Unique is a word immediately associated with Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble!, a name that just screams “Play me now!” You’ve just got to find out what it involves and why everyone seems to think it’s so good. Is it good? Yes, it is, although its charms and engaging nature only hold attention for so long. Being nominated in the Videogame Writing category in the Writers’ Guild Awards 2009 indicates to what degree the game is appreciated and, to an extent, it deserves the applause.
Set in the ’20s, the game involves you building up a gang of dilettante females who, by misbehaving, uncover plots and foil dastardly deeds being perpetrated. Picking a queen from a list of characters, you set about recruiting three more on the board game-style map that confronts you. As you do, various plots unfold. There are also side quests to complete, giving bonuses and allowing you to upgrade your characters’ skills.
When you confront another character, a minigame appears. One is a poker-style game of bluffing, while another is a reveal-the-words game. There are a reasonable number to go through before you exhaust them all, and there is also a taunt game, which works exactly like Monkey Island’s Insult Sword Fighting. The jazz soundtrack fits perfectly too.
As a casual game for eating up a spare 30 minutes or so, Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble! is perfect. Clever, original and genuinely pleasing to play, this is easily worth the reasonable price you’ll pay for it on Steam.
Jun 24, 2009