Old-school vinyl records making a comeback over the past few years is a surprise to be sure, especially in light of digital outlets like YouTube and Spotify. I guess there’s something about the cross-generational appeal of the record medium, as well as the nostalgia its withered sound can provide in troubling times. Wax Heads explores this by putting players at the front desk of a record shop that caters to fans new and old, where music can connect people and allow them to explore feelings and interests they might not have known about otherwise.
Said record store, called Repeater Records, is run by Morgan MacIntyre, the former singer of a popular pop band, who recruits the player to run the register and help connect customers with the music of their dreams. As you go through the ins and outs of selling records, you discover more about Morgan’s past and discuss how music connects and affects people with your fun cast of coworkers – each of whom has their own musical goals and aspirations.
Key Details
- Developer: Patattie Games
- Publisher: Curve Games
- Platform: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Steam, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S
- Price: $14.99
- Review Code Provided: Yes, For Steam
Name That Tune
Once you unlock the front door, customers start coming in with their own stories and musical preferences – and there are even a few recurring plotlines surrounding them as they come back for more music. It naturally falls to you to determine what to recommend to them (and they aren’t always direct with it; sometimes you have to give them something they might not necessarily ask for or some visual clues).
Each record is filled with surprises and details to help you make the right choice. Once you’ve found what the client is looking for, you take it over to the cash register, where the customer pays and gives you feedback on your choices. You also get a receipt to give to the customer, and it can be customized with emojis to help set each one apart. The customer will grade you on your recommendation, and each successful sale gives you Wax Head points that can be spent on decorations for the store and gallery room, along with some other surprises.
A Store Full Of Tunes And Vibes
Aside from selling records, the player will also help design flyers and posters by clicking and moving stickers onto a sheet, keep memos on the noticeboard organized, buy new items to display in the store, and organize the shop items. You can find new information about newly-released records, check out what customers are saying about your services on social media, get stats on your performance, check out the store’s inventory, and more on your cellphone, which can be accessed at any time by clicking the icon in the corner of the screen or pressing the menu button on your controller.
When you want to take a break from selling records, you can play Diggy Doggo, a retro-style, top-down arcade minigame where you have to guide the tile character through a maze to find shovels to dig yourself out of the dungeon – all while avoiding obstacles and trying to avoid staying away from your campsite when night comes. It’s a simple time-waster, but honestly, I couldn’t really get into it.
The Sights And Sounds
Some nights, you’ll head out to Apple Dome, a bar where you can help serve drinks in the same manner that you sell records: by listening to what your would-be customers ask for and picking up the non-verbal clues. You also might need to serve as a roadie during the occasional live performance by making sure the lights and music volumes don’t malfunction.
As fitting for a game about music, there is a wide variety of tracks you can listen to on the jukebox, ranging from mellow pop to darker grunge. Each band or singer has their own story, with some of them even having multiple records for you to sell. As scandals break out, your coworkers will gossip about the band or singer, and you’ll even see the price of their records go down – though this doesn’t really amount to much gameplay-wise. Visually, Wax Heads sports a simple art style, with static illustrations and soft, hand-drawn characters that remind me of Scott Pilgrim – a franchise that also combines gaming with music.
Final Score – 7/10
Overall, Wax Heads is a relaxing sales sim with a surprisingly moving story of people coming together (or even reconnecting after time apart) through their shared love of music. Trying to figure out which albums to recommend to customers makes for some genuine brain teasers, but the overall tone is chill enough to prevent things from getting too stressful most of the time. This is a one-stop shop you might want to swing by if you’re looking for a quieter vinyl-selling experience.
**Bonus Action was provided with a Steam Code of Wax Heads for the purpose of this review**
About the Author
Discover more from Bonus Action
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
