Captured on Nintendo Switch (Connected)
A look back at Wales Interactive’s Five Dates in 2023, more than two years after its debut, reveals a fascinating insight into what life was like at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a game that leans heavily on the idea that the dating world has migrated online, forcing singles into awkward interview-type conversations with potential suitors. We certainly enjoyed it for what it was in 2020, but maybe we’d say it’s aged better as some sort of historical artifact; a brief portal to a world most of us would gladly forget.
Its sequel, Ten Dates, does not have the same novelty. As the pandemic progresses around the world, many countries have begun to treat the virus as endemic, returning to some semblance of normality (whatever that looks like these days). With that in mind, Ten Dates is a very traditional affair; a game that focuses squarely on face-to-face interactions in typical social settings. The “newness” of remote interactions that made the first game so unique is certainly absent, but the focus on real conversations makes for a more enjoyable experience overall.
Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Offline)
In case the title doesn’t explain it to you, Ten Dates doubles the number of dates you’ll have compared to the first game. It features Misha and Ryan, two millennials who embark on a speed dating event looking for of this special in-person connection. Each character will have five initial dates each, four of which will be with a member of the opposite sex, the rest being with someone of the same sex. Pretty simple stuff, then.
Ten Dates follows a very similar structure to the first game. After choosing your character, you’ll create an online character, complete with profile picture, interests, profession, and zodiac sign. These options are then filtered into the conversations you will have later. For example, if you choose arts and crafts as a hobby for Ryan, you’ll be fully aware of the concept of NFT when the subject is discussed later, but if you choose something like traveling, you won’t. absolutely no idea. . what is an NFT (it’s probably better that way). It’s subtle, but it’s fine if your initial choices really have a tangible impact on your experience.
Once you’ve finished creating your character, you’ll embark on your first five dates, all of which occur naturally in the same environment thanks to the speed dating event. The cast of characters you’ll encounter here is reasonably diverse, each exhibiting their own personalities and quirks, including Azalea, who creates her own cocktails and studies astrology, Hazel, whose loyalty to her peers has detriment to his own freedom, and Ty, an arrogant biker with more jewelry than manners. There are many more besides these three, and we really enjoyed interacting with each of the characters.
Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Offline)
Of course, the idea is that you have to narrow down your options until you have one last date left with the man or woman of your choice. This is done by navigating through a series of dialogue options, and what you choose will contribute to a successful or unsuccessful date. There are certain scenarios where what you need to say to cultivate a successful date might seem obvious, but the game regularly throws obstacles at you to derail your progress. It’s frustrating right now, but we admit it feels pretty real; you never know exactly how a stranger might react to what you say or do.
That said, the vast majority of interactions you’ll encounter are pretty straightforward from start to finish. If there’s someone in those first five dates that you’re completely set with, it’s easy enough to manipulate the conversation to go exactly the way you want it to, and you’ll probably sit down with them again. this person goes on a third date with no problem. . This is by no means a decisive factor, but the experience is not particularly difficult in this regard.
However, one disappointing thing we have to mention is related to performance. Being an FMV title, there are no issues when it comes to visuals or frame rate, but there were a few times where we would choose dialogue and then the game kept going through every possible outcome, one after another, until they all had been exhausted. This is a rare issue and we hope it gets resolved soon enough, as it can add tens of minutes to your game time.
Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Offline)
Overall though, Ten Dates seems like a pretty significant improvement over the first game. In a smart move, Wales Interactive has taken the “more is better” approach with the sequel, and the wider cast of characters helps create a more enjoyable experience. The props also go to the actors, who portray their characters beautifully with no flaws in the mix. We want the conversations to be a little deeper for more challenges, but if you’re looking for a light FMV experience, you’re unlikely to go wrong with this one.
conclusion
Ten Dates is a solid improvement over its predecessor, proving that more is better in some cases. The addition of an additional protagonist, along with the five additional suitors he naturally brings, creates a more diverse cast of characters and a deeper overall experience for the player. Algunas de las conversations carecen un poco de profundidad y deafío, y el juego actualmente está atascado por una bastante grave que cicla all los scenarios de conversation, pero Ten Dates es una experiencia divertida y relajante qu’es es easy de recomendar par los fanáticos de la first. game.