Developer: Bloom Digital
Publisher: Bloom Digital
Platform: Switch, PC
Tested on: Switch
Later Daters Part Two – Review
Back in April, developer Bloom Digital brought Later Daters to an unsuspecting public. The senior dating sim, comprising three chapters, was released to critical acclaim. It was also successful enough to see the arrival of Later Daters Part Two. This DLC continues the sexy adventures of the geriatric residents of Ye Olde. We took a look at Later Daters Part Two to find out if true love still exists after retirement.
Story
Before we delve into the details of part two, it is perhaps for the best that we quickly recap the premise of the first part of Later Daters. Stepping into the shoes of their self-created geriatric character, players move into the community living complex of Ye Olde. Here they meet a cast of quirky residents, each with their own history, trials and tribulations. The residents of Ye Olde aren’t your typical seniors, however, as they still have plenty of spring in their step. As the living complex’s latest addition, you are thrown into the exciting world of senior dating.
With the release of part two, the game now comprises seven chapters. There is no overarching main plot here, and each chapter delivers its own storyline. The plotlines range from mundane affairs, such as the seniors attending movie night to outright bizarre stories focused on space travel. We won’t delve into these events too much as this is a game that relies on surprising the player. One thing that stands out about part two is the shift in its pacing compared to the first part. The first three chapters that comprise part one move at a much slower speed, with each chapter focusing on a single day at Ye Olde. Chapters four through seven then cover not only the remainder of the first week, but also the second week as well.
Graphics
The vector-styled illustrations and pastel-tinted color palette emphasize the light-hearted and wholesome nature of the game. It’s a simple but attractive visual style. Unfortunately, the game suffers from a serious lack of animation, with most of it delivered through still images and character portraits during dialogue. The aforementioned illustrations are crisp and clean however, with character designs that are distinct and that really showcase the residents’ personalities.
Sound
It’s not often that a game is accompanied by its own original theme song but Later Daters delivers just that. The music is catchy and is all but guaranteed to put a smile on your face. The key melody from the song also serves as a returning musical theme throughout the game, tying the whole thing together. Apart from the fantastic theme song, however, Later Daters has virtually nothing to offer in terms of its soundscape, with no voice acting and very little in the form of other sounds.
Gameplay
Although billed as a dating sim, we’re much more comfortable with labeling Later Daters as a visual novel. This is mostly because Later Daters puts a much heavier focus on its story than more classic dating sims tend to do. Typical dating sim staples like time and money management and memorizing potential partners’ preferences are not present here. As there are no bad endings in the game, you don’t have to worry about optimizing your budding relationships with the characters and can instead just go with the flow. Naturally, it’s impossible to see everything in a single playthrough, so you’ll be revisiting Ye Olde if you’re a completionist.
We should mention the game’s standout focus on inclusiveness. Players are in complete control of their character’s sexuality, whether they are straight, gay, bi or other. You can even choose to have other residents address your character with gender-neutral pronouns. Additionally, the game doesn’t shy away from dealing with heavier themes like loss and grief, as each of the residents carries their own history and has their personal way of dealing with it.
As you’d expect, the choices you make throughout Later Daters will determine which of Ye Olde’s residents will end up as your significant other, or others if you decide to pursue a polyamorous relationship. Part Two also sees the addition of the Cribbage mini-game, which can be played at three difficulty levels. It’s an existing card game that involves playing and grouping cards in combinations, in order to gain points. The inclusion of Cribbage adds some variety to Later Daters’ gameplay and is quite fun in its own right. It’s also deceptively difficult and appears much simpler than it is.
Finally, let’s address the elephant in the room. You’re probably wondering just how lewd the adventures of Ye Olde’s residents end up being. Dating sim aficionados are aware that things can get quite graphic in more classic outings of the genre. We’re happy to say that you won’t get to see any octogenarian naughty bits. There are still steamy scenes implied, but things are handled in a tasteful manner, albeit tongue in cheek. It is still a game that bills itself as a sexy senior dating sim after all.
Conclusion
Later Daters Part Two brings the story of Later Daters to a satisfying and logical end. Whether you are new to Later Daters or if you’ve only picked up part one, we do recommend getting the complete package. The open end of chapter three doesn’t offer a satisfying conclusion to the story of Ye Olde’s residents, and part two resolves things in a better way. That said, the change of pace between the first three chapters and the rest is very noticeable, and the opening of chapter four just feels out of place. Still, if you’re looking for a light-hearted and wholesome game that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face, Later Daters will deliver.
Later Daters Part Two - Review,
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