Samba de Amigo: Party Central Reviews
Under the right circumstances and with the right people (and possibly the right alcohol) Samba de Amigo: Party Central is a smash.
The song list is largely inoffensive, and it's likely you'll find at least a handful of songs you might like. There are some fun additional modes and options to try that, while imperfect, add more playability to this game. I'm eager to see future song packs added, because the ones that exist are already pretty entertaining. I can only dream that Sega will release a maracas peripheral like they had for the Dreamcast.
Samba de Amigo: Party Central brings back the cult classic monkey and all the fun that comes with him, but it does too much in the wrong places. By bombarding the player with no fewer than three different progress bars to level up in, any sense of growth, progress or leveling feels arbitrary and unnecessary. They feel like an attempt to hide the fact that Samba de Amigo is an arcade game about a dancing monkey that you can dress up in silly little outfits; it doesn't need to be an RPG, so why make it one? After all, Samba de Amigo is inherently fun-be it with maracas, a Wii remote, Joy-Con, or just buttons.
Samba de Amigo: Party Central is a charming hit of motion-controlled nostalgia, though inconsistent controller detection can be a buzzkill.
Samba de Amigo: Party Central is an entertaining music-rhythm game in theory, but it slips on banana peels that Sega threw on the ground constantly. The controls are certainly an improvement from the Wii game, but the game still suffers from a lack of input when you move sideways. The roulette system is a nuisance — especially in the single-player mode where you can’t turn it off — and the song list is a little disappointing with some overused pop tracks that have been featured in other games.
Samba De Amigo: Party Central isn't quite the revitalisation of the licensed music rhythm game, but it is a decent, weird and charming little title. It's a big deal that the franchise is returning after fifteen years and to celebrate is a fun enough and grooving adventure that celebrates both a wide range of excellent songs across multiple genres and even the SEGA name as a whole. Playing in multiplayer, competitively or co-operatively makes for dastardly sabotage or harmonious pairing fun. While this lets up somewhat in motion control movements not being as responsive as they should, button prompt inputs make for a rhythmic good time as you work up a finger cramp or two gliding your fingers across the face buttons. The Streamigo campaign mode may offer a nice setting but will test players with its grindy nature and artificially bloated length. Still, for every shortfall, there's enough whimsy in Party Central that it will be certainly worth picking up those maracas and shaking it all out to a moving, grooving time.
Samba de Amigo: Party Central is more of a small get-together than a full-on party.
Samba De Amigo: Party Central is best enjoyed in a group setting, rather than playing it alone. It is perfect to play at parties or gatherings where the atmosphere is lively and fun. The game features fantastic music and is highly engaging, which makes it addictive and enjoyable at first. However, despite offering a variety of challenges, it fails to leave a lasting impression and is far from being considered one of the standout rhythm games of 2023.
Samba de Amigo: Party Central is a fun title that still has some faults. The use of motion controls is fine until the game misreads your movements, while the more traditional gamepad method works well because it does more in mimicking motions and being challenging in its own right. The lack of focus on more Latin-themed music is disappointing considering the nature of the maracas, but the variety of music ensures that it's trying to reach a wider audience that enjoys the likes of Just Dance. The modes are fun, but the grind in replaying certain songs multiple times to earn more currency for cosmetics can be bothersome, especially given the presence of two different currency types. Samba de Amigo remains a charming rhythm game experience that genre fans will enjoy if they can forgive those quirks.
Samba de Amigo: Party Central isn't exactly the deepest rhythm game, but there's still fun to be had here, even if the overall product is held back by its finicky Joy-Con controls. A great soundtrack, enjoyable gameplay modes and a bold, eye-catching visual style help keep the party going even longer, but with a little refinement, future shindigs in this series can be even greater than ever.
Samba De Amigo: Party Central may not a perfect experience, but it’s fun enough to be a fun addition to any Friday night get-together.
Samba de Amigo is a hoot with friends, sure to generate laughs and memorable moments. Just don't expect an engrossing single-player rhythm game experience.
Overall, Samba de Amigo: Virtual Party is a fun VR rhythm game that gets you dancing and listening to some good songs. I welcome the fresh style and colorful, cartoony characters. The gameplay is solid rhythm fare, and while it doesn’t really add much new to the genre, it does deliver a solid and polished experience. I just wish the song list was longer and had more of a Latin flavor.
Samba de Amigo isn't perfect, but it's a good time for all, and I can already see this being brought out at parties as an instant ice-breaker.
A perfectly solid rhythm action experience that manages to cater to casual and experienced players alike, although it lacks ambition.
Samba de Amigo: Party Central's party does have a few stumbles, such as the controllers instability and the lack of continuity in its narrative core. However, those factors don't represent an absence of fun. With an attractive concept and a ton of musical energy, this title deserves a chance for those who want to gather their friends or just hit the floor with the incredible ability to transform the Joy-Con into the iconic maracas of the Amigo mascot.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
While Samba de Amigo: Party Central has a few shortcomings, its intense energy and atmosphere demand a great time for all who are willing to give this little mascot the proper shake.
I had a great deal of fun with Samba de Amigo: Party Central and am looking forward to playing it more, especially while exploring the online modes so if you're down for a fun-filled maraca-shaking good time, why not monkey around?
Samba de Amigo: Party Central does not require impeccable execution and absolute ear, nor very developed reflexes (more or less).
Review in Italian | Read full review
If you want to spend fun time with family and friends, you can definitely buy it to enrich your Switch collection, as it is not really an expensive game. However, if you were expecting a revolution in rhythm titles, that's something you're not going to find; but we can say that at least it entertains the people.
Review in Spanish | Read full review