The Sisters 2: Road to Fame Review (Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch & PC)

If you’re a sucker for the old teenage cliché, and not to mention anything that’s even remotely social media-centric, then boy, have we got news for you. The Sisters 2: Road to Fame is out, and it’s just about everything we’ve come to expect from the child-friendly franchise. And while I for one can’t really comment on the IP as a whole, being something of an outsider to the TikTok-obsessed community and what have you, I can say this: if the target demographic was pre-teens and mini-game-loving adults, then Balio Studios seems to have hit the nail on the head with its latest incarnation. Or at least, nothing seems to tell me otherwise, anyway.

Having poured several hours into the latest episode of The Sisters, I can just about bring myself to knock out a good enough review on the IP. Care to join us for the journey down tweenville avenue? Then let’s dive right in.

Welcome to 2023

The Sisters 2: Road to Fame centers its world around two—you guessed it—sisters, both of whom live in one another’s shadow and ultimately long to become the next all star or, in modern terms, an “influencer” on a star-studded social network known to the locals as Sis-Tok. We see what you did there, and honestly, I’m on the fence about it — but whatever.

To put you in the picture, Road to Fame follows the two aforementioned sisters on their journey to become the bee’s knees of the social hierarchy—a world that only happens to host the coolest kids in town, and a place that also churns out more sibling rivalries than any other social network on the block. This is where you, playing as one of the sisters, begin your quest for stardom, adjacent to the highest tier and beneath a whole bunch of mini-games and extracurricular adventures that stand between you and the apex. The ultimate goal: beat your sister in a number of different activities, and earn the right to wear the virtual diamond-encrusted tiara on Sis-Tok. Fair enough.

You see, you’ve inherited a tablet—a portal, if you will, that hosts one of the most popular social networking apps on the planet. The only issue is, you’re a few dozen followers short from being the talk of the town, so to speak, and therefore, an unworthy rival in your sister’s eyes. To rectify this situation, you must set out to obtain the world’s approval, if not through collecting items, then through competing in one of the many, many challenges that happen to be set up on all corners of the map. Simple, yet surprisingly effective. It’s very rags-to-riches — with the “riches” being social stardom and bragging rights over your sister. Again, fair enough.

Simple Yet Effective

I’ll be the first to admit that, as far as storylines go, Road to Fame isn’t exactly the most convoluted one I’ve seen in the countless years of scraping barrels. If anything, it’s actually one of the most straightforward storylines I’ve come across, which is a double-edged sword, in ways. Sure enough, it’s easy to digest, but at the same time, equally as easy to predict and grow somewhat bored of at the same time. It’s evidently 2023, is what’s I’m saying — so anyone who’s even slightly obsessed with the trends of today will no doubt have an absolute field trip with this one.

It’s a Long Way to the Top

As far as gameplay goes, Road to Fame splits its story mode into two parts, with each one being played from a different sister’s perspective. As for who you choose to side with at the beginning of the game doesn’t really matter, as each arc offers the same mini-games, collectibles, and cutscenes. For this reason alone, there isn’t really any replay value to gain from the aftermath of the final quest; it’s a one-and-done experience, if anything. So, unless you find yourself truly immersed in the mini-games that it lays out for you along the way, you probably won’t be coming back to have a second helping post-credits.

The good news is, there is in fact an open world to explore in Road to Fame, which happens to include a wide range of collectible items and events to partake in. Again, as there isn’t really a great deal of difference between characters or routes to travel down, it doesn’t matter who you choose to explore said world with. In short, collectibles are put in the same locations, as are the events and other items dotted around the colorful locale.

While on the subject of locales, it is worth pointing out that the environment Road to Fame paints is actually very pretty; it’s almost as if My Time at Portia and Bratz: Rock Angelz (don’t ask) merged into a singular product, if anything. Case in point, there are vibrant villages, flourishing meadows, and more than enough colors to make even the brightest of rainbows blush a cherry apple red. Can’t really complain there, to be fair.

Mini-Games Galore

Exploring the world as one of the sisters isn’t all that tough, as the vast majority of objectives are either papered over an A-to-B progression system, or explained in the simplest terms imaginable in one of the four corners of the screen. For the most part, though, you’re either collecting flowers for fellow NPCs, documenting wildlife through the lens of a camera, or shopping for new cosmetics to give your character that little extra oomph. Aside from all that, there’s the case of sifting through the mini-games, which are, without doubt, the bread and butter of the experience itself. Go figure.

Mini-games in Road to Fame vary in complexity, but for the most part, you’re either tasked with shooting something in a sci-fi-like setting, or roller-skating around a few blocks while competing against a timer. There are plenty more activities in the book, also, but when all’s said and done, there isn’t anything particularly new — much less anything that we haven’t already seen a dozen or more times before in earlier iterations of the party-centric universe. Not that this would upset a younger person, mind you.

In total, you’re looking at around three, maybe four hour’s worth of content per character. But again, seeing as there are no character-locked activities, there isn’t much point in replaying the same story twice, or even a third time, for that matter. For what it’s worth though, the hours that it does provide are definitely substantial enough to keep idle hands busy for a drawn-out afternoon. To that I say, well done Balio Studios — mission accomplished.

Verdict

I’m not going to beat around the bush on this one. Truth is, I for one don’t fit in the target demographic that Balio Studios set out to capture when it first put its pen to paper. For that reason alone, I’m struggling to find common ground with a younger, less experienced or generally unfamiliar gamer. But for the sake of weaving together a conclusive picture, I will say this: The Sisters 2: Road to Fame, in spite of its childish essence and cliché-studded story, is actually a pretty fun entry-level game. Sure it’s a little predictable and one-sided, but it’s also surprisingly fun to roll with — even as an older, slightly more judgmental player.

Theres a lot to enjoy here — especially for those who are relatively new to the realm of gaming and, for the most part, aren’t overly keen to dabble in deeper waters for the time being. Granted, you’ll struggle to engage with a lot of the tween-like camaraderie that makes up the bulk of the dialogue, but if you’re a sucker for a colorful world that’s rife with episodic tales and hearty mini-games, then this won’t really matter all that much, anyway.

So, is The Sisters 2: Road to Fame worth playing? Well, to cut it short, yes. Truth is, it lacks the same depth as a lot of party-centric video games, but given the fact that it’s aimed towards an audience that’s ideally ten or under, it’s hard to compare it with other, slightly more prominent titles on the same market. So, while adults may struggle to relate with what’s on display here, there’s nothing to say that a child won’t find something to latch onto — especially if they’re in the circle that cherishes the latest tech, trends, and teenage abbreviations.