Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash Review – A Party Game for the Cultured Gamer

Introduction to Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash

As if we don’t have enough waifus already, Cygames is bringing Umamusume to the West. While the anime and mobile game may capture the hearts of Horse Girl lovers around the world, there’s likely a small subset of fans who need a little more substance in their pre-workout before they open their minds, nay, their hearts, to what many of them have already discovered, Tokai is best girl. But I digress; I’m playing Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash, a video game adaptation of the Umamusme series for consoles. Don’t worry; there are no microtransactions here, but Cygames is still going to make you play to squeeze out everything this game has to offer.

Story Campaigns and Character Dynamics

Umamusume: Pretty Derby Party Dash features four story campaigns told from the perspective of the team chosen. Players can choose from Team Cosmos, Freesia, Rose, or Lily. While each of the narratives is different, the core theme of each campaign is for the team to come in first at the Slapdash Grand Prix. I wouldn’t call any of the story scenes significant as they are humorous skits between the characters. Still, the developers put effort into animating the scenes and showcasing each girl’s personality.

With its memorable characters and engaging multiplayer modes, Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash is a must-play for racing game enthusiasts.

I was surprised to see that much of the campaign is voiced by the respective actors for this large cast. Following the campaign, you’ll gain access to even more characters with their own lines, which adds quality to the low-stakes narrative. That statement rings even more true when you realize you can skip the story scenes and the events themselves. You’ll lose out on the rewards, but the developers have put up no roadblocks so players of all skill levels can get what they want out of this game; the only pre-requisite is admitting that Tokai is the best girl. I’m just kidding, you really only need to enjoy Umamusume to enjoy this game.

Diverse Mini-Games and Gameplay Mechanics

Regarding actual gameplay, there are four mini-games: Hurtling Hurdles, Blazing Baskets, Dodgeball Demolition, and Gourmet Gauntlet. While this lineup seems lacking, there’s variety within the levels that changes them up a little. Still, I think the bazaar exclusion was not having the Hurtling Hurdles stages be randomly generated. This is arguably the mini-game with the most potential, but every time you play, the layout and levels are the same. As you start to remember the slight shortcuts and routes, it becomes less chaotic over time until you play with someone who has never played before.

The pixel art is gorgeous, and the in-game rewards with new characters on the way showcase that there are plenty of ways to enjoy this chaotic party game.

Hurtling Hurdles is a race across four areas. The racers can move between rows on the track to avoid obstacles, pick up items, or get points. However, the goal is to be at the end of each stage first, and then the scores are added up. It’s enjoyable and hectic, but as I said, it does get old after a few matches. Then there’s Blazing Baskets, where you battle for a ball and shoot it in the basket. This mini-game becomes chaotic across the match as more and more hazards pop up. It ended up being one of my favorite mini-games to play with friends.

Dodgeball Demolition isn’t anything special, and although there’s some strategy, it’s a game that I didn’t really get attached to. Gourmet Gauntlet is also a pretty weak mini-game, as it just gets a bit boring once you figure out the nuances of the mini-game. That reminds me, the tutorials aren’t very helpful, and while they explain what you’re going to do, they don’t tell you which buttons to use, which only adds to early frustration as you’re trying to learn the games.

Progression, Unlockables, and Clubhouse Customization

Regardless, each mini-game consists of two or three actions tops. While this keeps the learning curve down, it also puts gamers of all skill levels on an even playing field. Further, like many of Cygames’ other titles, Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash has a fair amount of content that is locked behind progression. Whether it’s a new character or a special skill, everything you do provides some rewards. Once you complete some story chapters, you can spend money at the shop to buy some furniture for your clubhouse and also Scout tickets to turn in for to Scout characters and build out your team.

Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash packs fun moments across its limited set of mini-games.

Interestingly, an entertaining mini-game is locked behind an item. If you purchase the Game Console and add it to your room, you can play a roguelike adventure as Gold Ship. It’s a straightforward game, but I was hooked. I just loved the constant rewards and gradual increase in challenges. I found myself more addicted to the single-player content of this mini-game than the story chapters. Still, the co-op nature of the experience makes playing the mini-games with actual people more enjoyable than playing them alone.

Visual and Audio Excellence

Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash features some awesome pixel art for the cast of 25 characters. The game’s stages and overall style translate to the clubhouse feature, where you can design rooms for your teams and watch them interact with the various furniture. The music is also decent, delivering what I feel is a well-rounded and high-quality experience for fans.

Multiplayer Features and Additional Content

As for downsides, I believe there could have been more for the price. The base cost of the game is nearly the cost of the most recent Demon Slayer party game. However, there is way more content in the Demon Slayer game. Party Dash caters mainly to fans, and the experience will vary depending on your attachment to the characters. All that said, there are plenty of ways to get your money’s worth, considering the extra content and online multiplayer systems where you can design your own Grand Prix with other players. However, I’d say this isn’t a bad game to pull out when you have friends over for some Local Multiplayer.

Final Thoughts on Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash

Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash packs fun moments across its limited set of mini-games. While I wish there were more content, what’s here has enough quality to warrant a few hours hanging out with Tokai, I mean the Horse Girls. The pixel art is gorgeous, and the in-game rewards with new characters on the way showcase that there are plenty of ways to enjoy this chaotic party game.