Far from being South Park Fortnite Edition, Snow Day is still an RPG, albeit now an action RPG roguelike. While the game does have online multiplayer, it can be fully played in single-player as a roguelite experience without major issues, so those wanting a solo experience can still have that. The game is much more fun with friends though, so both options are worth checking out.
Visually this is a very different experience, as the game now uses a 3D visual style rather than mimicking the look of the show. It has been criticized by some as being too similar to the N64 games, and while that is not an accurate comparison, I do feel something is lacking here. The show itself has a new intro in recent years that uses 3D visuals but maintains the look and feel of the show, and that would have been a much better 3D look for the game than what we have here.
The combat is now in real-time, befitting the switch to action RPG and there are different options to choose from, with different melee options, ranged options and the use of powers in the pissed-off options., though admittedly some of the options can feel a bit limited. We are back to the fantasy theme of The Stick of Truth and there is a good story explanation for why the game is now a roguelite as well, which was handled with the expected wit of South Park. The New Kid must once again take action in a seemingly simple quest that quickly gets out of hand, as the most powerful snowstorm in decades has hit South Park and there is something darker at play.
Now I will admit this is not a perfect game. The campaign is very short, especially in single-player mode, and while most of the roguelite mechanics, such as different builds and perks work well, some like the Bullshit cards just end up throwing things off even when you think you know what to expect. I get that that fits the humour of the show, but it was still awkward.
Something else that bothered me is that the town itself, a major part of the previous two games, now feels less important, and while there are still many references to the show, some end up feeling generic and leaving us with a version of the town that just doesn’t seem fully realized. I get that Matt and Trey wanted to do something different, especially as the last two games were a very intense process to make, but Snow Day feels a bit unfinished at times. There is a lot that is good and the roguelite elements are fun and it is a good action RPG, but it could be even better.
Some free DLC has been released so far and more is coming, but it is unclear how much of that will be new content rather than just cosmetics. I think if Matt and Trey wanted to try something different, with this obligated game, they should have fully committed to the action RPG element and made the game a Diablo-style experience with different classes that people can play online. There could have been randomized elements as well that could have been explained in any number of ways, and it would have been a fun game.
I will state that I did have fun with Snow Day though and I feel the marketing did no favours to this game, giving players the wrong idea of what to expect. The game ran well on the Nintendo Switch, and aside from a few issues during cutscenes there were no real problems. The controls worked fine and the aiming included gyro control options which were a blast to use and the game heavily encourages customization.
Another thing the game heavily encourages is replays, which is a nice change from the previous games, especially as different runs through the game will give different levels ensuring no two runs are the same. These replays are fun even without friends to an extent but are much more fun when playing online. That said, I was annoyed by the lack of crossplay and voice chat and felt they could have been a great addition here.
I do need to acknowledge that this game was probably not a priority for Matt and Trey as it has been reported that the game was made due to the deal with Paramount including a 3D game being developed, and this may have just been a contractual obligation. Perhaps we will still see a return to a traditional RPG next time. If so, perhaps imagination land awaits, or a game perhaps based on Good Times with Weapons like so many have wanted, Only time will tell.
I am going to make a prediction though, and say that as new content is added to the game, the reception to this title will change, both for single-player mode and for multiplayer. The writing is already as strong as ever, with some clever callbacks and surprising connections to previous episodes. I think with new game modes and content, especially what is teased already, fans will have plenty to enjoy in Snow Day!. I could very well be wrong, but as it stands, this is a decent game that deserves a better reputation than it has, and I think it will soon be an even better game.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
