Dream Club

Some of these dating sim games niche to a point where they are just laughable. On the surface, Dream Club is one of those games that would facilitate an ecstatic outburst of chuckles if someone explained the premise. This odd game puts you into the shoes of a customer at a hostess bar. You'd feel the rest is self-explanatory.

But if it's not, we can expand on that a little. A hostess bar is famed in Japan where customers go to 'unwind,' so to speak. In the Western world, critics would throw the concept behind the game into question, given its taboo stature in society. That's probably the reason that Dream Club was only released in Japan. But we can't help be curious precisely what gameplay consists of.

The Hostess with the Mostest

Many people like myself find games with a realistic touch intriguing. Arguably, the intricate translation of real-life scenarios to palatable game mechanics is an art form. Though with a bit of an exaggerated touch, that's precisely what Dream Club is - a video game representation of a gentleman's trip to a hostess bar.

We'll overlook the questionable demeanor of the game for now because we need to explain the gameplay. Basically, your objective is to achieve a 'happy ending' with the hostess of your choice by wooing them in a series of minigames. Those range between feeding, dialogue choices, and other thought-based activities. How you perform in the minigames reflects on your bonding with the girl in question.

Ultimately, there are two possible scenarios. One, you achieve the 'happy ending' you're looking for, or you fail and get banned from the club. It's real risk and reward here, not usually seen in dating sims. However, the hedonism and cringing nature of some of the activities overshadow the fact that the design of Dream Club is decent.

Additional rewards such as swimsuits, silly faces, and more would appeal to a tiny audience. The rest get a little put off by the idea that this stuff might actually happen in real life. Dream Club is a good game wrapped in a theme that wouldn't fly well with a general audience.

You Ain't Dreamin'

The real-life element is the most intriguing part of the game. However, it's precisely that notion that serves as the architect of Dream Club's downfall. It doesn't take long before gameplay gets weird. Those looking for a real-life simulator with a fantasy edge may prefer the likes of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 over something that just gets a little silly.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Well-designed dating simulator
• Sound and solid mechanics behind the gameplay
• Versatile set of minigames

Cons:

• The theme of the game will be unappealing for most
• Only released in Japan, language will be an issue
• Results are easy to achieve once the process is figured out