There’s a retro-styled indie game that has been making its way around night clubs and art galleries for people to play for years, and now you can enjoy it on your Wii U as well. It’s called Dodge Club Party, and if you’ve ever played a similar game on Dot Arcade, you’ll know what to expect here.  Except this version adds some multiplayer modes to the mix.

The idea is very simple. You control a square and must avoid anything else that moves.  The longer you last, the higher your score.  Things to avoid include a ‘spark’ which is just a line that moves around the border of the screen, and a fireball, which is a large square that bounces around the field.  But be careful because sometimes the fireball will bounce erratically and not the way you’d expect it to go.  If you get hit by any of the obstacles, it’s Game Over.  The game has characters and a story about a dangerous night club dance floor, but it really doesn’t matter in order to play the game.

Depending on how many people clock in at the player select screen will determine what kind of gameplay mode is activated. If one person is playing, you’ll just do the single player mode where you must try to avoid obstacles as long as possible.  If two to four people check in, everyone will have to avoid obstacles, and the last person standing wins.  If five people play, one person controls the fireball on the Wii U touch screen.  If that player catches all the others, they win, but if not, the other players win.  In the multiplayer modes, if you run into someone you’ll hear a ‘bump’ sound, but you’ll pass through them, so it can get a little confusing.

The best part of the game is the catchy chip tunes that play in the background. While I like the simple design, I really can’t imagine anyone getting a bunch of people together to play this.  Maybe back in 1979, but not now.  And the multiplayer modes probably just should’ve been a part of Dot Arcade’s version anyway.  But while I think Dot Arcade is a better value as far as variety goes, Dodge Club Party is only two bucks to download.  So if you like supporting talented indie developers, I say go for it!

Kid Factor:

No reading is require and no violence either. Younger gamers may get bored with the simplistic gameplay, though.  Dodge Club Party is rated E for Everyone.

Tags: Game Reviews