Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp Review (PC)

A sentient robot and a world-saving witch are locked in a verbal battle, arguing about the best way to make the campfire they’re standing around safer. A firewall is proposed, as is a series of safety courses. The choice might decide who ends up with who at the end of summer. That’s just one of the many scenarios and choices featured in Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp.

The new release is a dating game created by Beautiful Glitch, one of the multiple planned sequels to the 2018 original. Players have the chance to explore summer in a stereotypical camp with a twist (the monsters), trying to make sure that their favorite character joins them for a meteor shower (and presumably some other romantic activities).

A short intro sequence allows gamers to choose their own character, including name and pronouns, and then pops-up a question that determines which of the six monster protagonists they are pursuing. The choice includes a witch with the save-the-world syndrome, a library computer that now has sentience, a video-game-obsessed adventurer with curse companion, a jolly demon that aims to conquer everything, a demon that loves fire, and an influencer skeleton with incredible style.

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The mechanics are simple. Each week the player character can visit two locations, which grant bonuses at first and then an interaction opportunity. Making a good choice boosts stats and earns the appreciation of the romantic target. At the end of the week, a more complex situation develops at the campfire and drinking also comes into play. A player can earn the affection of other than their initially selected romantic interest. At the end of summer, based on the interaction results, the player finds out if he can take anyone to the meteor shower.

The writing is what makes Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp a great game. Beautiful Glitch has fun with pop-culture references, weird hypothetical scenarios, tropes that it turns on their heads, twists on real-world controversies, and more. Each core love interest has a clear personality that informs the choices they like. All camp interactions generate a chuckle if not a full-blown launch the first time they make an appearance. The campfire dilemmas are especially cool and the characters bring a very special energy to their debates. And there are enough of them to make the experience very replayable.

The writing is also filled to the brim with curses, sexual innuendo, and references to the previous game. These can all be eliminated via a customization menu and what is left is still funny and engaging. But the irreverent tone and constant hornyness that are the default are part of what makes the experience special.

Gamers should first run a few long single-player campaigns, to become familiar with the locations at camp and the vibe of the various characters. Once they get shot down a few times it’s time to move on to the shorter summer camp experience and to bring in a few friends to share the fun.

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Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp has a killer presentation, informed by the one of the original but with a lot more detail and even charm. The six core love interests are all beautiful in their own way and the overall style is colorful and bold. The tone and the look of the experience are carefully aligned mainly because the writing and the style complement each other so well. I was even able to tolerate repeated use of all caps in the dialogue because it fits the atmosphere.

The soundtrack mixes an ‘80s vibe and some cool guitar licks to great effect, adding quite a bit to the atmosphere. Unfortunately, it can get a little repetitive after a few hours, which means that each player can use their own teenage musical obsessions to replace it. The voice work, although limited, is true to the characters and their zany energy.

It’s a good idea to try out Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp as a single-player experience first. But adding at least another friend (for a total of up to four) is a great idea to make things spicier and the narrative more varied. The only problem is that it might take longer for a game, depending on how familiar they are with the mechanics and their reading speed.

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The Good

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