Developer: Two Horn Unicorn
Publisher: Two Horn Unicorn
Platform: PC
Tested on: PC
S.E.M.I. – Side Effects May Include… – Review
Over the last few months, we have actively been playing loads of party games where you need to work together to complete certain objectives, rather than duke it out against each other. We have played cool gimmicky games like R.E.P.O., UNDERWARD, Murky Divers, and so on, and it seems that developers are still jumping on the bandwagon. Case in point: S.E.M.I. – Side Effects May Include…, the subject of today’s review. This wacky party game puts you in the shoes of a patient in an asylum wanting to bust out. While the game had a few interesting ideas, there were also quite a few flaws.
Story
S.E.M.I. – Side Effects May Include… has no story whatsoever. From what you can gather, you are a patient in a mental asylum, and you’re very eager to break out of there. Each stage is then also based around this premise, where you simply have to make it to the end. We didn’t mind the absence of a story, but it could have served as something nice to motivate players to press on.
Graphics
Graphically, S.E.M.I. – Side Effects May Include… reminded us of a mix of Fall Guys and Rayman Raving Rabbids. Character faces are similar to those of the Rabbids, while the wacky movements are more similar to the wonky physics of Fall Guys. The stages have different themes and are nice to play through, but everything has a simplified comic-like appearance to it. That being said, the visuals work for the game, especially when you ingest different pills that cause other silly effects and visual distortions.
Sound
The sound design of S.E.M.I. is actually quite good. The upbeat music in the levels is very catchy, and the SFX are wacky enough to remain amusing during longer gaming sessions. The soundtrack isn’t extremely varied, but it suffices for the experience. In multiplayer sessions, you probably won’t be paying that much attention to the music, as you’re probably focused on the voice chat or the silly situations you and your friends will get into.
Gameplay
S.E.M.I. – Side Effects May Include… is a silly action platformer where you must play through different stages alone or with up to three other players in order to escape the mental asylum you are currently a patient in. The offset is very straightforward, as you’ll have to do platforming segments, solve puzzles, beat up guards, and take the occasional pill with silly side effects. The game currently has nine fixed levels to play through and an escape mode, which randomly generates different rooms to beat.
In terms of gameplay, the game is fairly simple. Most stages consist of small platforming puzzles, puzzles involving different switches, and small combat segments. Things never get too complex, but there are parts where timing is key, and the game is a lot easier with other players at those parts. We enjoyed what was on offer here, but after a few stages, you have seen most of what the game has to offer. The controls are very responsive, and the gimmick that revolves around ingesting different pills is a nice touch here. When you take pills, you’ll heal a bit, but you’ll also suffer from side effects, such as passing a lot of gas, suffering from laser eyes, or pretty much blowing yourself up.
While the Escape mode does offer some replay value, we did find that the content was a bit lacking overall. You’ll simply be grinding for cosmetic items, and that’s pretty much it. A few additional modes, or different types of challenges, would have probably given the game some additional longevity. The current challenges are pretty much always the same for all the stages, and they simply reward you with more currency to buy cosmetics. This is one of those games that will probably provide you with a few laughs for a week or two with friends, only to be forgotten soon after.
Conclusion
S.E.M.I. – Side Effects May Include… did have a fairly enjoyable gameplay loop, but the game sadly suffered from a lack of content and a concept that grows stale during longer gaming sessions. For its current asking price, you can’t really go wrong, but it’s one of those titles you probably end up playing for a few evenings, then never touch again, or only boot it up when you’re looking for something to do in between bigger titles. That being said, S.E.M.I. – Side Effects May Include… does have quite a bit of charm thanks to its theme, its flashy visuals, and decent sound design. If you’re looking for something quirky and not too serious to play with friends, then this one might be worth checking out.
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