"At least it's better than Superman 64."

There's nothing better than getting yourself a hot date, and spending a nice evening with him or her. The problem with Sprung is immediately apparent. There are times where dates don't really work out as well as you imagined, but with Sprung never has dating been so boring, so tedious, and utterly so shameful. Ubisoft should be ashamed of themselves for creating such a lackadaisical and unimpressive game. And it's especially unexpected because of Ubisoft's track record. These are the same guys that created the Splinter Cell series, Prince of Persia, Beyond Good and Evil, and Rainbow Six 3. I wish it was a joke, but it's not, it's like a nightmare where Ubisoft has lost their ability to create a good, no a decent game.

Sprung allows you to play from the perspective of both genders. Brett and Becky who are two thrill seeking youngsters. Brett has a crush on Becky, but being her best friend, he is quite shy about his feelings. As for Becky, she caught her boyfriend cheating on her and just had a nasty break up with her ex. Both of them are heading up to the mountain resorts for a nice ski trip. During the trip, it's time to get some numbers, hook up, give dating tips, and even snub a girl from some loser.

Like…OMG…I have a secret to tell you.

Just imagine the line I just spewed, and multiply it by 10 and you have your standard dialogue in Sprung. It's generic and highly cringe worthy. The type of lines used has been played out, and are seen as a cruel joke. While I must admit, there were some dialogues that were pretty hilarious, but despite that, the game's dialogue is simply horrendous. With many one-liners that are old and corny. Not to mention, some of the lines will leave so much confusion that chances are you will decide to just randomly select lines because of it. Also with all the lines available, Sprung doesn't allow any branching possibilities, ala Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic. But instead, there is a specific combination of lines, with a specific order in order to complete your objective. Your objectives will range from picking up girls, getting a bunch of numbers, helping your buddies pick girls, or even the dull name game. Also look to restart your scenes quite a bit, as the “game over” sign probably shows up more than the amount of lines in this game. With no branching storylines and a lack of different scenarios, it all falls down to random luck and how you pick the right lines in a certain combination.

During your dating simulation, there are lines that will either drive the ladies completely away, or if you have the charm and charisma, then perhaps you can get some quick action later on. One thing that I did particularly like was the characters often had different likes and dislikes, so it didn't lead to the same generic bimbo or jock situation. But despite that, the characters involved in this game still felt like the high school girl that you hated and couldn't stand. The reason being, the game had characters that were cumbersome, stuck up, and literally annoying. And some of the character's personalities were so out of the norm; it leads you to think if Ubisoft had any idea what they were doing. Take Shana, who loves the outdoors, chi, and her animal within. The problem is, her lines do not represent the things someone would say if they belonged to said group. What's even more peculiar is Becky's attitude. She's your standard hot girl, but her entire attitude is not a reflection of the norm. She seems like the perfect girl, yet, her attitude seems so artificial that at times, she doesn't seem like she can be taken seriously. With each advancing mission, the missions become longer, and more tedious at the same time. The game's whole concept, while unique, is based on trial and error. For the most part, the game's character gives off mixed signals or no signals at all, which leads to you randomly choosing lines in hopes of picking the right line and not pissing off your counterpart.

Drama…Drama…Drama

One thing that I particularly liked were the colorful 2d models. The characters looked quite good and were full of life. Some of the facial expressions left a lot to be desired, but for the most part, it did an adequate job at showing their feelings. The game had plenty of different scenarios, which offered a strong variety levels. Each level had a reminiscent look of your local restaurant, or your own apartment. Even with the 2d models, the game's characters felt life like. I know it's a bit wrong of me to generalize, but from my observations, the game's characters are people who you would expect to act a certain way. Of course with a few exceptions such as Becky, who felt completely out of character.

Perhaps the best part about Sprung is that it ends quickly. And to be perfectly blunt and honest, it wasn't soon enough. With the right combination of lines, this game should take no more that a day's work. There may seem like many missions, but for the most part, each mission is relatively short. And even when it's not, the missions are bland and tedious. However, there may be some bright spots that came out of this game. For one, this is the first time that I have experienced a type of game such as this. So if Ubisoft goes back to the drawing board, take out all the corny and generic dialogue, and add some characters that people actually can relate to and care about, then perhaps Ubisoft can turn it into a decent series. But as it stands, Sprung is pretty much the worse game I have played in recent memory. If for some tragic reason, you are no longer sane or don't have any self-dignity, then go right ahead and pick this game up. But trust me, this game won't solve any of your social problems; in fact it might make it worst. Congratulations Ubisoft, you went from one of the best Western developers to one of the sorriest. Yes, this game is that bad.

Pros
+ The characters were full of life
+ It was over quickly

Cons
- No branching paths
- Corny dialogue
- Characters were detestable
- Story felt out of place
- The music soundtrack was rather bland
- Some of the lines were confusing and left you without an idea on what's going on

Final Score: 2

Reviewer's Score: 2/10, Originally Posted: 12/26/05