I can forgive a lot in video games. As a reviewer now of some years I can look past the odd bug, the odd poorly polished visual, difficulty spikes, poor menu design, terrible cameras…the list goes on.

What is unforgivable in video games I feel, however, is tedium. If a game bores you, it’s no longer a video game. It’s suddenly work. Effort. The latter of which you simply don’t want when you’re sat wanting to relax after a long-ass day doing actual things and stuff. Campus Life is on a level, perhaps the most boring game I’ve played this year and I don’t think it’s all that close.

And it’s not just the gameplay either, there are cardinal sins across the board that make Campus Life a University experience that’s probably best being drunk away at a freshers week. And then back in your dorm. And then eventually back home on your own where it’s safe and warm.

It even starts fairly poorly. You’re a fresh new face at this University for your final year (don’t ask) and you’re being shown around by a guy called Ray who has been at the Uni for what seems like an entire eternity the way he talks about it. He’ll show you to your room, show you the food options, where your classes are and crucially, where the showers are (he tells you to take a shower, which is just…hmm). Ray is always there for you. Always. He’s a creepy stalker boyfriend that is there waiting for you at the end of every class and outside your door waiting for you when you wake up. I’m not sure I needed this. A little navigation? Sure, let me get my bearings. But damn dude, leave me alone. I would argue the opening hour of this game is just following Ray around whilst he shows you stuff and things and people. I get it Ray. Can I go explore now?

Except, you can’t. If you want to go off the beaten track for a little while and explore what the University has to offer, you’re not really allowed to do that. Walking up to an interactive person or location will glow red and tell you you’re not allowed to talk to that person at this very moment or not allowed to interact with this thing until you’re actually allowed and the game says so. I just wanted to have a look around, but no, that can’t happen, the linear path this game keeps you handcuffed to is perhaps the dullest one available when there’s far more interesting people and activities going on elsewhere. Sadly progressing in the campaign is more important than having fun in the world the developers created for you. Why have them even catch my eye with flashy lights if I can’t interact with it? At least save it until I actually can. I would have been none the wiser, and would probably think more favourably of this game as a whole. Sigh.

There’s an over-reliance on sticking to schedules and playing with very boring mechanics like calendars and food/showering. The Sims already did this a long time ago but at least you could play with everything in your house whenever you wanted. Campus Life is very much not a University ‘life’ game, at times it just makes me feel like I’m back at school again. And who wants that?

Campus Life just feels like a chore. It sucks the fun out of this admittedly interesting concept by dragging you kicking and screaming into your schedule, the long, long waits for certain events to finish, demolishing the pacing and the gameplay loops is unfortunately just not fun to play.

And a myrid of techincal issues naturally also bring Campus Life to ground quicker than Homelander did to God U. The camera is bewildering, with it locked to O and E on the keyboard, or right-click hold on the mouse (which never once worked for me). It makes navigating the University fairly tedious, though it’s simple enough to move your character around with either WASD or clicking ahead of you so they walk in that direction. The UI is frankly, ugly, as you can probably tell from the added screenshots. The game runs well enough otherwise, but it probably should considering it would also run on my PS2 with little issue.

So it’s just all a bit of a mess, which is a shame as the concept is interesting, so there’s clearly something here worth pursuing, the game will need a serious overhaul before I ever recommend it though. In this state it’s simply not worth your time or money. Whilst Two Point Campus probably leads the way in this particular genre, being able to play as a student mixes up that formula, unfortunately it’s where the majority of the games ingenuity begins and ends.

I hope the Campus Life’s fortunes turn around but for now, you’re best doing a course online before ever setting foot into this alma mater.

Campus Life is available now on Steam.

Developer: Game Formatic
Publisher: Frozen Way

Disclaimer: In order to complete this review, we were provided with a promotional copy of the game. For our full review policy, please go here.

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