Highlights
- THQ Nordic's South Park: Snow Day's switch to a 3D co-op action genre could attract a wider audience than the previous RPGs, appealing to players who may not be fans of turn-based gameplay.
- The genre switch to co-op action allows for more in-jokes and gaming references, enhancing the game's appeal and providing opportunities for humor that span different franchises and styles.
- The move to 3D graphics in South Park: Snow Day allows for commentary on the show's visual evolution, providing an opportunity for a self-referential brand of meta-humor that the franchise is known for.
One of gaming’s most surprising success stories in recent years has been the overwhelmingly positive reception to Ubisoft’s duo of South Park RPGs. With their turn-based battles and a 2.5D visual style that channels the look of the hit show that inspired them, South Park: The Stick of Truth and The Fractured But Whole stand out as rare hits in the long history of South Park video games. Following their success, many gamers were surprised when it was revealed that THQ Nordic’s upcoming South Park: Snow Day would be a 3D co-op fighter. But this switch in both art style and gameplay could prove to be an even better gimmick than the old-school trappings of its predecessors.
Given the success of the Ubisoft RPGs, THQ Nordic could have played it safe by releasing a spiritual sequel to South Park: The Stick of Truth. By switching genres and art styles, though, South Park: Snow Day has the potential to attract an even wider audience than the franchise’s RPG outings. The move to the 3D action genre could not only make South Park: Snow Day more approachable for audiences who may have been turned off by the turn-based action of Ubisoft’s RPGs, but also open the door to the inclusion of even more in-jokes and references.
South Park: Snow Day’s 3D Co-op Gameplay Should Have Broader Appeal Than Another Turn-Based RPG
While both South Park: The Stick of Truth and The Fractured But Whole were widely praised for capturing both the series’ trademark humor and the overall feel of traditional RPGs, the turn-based gameplay was a barrier to entry for some players. By switching to the 3D co-op action genre with its foray into the franchise, THQ Nordic’s South Park: Snow Day has the potential to draw in players who may not have a connection to or affinity for old-school RPGs. This should help to make the game more appealing to a much wider cross-section of players.
Although some fans are understandably upset to see the franchise move away from what’s proven to be a winning formula, the genre switch could pay dividends for THQ Nordic. Letting players team up with friends for co-op action in South Park: Snow Day, rather than limiting them to the strictly single-player experiences of Ubisoft’s South Park games, will almost assuredly help the game appeal to a broader audience. The move to a more modern style of gameplay and graphics also creates opportunities for packing South Park: Snow Day with even more in-jokes and gaming references than its predecessors.
The Updated Visual Style of South Park: Snow Day Opens the Door to Even More In-Jokes and References
One of the highlights of Ubisoft’s South Park titles for many players was the inclusion of numerous jokes and call-backs to RPG tropes hidden throughout the games. Much like the two titles’ decidedly old-school gameplay, though, the appeal of these gags was limited for players who weren’t already familiar with the genre. With the move to a 3D action title, South Park: Snow Day will be able to draw on everything from Diablo 4 to the God of War franchise as a source of potential parody.
The 3D graphics also create an opportunity to poke fun at the many visual changes that have appeared throughout different eras of South Park. Although always maintaining its paper cut-out aesthetic, the increased use of CG in South Park over the years has led to a show with a noticeably different appearance than the series’ earliest episodes. Having South Park: Snow Day’s characters quip about the move to 3D would be a great way to reference the visual evolution of the show and be perfectly in line with the franchise’s often self-referential brand of meta-humor.
South Park: Snow Day’s move to 3D is a potentially risky choice for THQ Nordic given the immense success of Ubisoft’s 2.5D South Park titles. But, if implemented well, it could give the franchise’s latest video game outing a wholly distinctive feel and prove to be an even better gimmick than the old-school aesthetic of its predecessors.
South Park: Snow Day is coming to PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S in 2024.
