Polterguys: Possession Party is a fun and fast-paced competitive affair. However, its reliance on online gameplay prevents it from excelling. Though the bots do a great job of filling a void, the lack of chatter and banter quickly becomes stale. Yet, if you can look past this issue, you’ll enjoy a strategic and silly affair.
This competitive multiplayer game was developed by Madorium Ltd and published by Amplified Games Ltd. It can be enjoyed against bots and online with friends and strangers. Unfortunately, my time was spent playing with a small group of friends or 7 bots. Consequently, this tainted things a little, but not enough to put me off.
Polterguys: Possession Party tells no story.
A lack of story or intent is normally a bad thing. Yet, it doesn’t impact the madness that unfolds. Instead, you focus on the monsters while trying to stay alive. This is easier said than done, as everyone is out for themselves. If you are lucky, you’ll outrun your opponents and avoid the deadly arms, mouth, and attention of the blackened beast.
The core concept is easy to understand. Each quick match takes place across 3 rounds. If you survive the longest, you’ll score 10 points; if you are out 1st, you get 1 point. The person with the most points at the end is crowned the winner. Though these elements are straightforward, winning a match is a little more complex.
Naughty action.
Polterguys: Possession Party demands a sneaky mindset and a ruthless moral compass. You will not win if you give your opponents an inch. Accordingly, you must use every shortcut, weapon, and tool to your advantage. Additionally, identifying the location of hiding spots and switches will give you a match-winning edge.
As you run circles around each small arena, you must collect presents filled with mystery items. A hammer, gloop, magnet, bouncy cloud, and more can be unwrapped. On top of this, there is green goo to collect, sweets to gather, and plenty of naughtiness and shenanigans to be had.
The action may seem mindless, but strategy and patience are key. You must know when to boost, attack, and hide. Moreover, there are defensive tools that save your bacon. I loved these minor elements as they changed your approach and kept things fresh.
Polterguys: Possession Party is hauntingly beautiful.
Each small arena is wonderfully unique. Furthermore, the stage design is exciting and navigating each one can be somewhat challenging. If your foes throw a switch, the layout changes and all hell breaks loose. Moreover, there are hidden items to find as you race to stay ahead. Though the action is fast-paced, the game doesn’t falter. The colours are vivid and the animation is smooth. As such, Polterguys: Possession Party is a joy to play.
The audio is as loud and manic as you’d expect. The combination of high-energy music and enthusiastic sound effects keeps you moving. However, the lack of player interaction taints the competitive edge. Subsequently, though I liked the audio, something was missing.
Tight controls.
An excellent tutorial introduces you to the fundamentals. From this point, you enjoy a well-considered controller layout. Whether you are running for your life or fighting your foes, it is a cinch to play.
The deathly quiet servers are a bit of a problem. Unless the publisher and developer can drive footfall to their game, this will flop quickly. As such, replay value and longevity are intrinsically linked to player base, and this could be problematic.
Polterguys: Possession Party is a great game.
Despite the lack of human opposition, Polterguys: Possession Party is a great game. The action is fun, challenging, and wonderfully varied. Furthermore, the stage design is great, and there are loads of things to unlock. Accordingly, I like it and I recommend buying it here! Can you outrun the monster and survive? Think on your feet, use your surroundings, and win that crown.
