Date Everything: A Challenging Take on Dating Sims
As an avid player of dating sims and visual novels, one recurring frustration is the mechanics that restrict access to certain narrative routes based on previous choices. This design approach can occasionally enhance the excitement of the game; however, in titles like Date Everything, the execution becomes overwhelming. With over 100 potential love interests, players often find themselves constrained by interactions with particularly irritating characters, compounded by the absence of “dialogue skip” options to expedite these encounters.
An Unusual Introduction
Players first encounter Date Everything while working at Valdivian, a company reminiscent of Amazon. Unfortunately, the staff faces an unexpected disruption as they are replaced by artificial intelligence. In this moment of uncertainty, a worker gifts players immersive Dateviator glasses, which breathe life into inanimate objects, allowing them to become romantic prospects. This unique setup unfolds various opportunities to explore relationships—or rivals—within the household’s diverse cast.
The Gameplay Mechanics
Mainly, Date Everything requires players to traverse different rooms, awakening objects and discovering their personalities. Interaction typically involves donning the Dateviator glasses and targeting an item with a beam. Sometimes, however, a more hands-on approach is needed, like activating a device to summon an object’s character. Engaging in conversations with these characters offers a range of dialogue options based on your created relationship status—whether it’s love, friendship, or animosity. Yet, a side plot about a sinister corporation and their AI theft adds depth to the story, showcasing clever, albeit sometimes shallow, writing.
Dialogue Dynamics
One notable criticism of Date Everything lies in its dialogue mechanics. Instead of presenting a menu of choices, responses are bound to action buttons, leading to potential miscommunication during rapid button presses. This often results in players accidentally selecting unintended dialogue options, sometimes leading to awkward or unwanted conversational pathways, particularly frustration-inducing when humorous responses misalign with your intentions.
Exploration Limitations
Despite the open-world design, players face significant restrictions. Want to explore the entire house? Not possible, as some areas are locked. Interested in unlocking every dialogue option? Prepare for challenges, as many lie behind substantial stat requirements. Furthermore, the game restricts players to only five conversations per day, which can be frustrating when intertwining character paths are necessary for progressing a chosen romantic connection.
Character Interactions
Another frustration arises from feeling obligated to interact with all characters, regardless of personal preference. While the voice acting and character designs are commendable, many personalities tend to be gimmicky and superficial, detracting from the overall experience. Without an option to skip or fast forward through dialogue, players often find themselves stuck with characters they dislike. Moreover, because relationship-building with various characters is essential for unlocking desirable dialogue with others, players may feel coerced into interactions they would otherwise avoid.
Logical Restrictions
One particularly vexing aspect is the character route that leads to a singular outcome early in the game. This restriction can be disheartening, especially for players who appreciate the voice actor and hope for a more expansive storyline. To add to the challenges, the graphical experience on the Nintendo Switch can be subpar, with lighting issues making navigation in the evening hours frustrating.
Final Thoughts
There are various technical issues throughout the game, such as response prompts appearing prematurely and character artwork inconsistently displayed during dialogues. Players may also experience glitches like object pop-ins or incorrect pronoun usage based on their selected settings. Despite these challenges, Date Everything showcases admirable creativity with its character designs and a unique narrative premise that critiques not-Amazon and AI. Yet, the necessity of engaging with characters that do not resonate with the player diminishes the enjoyment of the overall experience, especially as evening darkness complicates gameplay.
Date Everything will officially launch on June 17, 2025, across multiple platforms, including the Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. For more details, visit the official website.
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