Sprung (video game)
A dating sim with two narratives and comedic dialogue.
Sprung is a conversation-based adventure game and dating sim for the Nintendo DS, released as a launch title in North America on December 7, 2004. In Europe it was published as Sprung: The Dating Game. It was one of the first dating simulation games to receive a wide commercial release in the United States.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Longtail Studios
- Publisher
- Ubisoft
- Writer
- Colleen McGuinness
- Sam Strachman
- Edward Lee Murray
- Desiree Cifre
- A.J. Morales
- Composer
- Tom Salta
- Released
- December 7, 2004 (NA); March 11, 2005 (EU)
- Genre
- Adventure
- dating sim
- visual novel
- Modes
- Single player
- Platforms
- Nintendo DS
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
The game presents two distinct narratives, one for Brett and one for Becky, set at the same locations but in different continuities. Each scene functions like a sitcom script, giving the player an objective to complete. The player character appears on the bottom screen of the Nintendo DS while the conversation partner appears on the top. During interactions, the player selects from a list of responses. Progress requires wit, charm, and the use of collectible items, which can be used on any character; using pepper spray or gasoline often leads to arrest or commitment. Locations have theme music that changes melodically based on character reactions. Collecting golden lines unlocks bonus scenes, and collecting items unlocks additional art.
Plot
Becky and Brett have been friends since childhood and travel to a ski resort seeking love, fun, and work opportunities. Brett struggles between his long-standing crush on Becky and his desire to date other women. He navigates relationships with a cast of bachelorettes while helping his friends Danny and Lucas, and competes with the richer, more famous Elliot and Conor. His story ends with a competition against Conor for a dream vacation with one of three girls. In Becky's story, she escapes her ex-boyfriend Sean only to find him at the resort. The player can choose a career path in waitressing or modeling, affecting available scenes. Becky maintains friendships with Kiki and Erica, advances her career, seeks love, and pursues revenge on Sean.
Critical reception
Sprung received generally unfavorable reviews on Metacritic. Critics praised its comedic writing; Nintendo World Report called it bizarrely fun, and The Sydney Morning Herald found it always entertaining and occasionally hilarious. GameSpot described the subject matter as a bold move, praising the developers for treading risqué ground. DS Central noted the game takes adult themes and molds them into a light-hearted mess. IGN stated it pushed the limits of the Teen rating and hinted at homosexual and bisexual encounters. The dialogue-based gameplay drew mixed reactions; Game Informer likened it to an interactive comic, while eToychest called it surprisingly addictive but noted it could alienate gamers not fond of retention-based mechanics. GameSpot found the gameplay frustrating but the art smooth and effective. IGN praised the animation as nearly feature film quality. The minimal use of the touch screen was criticized. The collectible items, especially pepper spray, were praised; The Globe and Mail felt the feature was underused, while Nintendo World Report noted using pepper spray creates prime comedy. In later years, Sprung was viewed more positively; Rice Digital praised its writing and humor, and in 2021 TheGamer described it as a hidden gem and an excellent game.
More in Ubisoft Games of the 2000s
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