Samba de Amigo: Party Central Reviews
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.
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.
Reading back through this review it sounds negative, but that’s because I’m coming to it from the perspective of someone who generally plays single-player and is passionate about the skill tester side of rhythm games. Samba de Amigo is one of those rare rhythm games that isn’t expressly for me. I do love its quality as a party game, and a drinking game, and so it’ll stay firmly in my Switch’s memory. It’s just that, even despite the cracking soundtrack, it’s also not going to join the rotation of rhythm games I use to de-stress and tune out of the world with.
Samba de Amigo: Party Central is all about delivering endless hours of pure fun, whether you're flying solo or partying it up with friends. With spot-on motion controls, a wide range of catchy tunes, the freedom to play wherever the mood strikes, and a user-friendly interface that won't leave you scratching your head, this exclusive Nintendo Switch game is simply a blast!
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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 is a good attempt to revive a beloved series, but it fails to do so by leaving aside its Latin roots to make room for pop songs that frankly just don't seem to belong in the game. It's a fun experience that will certainly take a few hours out of your life. Samba de Amigo's gameplay remains intact and shaking your Joy-Cons to the beat will rarely get boring, but the loss of the ambiance and music from previous titles is definitely a big bummer.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Despite technical issues, I have to admit that playing Samba de Amigo: Party Central was simply a blast – and I worked up quite a sweat dancing with my amigos. Nostalgia and that signature Japanese quirkiness are still strongly present in the series, and the song selection works well. Plus, the sensitivity of the motion controls doesn’t significantly detract from the enjoyment.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
After years of absence, just when all hope seemed lost, SEGA brings Samba de Amigo back to life with Party Central. Even two decades later, the rhythm game is still joyful and sparkling, thanks to a more varied soundtrack than in the past, a good number of modes and fun that explodes in multiplayer. A few uncertainties in the control system delegated to the Joy-con and the absence of some additional great South American music (theoretically too important not to be included), however, do not prevent the title from being one of the best exponents of the genre on the market. Alone or with friends, it's time to shake your hands to the beat!
Review in Italian | Read full review
Samba de Amigo Party Central is a great time thanks to its accessible controls, local coop fun and the huge amount of songs to enjoy. The difficulty is a bit inconsistent however.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Samba de Amigo: Party Central is a fantastic buy for those with enough friends and family that enjoy playing and having fun together. It’s a cartoony game that’s full of care-free charm and Sega’s trademark silliness that we’ve come to love them for. If you’re the sort of player that digs arcade experiences in portable form, you can’t go wrong with this one.
Under the right circumstances and with the right people (and possibly the right alcohol) Samba de Amigo: Party Central is a smash.
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.
Samba de Amigo: Party Central is a fun title with which we can play either alone or with other players. In addition, we will be able to play online against other players from all over the world.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Samba de Amigo: Party Central marks the return of Sega's rhythm music franchise. Amigo is back, the Brazilian monkey who with his maracas must get the best score in the 42 songs available in principle - more via DLC -. Sega offers us a very good musical rhythm game that, thanks to its festive appearance, is also ideal as a party game. You have to adapt a little to motion control and the tracklist may be less Latin than in previous installments but this does not prevent Amigo from returning in style.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Samba de Amigo: Party Central is more of a small get-together than a full-on party.
Samba by Amigo Party Central offers us a great alternative to take into account when playing in company, one of those features that make the Nintendo Switch such a familiar console. On this occasion, we have a game in which, in addition to being able to play it together, we will do some exercise, which never hurts, while we enjoy great songs and have a great time, making it a title to take into account especially if We are lovers of this genre.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
What Sega needed to do with Samba de Amigo: Party Central was to ensure that the foundations were solid, the controls worked as intended, and the gameplay loop was fun enough both on your own or with friends. This game is an absolute blast. It retains that wacky, experimental vibe from the Dreamcast era, with utterly ludicrous visuals, a bunch of nonsense blasting your senses, and enough content to keep you busy for a while… at least until the release of the next song pack.
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 welcome return to a quirky classic rhythm game. While musically it's now more Selena Gomez than Selena, and some technical issues threaten to get in the way, the game remains excellent.