Prime Monster Review

When we think of a city of monsters, the last thing we probably wonder about is their actual politics. I mean, have you ever considered how trolls might vote? Or what a party made of Orcs would actually do? Well, we could finally have an answer thanks to Cavalier Game Studios' latest title, Prime Monster. The debate now is whether this game could run for a second term, or if it’s time for a snap election.

Now, usually I start my reviews with a look at the plot, but Prime Monster is more about the world and the situations that occur as you work to become Prime Minister of the Fractured Kingdom. It’s up to you to make life a little better, or worse, for the assorted creatures of the Kingdom. Honestly, the world that has been created here is impressive, and there is a lot of lore hidden in the glossary that is worth reading at least once, even if they don’t really impact the actual game.

In terms of actual gameplay, you’ll first need to choose which party you want to join. There are several options, but initially you’ll only be able to join the Orcs. Each leader offers several different advantages, including a special ability you can use in debates. Once you have a leader selected, you’ll need to win votes, polls, and remain in power once you have it. 

There are two parts to this; the first has you focus on any events that arise. These can range from a scandal involving human hunting, or even magical rearming profiles. You’ll usually have three options for how to solve the current crises, with some having you spend money, influence, or political capital. In return, you might become more popular or be saddled with an intern who makes life considerably harder. Usually, the return on your time comes with some downside down the line, so it’s worth being careful, although occasionally it feels like every option is terrible… which is probably the point. 

Eventually, you’ll need to face the opposition, which is where the parliament game comes in. Here’s where you’ll have to compete against another monster and convince your MPs to side with you, all while under the watchful gaze of the speaker. Once inside parliament, your monster can draw three different cards per turn that can either be played for an immediate effect or burnt to earn political capital to use your character's abilities. It’s a decent loop as you aim to build your own support and damage your opponents, and, because you’re a monster, you can even kill some of his MPs (although the speaker may take this negatively). 

However, as you progress, you’ll usually be on the back foot, and it’s very easy to get completely overwhelmed when you’re hit with issues and documents from prior decisions. It can be a real challenge to make sure that you stay in power, but thankfully, you have a special ability that helps to push the odds in your favour.

If I have any real complaint about the gameplay, at least in parliament, it’s that you don’t usually have all that many options when it comes to cards. There is a shop, but it’s random when it will appear. You can also upgrade the cards, but you’ll usually be using the same set over and over again. Meanwhile, the rest of the game is plagued by the inherent randomness of roguelikes, namely, you might just get saddled with bad options throughout and little chance to correct your course. 

Graphically, Prime Monster leans into the humour with the character designs, with each looking suitably cartoony. Add to this the colourful card designs and the ability animations, and it’s really a fun-looking game. However, I do wish there were some voice acting at times, at least beyond the odd grunt from the characters. 

Prime Monster is a fun title, and it can be a real rush to dominate your opponents and stay in power politically. The issue is that, like a lot of roguelike deckbuilders, the variety you’ll experience is entirely random; you might get stuck in an unwinnable loop, or you might have a perfect hand. The other problem is that, in the current market, we’re not exactly short on these kinds of mechanics. As such, Prime Monster is really working to push the aesthetic and ministerial aspects to help draw you in. It worked for me, but others might need a bit more convincing.