Party Hard

 Xbox One
Metascore
51

Mixed or average reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 8
  3. Negative: 4 out of 8
  1. Windows Central
    May 25, 2016
    70
    Party Hard offers a frustrating yet fun and addictive experience. Not being one to let a game beat me, I've thrown people into fires, stabbed a bus full of people (beginning to feel like a real serial killer here...), killed harmless animals, and burnt down rooms with people in them, all in the name of peace and quiet.
  2. XboxAddict
    Jul 13, 2016
    60
    The humor is lackluster and there are setbacks that really seem to deflate the fun from this game. The sheer amount of repetition will have you struggling to complete the game, but thankfully the 26 achievements will award you for your trudging efforts.
  3. TrueAchievements
    Apr 26, 2016
    60
    Below the surface there isn't too much else to see with this title, so you will be done with it relatively quickly. Nonetheless, if going on a killing rampage while dancing the night away sounds like your kind of night out then it may be worth checking out.
  5. ZTGD
    May 12, 2016
    55
    Fans of hardcore stealth game like the old school Hitman titles may get a lot out of Party Hard, but players thinking this is a action title with a wild premise will be in for a frustrating time. It has a lot going for it, but the gameplay relies far too much on pinpoint execution with no errors, and because many things are random, I end up learning nothing from my last run of the levels.
  6. XBLA Fans
    Jun 2, 2016
    40
    If previous games with randomized elements appealed to you, and you're put off by the big focus on patience and stealth, then Party Hard may be a good recommendation. Players who are up for a challenge and who enjoy action-puzzle games while not minding a slight element of chaos should consider Party Hard — but that's a lot of qualifiers to consider.
  7. GameSpew
    May 6, 2016
    40
    Overall, Party Hard is not a game you need to play. There are some fun moments, sure, but predominantly it is boring, which is a cardinal sin when it comes to serial killers.
  8. Game Rant
    Apr 29, 2016
    40
    There are some things to like about Party Hard, but overall, the game feels like a half-baked experience that doesn’t evolve beyond its basic premise.
  9. We Got This Covered
    Apr 25, 2016
    40
    The idea of becoming a party-hating Jason Voorhees is one that could work. Unfortunately though, far too much of Party Hard is spent waiting for something to happen, instead of letting players be the one who trigger the action.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 12 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12
  1. Karl2294
    May 4, 2016
    9
    I do believe many are being far too critical of this game and expecting much more from it that what is on offer.
    For £9 on release date,    I do believe many are being far too critical of this game and expecting much more from it that what is on offer.
    For £9 on release date, there's little out there that offers as much fun for such a price; my justification for 9/10 here is VALUE FOR MONEY.    … Full Review »
  2. tattoo_ewe
    Jun 4, 2017
    7
    A delightfully misanthropic little game for all those who have ever had to live with annoying neighbours. Marketed as a strategy/puzzleA delightfully misanthropic little game for all those who have ever had to live with annoying neighbours. Marketed as a strategy/puzzle indie, Party Hard offers simple design and easy gameplay, just the thing for killing a spare half-hour or so. The lack of variety through the levels does hold it back from achieving true addictiveness, but for the price this title meets most expectations. Cheers Pinokl Games, keep it coming.… Full Review »
  3. AceoHearts
    Apr 29, 2016
    6
    When your neighbors are having a party and playing loud music at 3 am you call the police and have them break up the festivities right? Not inWhen your neighbors are having a party and playing loud music at 3 am you call the police and have them break up the festivities right? Not in Party Hard, the new game just released by Pinokl Games to the PS4 and XB1. You grab the nearest stabby thing, head next door, and systematically slaughter every last party goer for interrupting your beauty sleep. Then you move on to the site of the next bash for another blood bath, because - why not.
    The objective of the game is simple, kill every person at the party without getting caught or killed. While this is a very straight forward premise, the execution can be rather tricky. Your hero - as the game calls the sleep deprived maniac - is armed only with a small knife so most of your kills have to be up close and personal. Waiting for drunk party goers to stray from the crowd to a secluded area before you do them in, and quickly hide their bodies to avoid detection. If a body is spotted, or if you are seen killing someone, the police are called and then you must try to evade capture. There are a few escape routes, open windows, trap doors and the like, but if you use them too often the resident handy man will seal them off to limit your movements. Besides your trusty knife, many parties will have traps that you can use to pick off a few hopeless victims. Unstable bookcases, rampaging bulls, runaway vehicles, large trees just to name a few. These are helpful, but never guarantee a large body count, and can be random on some maps. You can also pick up random items to help you on some maps like stun bombs, explosives, a large sword, or even a spare set of clothes to help you fool the fuzz.
    Controls are very simple for the game. I played the XB1 version while testing it, so I will reference those. Left stick moves your maniac. The left trigger is used to listen to what people are saying - honestly I didn't find this very helpful. The right trigger allows you to sprint for a limited time which is very helpful when trying to evade the police or catch someone that is about to call the cops on you. Right bumper allows you to use any items that you pick up. The Y button sets any trap you may encounter. When you get close to them you will see a bullseye to let you know they can be triggered. B button is used for picking up bodies and putting them down. You can pick up people that are just passed out, but they get grumpy if they wake up before you kill them - go figure. It wouldn't be a party if you couldn't dance, press the A button and you will shake it with all your soon to be murder victims. And last but not least is the X button - kill kill kill.
    The graphics are pure pixelated perfection. Even though the main focus of the game is to slaughter dozens of innocent people in every level, the graphics keep it from being to over the top while also giving it a great old school feel. The music is also something else. When a game has Party in the title you expect a decent soundtrack, and this title delivers. There are great beats to be had at all the locations. The voice acting in the cut scenes is a little over played at times, but that can be over looked.
    There are 26 achievements for you to earn in the XB1 and Steam versions, and 21 trophies in the PS4 version of the game. Most are based on killing people in general, hiding bodies, and killing people in unique ways. Some will require you the speed through a level or rack up a massive murder multiplier (say that 10 times fast - no really do it and tape it and tag me on Twitter) You will earn many of the achievements / trophies just by playing though the 19 parties and unlocking your 5 heroes.    … Full Review »
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