allows you to cheat with extra stamina making the game easier than it has the right to be, and at a penalty. Each character, including the two unlockables, each have set abilities that include things like a vision mode that allows you to more easily spot targets or destructible traps among other things. That, and a powerful inhuman ability that practically insta-kills nearby targets or innocents. Along with the abilities the characters can switch between four items/weapons using the Dpad in-game. Using these items, whether they inhibit, or outright kill individuals or groups of individuals is how you will check off objectives. The catch being that if you are spotted in the act, or caught disposing of a body in a specially marked container the cops will be called. The only way to avoid being busted by law enforcement is to avoid them while a GTA style timer counts down causing them to ditch their efforts or by using deadly environmental traps to kill them, and send them away in an ambulance. While this is a way out it is best to avoid any confrontation so that you can beat the episode in the most timely fashion. For speed runners this is a timed game, kind of. Not in the sense that you have a countdown timer ticking away, but in that you are rewarded more handsomely for speedier runs. Efficiency is king.

Party Hard 2 has several episodes to playthrough, and a couple of bosses to defeat. Where it's longevity comes into play is in the rogue-like elements that readjust things like the targets, and innocents. Where they spawn, their behaviors, and their physical pixel representation. Even how they behave to your approach with bribes such as condoms, cash, drugs, and alcohol. Yes, I said condoms. You'll even find some items that you can pick up to be different changing the way you can efficiently approach the current situation, and it's requirements for completion. There are countless ways to go about murdering victims, and most definitely a lack of linear direction. Often times it's about being in the right place at the right time, or stealthily using distractions, and traps as to avoid capture, or death.

The Verdict ...

As sadistic, and wrong in a moral sense as this game may be it is beyond fun. It also looks amazing with it's pixel based design, and plays smoothly without flaw while offering a sort of ingenuity, and variation to completion approach that not many games in the stealth genre offer. As many times as I died or got arrested while trying to complete the very first episode I still felt inclined to get back in and try again. The cool thing is that getting back in offers a fresh and unique start that isn't hindered by ridiculous loading times. Everything about the game from the mechanics to the execution of tasks is streamlined, and user friendly. Leaving the challenge to be the only thing that really complicates anything. Failing of course will be for one reason, and one reason only. That reason being getting too greedy, or too hasty. Best advice I can offer is not to rush things through. Haste makes waste. As far as a recommendation goes it gets the Inferno's "Hell Yeah!!! Seal of Approval! It is a definite buy for those who aren't off put by the game's intentional moral dilemma.