It’s Only Money Review

It’s Only Money presents a fascinating dichotomy: a glittering, prosperous city coexisting uneasily with a shadowy underbelly. As a resident of the Undercity, forced to scrape by literally in the sewers and subways by the tyrannical Mayor, you’ll navigate this moral tightrope walk. Is It’s Only Money a unique experience and one that will leave you wanting more, or does it fail to impress like so many others in the genre? In other words, will it succumb to a life of crime, or forge a different path? Read on to find out!

Clawing Your Way Up

As soon I started playing It’s Only Money, there was an immediate sense of familiarity that struck me. The open world, although small, felt immediately comfortable and I found myself sprinting off to wreak havoc wherever I could. There are pedestrians wandering around, all of whom seem angry and in a rush. There are vehicles sliding past you on the roads. Shops are dotted around the streets, most of which can be entered and explored. There are cashpoints (ATMs to our American readers), there are bins (trash cans), plants, trees and even random vertically-jumping snails that I later discovered came in very handy when I was ready to set up my own snail racing sideline (seriously).

It’s possible to follow objectives (that are set by numerous sketchy characters that you meet) via your mobile phone that you can pull up from the corner of the screen. It’s possible to make calls on said mobile phone to anyone in your contacts list (although they won’t always answer). It’s possible to earn and spend money. It’s possible to attack people and steal cars. It’s possible to get arrested.

Now, unless you have never heard of video games before, it’s very clear to see where It’s Only Money has drawn its inspiration from. If you still don’t follow, then let me make it clear: It’s Only Money has been modelled very closely on the hugely successful Grand Theft Auto series. There have been many, many copycats over the years, each with varying levels of success. However, I can confidently report that It’s Only Money does a great job at establishing itself as a unique game within a highly common genre.

Naturally, It’s Only Money falls under the open-world simulation genre, placing you in the shoes of a resourceful Undercity dweller.  As alluded to above, there is a sprawling city to explore and a variety of activities to engage in. The narrative centres around the struggle of the Undercity residents against the oppressive regime above. The Mayor runs pretty much everything and his cronies are willing to do his dirty work without hesitation. As such, you can expect to be attacked on sight if said cronies spot you outside of your sewer, wandering around the upper city like a regular person!

From here, you weave your way through the truly fantastic world, partaking in whatever zany activities you are set – and which you decide to pursue – along the way. Or, if you prefer a calmer experience, you can simply explore the beautiful world and see all of the insane things going on around you. There is much fun to be had and absolutely loads to do! I rarely found myself feeling like I had done everything, because I most certainly hadn’t!

The Gritty Reality of Undercity Life

The main focus of It’s Only Money revolves around combat. Without combat, you won’t be able to make much progress because, as a person from the Undercity, you will be immediately sneered at by everybody in the Upper City. As such, in order to get by, you’re going to have to use your fists (or mop / gun / empty cup, etc.)! Combat always feels lightweight in the sense that it’s easy to move your character around and get multiple hits in without ever feeling like your character is sluggish or heavy to move around. Everything feels swift and impactful.

Animosity towards your character is well-implemented. A detection meter appears the moment you are within visual range of the mayor’s cronies. If you don’t remove yourself from the area quickly, they will spot you and then hunt you down before proceeding to attempt to unalive you. This, naturally, leads you nicely into the aforementioned combat that I discussed previously.

There is also the option to upgrade your character’s specifics in order to improve their abilities and overall experience in the Upper City. This can mostly be done by completing missions to earn money and then spending said money on upgrades.

There is the option to customise slots to allow you quick access to certain things, whether they are food, weapons or something else – it’s entirely your choice. Driving feels great in It’s Only Money. However, driving different vehicles feels remarkably similar to one another, despite their varying sizes. Larger vehicles are slower to accelerate and turn, but the core driving experience remains consistent. However, the thrill of driving each vehicle is distinct, primarily due to their top speeds and acceleration rates, and this is what prevents driving from feeling like a chore. Sports cars, for instance, offer quicker acceleration and higher top speeds, setting them apart from other vehicles.

Bringing the Undercity to Life

It’s Only Money’s visuals effectively depict the contrast between the opulent city above and the grimy Undercity. The contrast between the two environments is striking, and the art style appropriately reflects the harsh realities of Undercity life. Character models and the environment in general all look and feel arcade-y, but in the best possible way. This aesthetic doesn’t detract from the experience. If anything, it enhances it because It’s Only Money isn’t trying to be a real-life simulator. It’s an obvious attempt at arcade-style-open-world-mayhem and manages to pull it off spectacularly. It stays true to this genre throughout and never strays from it.

The audio design is equally immersive, with soundscapes that effectively convey the atmosphere of both the Undercity and the city above. Characters sound great, both the Upper City and Undercity sound great, and it’s clear to see (or hear) that a lot of work has gone into it.

A Community of Outcasts?

It’s Only Money can be enjoyed with up to three other people where you can take part in missions together or even compete against one another in various minigames. One such minigame is a prop-hunt style game where you disguise yourself as an inanimate object, such as a sofa or dustbin, and then have the other players try to find you.

Second Chances in the Sewers?

It’s Only Money’s replay value hinges on the choices players make. There are multiple paths to take, and the consequences of your actions can significantly impact the storyline.  While the core gameplay loop might not appeal to everyone, the game’s focus on player agency and its unique setting provides a reason to revisit the Undercity. There are plenty of quests and activities to complete, as well as plenty of hidden items and quests to discover. As such, It’s Only Money has a high amount of replay value and each visit will likely keep you occupied for longer than you had intended!

Conclusion

It’s Only Money offers a gritty and immersive experience into the underbelly of a sprawling metropolis. With its well-crafted narrative, diverse gameplay mechanics, and stunning visuals, It’s Only Money successfully captures the essence of urban survival. While it may not revolutionise the genre, It’s Only Money has carved out its own niche in the overcrowded open-world genre and made it its own. There are some performance issues, and hopefully these will be addressed in an upcoming update. Overall, It’s Only Money provides a compelling and satisfying experience for those seeking a unique and challenging adventure and provides plenty of fun and replay value.

Grade: 8/10