Samba de Amigo: Party Central

Games like Samba de Amigo make me happy. There’s something about Sega’s dumber outings that captivate me like no other kind of game. Remember their barrage of ultra-dumb, ultra-fun arcadey outings from the Dreamcast era? Space Channel 5, Crazy Taxi, Monkey Ball, Seaman, Samba de Amigo… Sega used to go overboard on absurdity, resulting in some of the most adorable games in the history of the company. This is why I love when some of those games make a comeback on modern platforms, namely ...

Using Joy-Cons to play Samba de Amigo may not be quite as good as replica maracas, and buttons even less so, but the core experience here remains as entertaining as ever. With its eclectic selection of songs and a wide variety of modes, Samba de Amigo: Party Central has a little something for everyone, and is fun whether you’re playing it alone on a rainy day or with others at a party. If you’re a fan of the series or simply love rhythm games, chances are this will put a big smile on your face, even if you feel like you’re sometimes cheated of a perfect score.

It's time to shake it on center stage in this vibrant rhythm action game. Amigo and his friends are back in Samba de Amigo: Party Central! Pick up your maracas and groove to 40 hit songs from the world's most popular genres, with even more arriving as post-launch DLC! Nintendo Switch version reviewed.

While Samba de Amigo: Party Central has a few shortcomings, its intense energy and atmosphere demand a great time for all who are willing to give this little mascot the proper shake.

What time is it? It's time to monkey around with a pair of maracas in the energetic rhythm game that is Samba de Amigo: Party Central.

Samba de Amigo: Party Central isn't exactly the deepest rhythm game, but there's still fun to be had here, even if the overall product is held back by its finicky Joy-Con controls. A great soundtrack, enjoyable gameplay modes and a bold, eye-catching visual style help keep the party going even longer, but with a little refinement, future shindigs in this series can be even greater than ever.

If I had a nickel for every time Sega made an arcade game focused on monkeys and a strange controller I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot but it’s weird

Samba de Amigo: Party Central is more of a small get-together than a full-on party.

“Samba de Amigo: Party Central is a charming hit of motion-controlled nostalgia, though inconsistent controller detection can be a buzzkill.”

Samba de Amigo: Party Central is great fun, dragged down by an uninspired tracklist that loses the series' original identity.

Despite all that, I still find enjoyment in this game as the concept of shaking a Joy-Con to the beat never gets old to me. That’s despite Amigo’s smile haunting my nightmares tonight.

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