#jackbox redacted

Well… let's start with the good things, I suppose..

The concept and aesthetics of the game It's truly charming! As soon as I heard about the idea, I loved it, and I honestly appreciate that the references are subtly introduced. Guys, I swear I screamed when I saw the first trailer, seeing how everything was going to be, omg! And the demo hasn't done a bad job of showing what the camp is like. I also like the overall effects and colors they've added to the game, especially the introduction to the killing rooms. Everyone noticed [REDACTED]'s gloves, but no one's talking about his amazing artwork… [REDACTED], you're a true artist! I hope to see more of his drawings like that in the full game.

The dialogue in [REDACTED] even though it's just for a demo, is incredible! I'm quite relieved that they kept his personality, although I was surprised that in my very first playthrough he suddenly declared himself a sex positive serial killer lol. I really liked it.

The dialogues of the mother of [REDACTED] I HAD A HEART ATTACK AT THAT MOMENT BECAUSE IT WAS SO UNEXPECTED! Guys, this is excellent news, honestly. It means we might get more information about [REDACTED]'s family and learn about their actual interactions with him. ([REDACTED] treats her like a pretty good mother, and that dialogue might have stemmed from an attachment issue combined with idealization of [REDACTED]). I hope they don't limit themselves to just his mother, and that we can see Aloysius with other family members, for example. I'd also like a brief explanation of how [REDACTED] can currently "hear" his mother, unlike in the other sagas. I like to think that [REDACTED]'s mother refers to Pamela Voorhees.

The new Killing Rooms are quite genuine and I liked them (except for the Subjective Questions Plot Twist, which bored me to tears). I just hope the feel of the stage design can be improved. I'll talk about this later.

The emotes At first, I was really confused that they existed in a game like Trivia Murder Party, but honestly, I laughed so much while playing with my partner. I swear I'll never stop using them at unexpected moments just to see her laugh out of nowhere. I love them! XD

The set design for the final round and the death scene there is a very good concept, and I'd like to see the idea preserved. I'll elaborate on this later.

I was so happy because [REDACTED]'s real figure/shadow was also revealed, and it's exactly how I imagined it outside the TMP1/2 hotel!! I cried tears of joy when I saw that my outfit canonically matched his, omg!!

...But I have my concerns here

Hey! Welcome to my worry room!

Unfortunately, although I'm excited about this game, I'm also worried and distrustful for the following reasons:

The dolls designs.. I'm sorry guys, this is the one I'm most afraid to talk about because I see the community likes them, but I genuinely can't get attached to them even after months, even if I try. I don't like any of them. They're not memorable, they don't really fit the stereotype they should, or their designs don't really give any information about their characters. If Jackbox didn't say who they were, I wouldn't know who was who. I also don't find them aesthetically pleasing, and I can only say that I liked Tress and Scout a LITTLE bit who are the most unique in a certain way. I'm only mentioning Broc because it cracks me up how stiffly he moves lmao. I don't like the other designs at all, and I'm sorry, but I prefer to think they're not real with the exception of those mentioned above.

The essence of the game and what makes it unique is profoundly lost, and that's a serious problem for what TMP stands for. Trivia Murder Party is a comedy game with a parodic slasher theme, but what makes it addictive (especially in TMP2) is the tension generated by each killing room, and it's clearly eerie to analyze the atmosphere of [REDACTED] if you were genuinely there. [REDACTED] is not at all someone you'd have a friendly relationship with, not to mention he's not safe, and although there are many jokes, and [REDACTED]'s attitude is that of an absolute loser (said affectionately), he's still someone you clearly don't want to mess with. The games in general subtly remind you that this guy isn't right in the head.. And all the information I'm giving here isn't being felt in this new game.. "But Redactedkin, there isn't much lore for TMP3 yet!" Generally, when someone first encounters [REDACTED] in TMP, their attitude automatically makes them uncomfortable or they laugh out of "shock"; the lore doesn't really matter. In this game, that feeling is absent. It's more like they've… toned it down? Even though they still have their attitude, it's as if they've toned down their personality, focusing on the funniest aspects rather than their striking mix of sadism and crude humor. Also, the overall gameplay atmosphere doesn't feel the same, even compared to TMP1 (I'm not referring to the art style, but to the overall feeling); It felt too light, which made me a little uneasy. The scenario with the dolls felt more adorable than scary/tense, and that didn't give me a good feeling. I'm a little worried that the game is becoming similar to the others, but at the same time, Jackbox Games releasing "the best"/most conventional elements to make the game more marketable.

The change in how scores work I didn't like it at all, and I feel like it lacks any real dynamic beyond creating the illusion of losing. Besides, it's really strange how [REDACTED] always revives you?? I'd understand if it were because in TMP1 and TMP2 it torments souls forever in darkness, but there's no indication that it actually does that here, and it seems like the Dolls can genuinely free themselves from it easily. It doesn't make sense to me, and it's just too weird. You get bored instantly when you realize you can never die, because if you reach 0, nothing happens anyway (YES I DID TRY OKAY I WANTED TO GIVE IT MY ALL) and I don't see a real threat. It's one of the only things I'm asking them to completely remove, since I'm only asking for modifications to the others.

The graphics aren't entirely to my liking. While the complete switch to 3D was very difficult for me to accept (I have a strong issue with change due to my autism), and I've only half accepted it, the current aesthetic doesn't feel unique to me, nor does it make me say "This is Trivia Murder Party!!", I don't understand why this complete change was necessary, given that TMP already has a very clear identity and was already quite good with what it had.

The bugs in this demo are terrible, to the point that I couldn't even play it on my own decent laptop which can handle good graphics, because it kept freezing and crashing, even on low settings. I had to watch my partner stream it, and she also had to use low graphics, and while she didn't experience the same issues, her laptop overheated. The demo is incredibly poorly optimized, especially considering it's 3 GB; I'm not kidding. (Don't pay much attention to this point because they'll surely resolve it in an instant in the future)

The final round doesn't feel like a TMP final round; it felt too weak, and it hurts considering how great and unique the scene is, and it has the best death scene in the entire demo. I genuinely hope they improve this aspect, not only by making it more intense and unique, but also by making it longer tbh.

Conclusion: It has some very appealing aspects, but they're also quite concerning for the saga, as a big fan of this games. I hope these issues can be addressed in the final game or that some things will be changed for the better, since it seems to be on the right track in several areas, and adding the other features would be fantastic.

Demo rating? 4/10, sorry

If you disagree with me, you have the right to disregard my opinion. Afterwards, you can reblog or comment to share your thoughts! <]