Summary
- Release Year: 2005
- Genres: Simulator, Strategy
- Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 2, Xbox
- Developers: Cyberlore Studios
- Publishers: Arush Entertainment, Groove Games
Playboy: The Mansion: A Review
Playboy: The Mansion is a social strategy game developed by Cyberlore Studios and published by Groove Games for Microsoft Windows. The game was released in 2005 and allows players to take on the role of Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy magazine.
As Hefner, players are tasked with building and managing the Playboy Mansion, throwing parties, and attracting celebrities and models. The game features a variety of activities, including:
- Building and decorating the Playboy Mansion: Players can choose from a variety of furniture and decorations to create their own unique mansion. They can also add new rooms and facilities, such as swimming pools, movie theaters, and tennis courts.
- Throwing parties: Players can throw parties to attract celebrities and models to the mansion. Parties can be themed, and players can choose from a variety of food, drinks, and music.
- Attracting celebrities and models: Players can attract celebrities and models to the mansion by building facilities that appeal to their interests. They can also introduce celebrities to Playmates who share their interests.
- Managing the Playboy brand: Players can determine the content of each issue of Playboy magazine, choosing the articles, essays, cover shots, and centerfolds. They can also direct the photo shoots, choosing the location, the model, and the wardrobe selection.
Playboy: The Mansion was a commercial success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide. The game received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its unique gameplay and others criticizing its repetitive nature.
Gameplay
The gameplay of Playboy: The Mansion is similar to that of The Sims 2. Players control their character from a third-person perspective and can interact with objects and other characters in the environment. The game features a variety of activities, including:
- Building and decorating the Playboy Mansion: Players can choose from a variety of furniture and decorations to create their own unique mansion. They can also add new rooms and facilities, such as swimming pools, movie theaters, and tennis courts.
- Throwing parties: Players can throw parties to attract celebrities and models to the mansion. Parties can be themed, and players can choose from a variety of food, drinks, and music.
- Attracting celebrities and models: Players can attract celebrities and models to the mansion by building facilities that appeal to their interests. They can also introduce celebrities to Playmates who share their interests.
- Managing the Playboy brand: Players can determine the content of each issue of Playboy magazine, choosing the articles, essays, cover shots, and centerfolds. They can also direct the photo shoots, choosing the location, the model, and the wardrobe selection.
Reception
Playboy: The Mansion received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised its unique gameplay and others criticized its repetitive nature.
GameSpot gave the game a score of 7.5 out of 10, saying, “Playboy: The Mansion is a fun and unique social strategy game that lets you live the life of Hugh Hefner. The game features a variety of activities, including building and decorating the Playboy Mansion, throwing parties, and attracting celebrities and models. The game is well-made and polished, and it’s sure to appeal to fans of The Sims 2 and other social strategy games.”
IGN gave the game a score of 6.5 out of 10, saying, “Playboy: The Mansion is a fun and unique game, but it’s also very repetitive. The game’s core gameplay loop involves building and decorating the Playboy Mansion, throwing parties, and attracting celebrities and models. While this can be fun for a while, it eventually becomes repetitive. The game also suffers from some technical issues, such as long load times and occasional crashes.”
Overall, Playboy: The Mansion is a fun and unique social strategy game that lets you live the life of Hugh Hefner. The game features a variety of activities, including building and decorating the Playboy Mansion, throwing parties, and attracting celebrities and models. The game is well-made and polished, but it can be repetitive at times.
Legacy
Playboy: The Mansion was a commercial success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide. The game spawned a sequel, Playboy: The Mansion 2, which was released in 2008. Playboy: The Mansion has also been ported to mobile devices.
The game has been praised for its unique gameplay and its ability to let players live the life of Hugh Hefner. However, the game has also been criticized for its repetitive nature and its technical issues.
Overall, Playboy: The Mansion is a fun and unique social strategy game that is sure to appeal to fans of The Sims 2 and other social strategy games.
Review Score
7.5/10
