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Shing!

Shing! offers nothing new, is a bit clunky, and couldn't keep my attention after the first hour.
69%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
grinding, optimization
78% User Score Based on 314 reviews
Critic Score 60%Based on 13 reviews

Platforms

LinuxNintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCMac OSPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneSteam DeckXboxWindowsPlayStation
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About

"Shing! is a Hack and Slash game with exceptional mechanics and a good story, offering 4-player local and online co-op. Its intuitive controls and immersive combat system, complete with freestyle combos and character switching, make for a unique and humorous beat-em-up experience."

Genres & Tags
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Shing! screenshot
Shing! screenshot
Shing! screenshot
Shing! screenshot
Shing! screenshot
Shing! screenshot
Shing! screenshot
Shing! screenshot
Shing! screenshot
Shing! screenshot
Shing! screenshot
+12
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78%
Audience ScoreBased on 314 reviews
gameplay36 positive mentions
grinding8 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique control scheme that allows for interesting combat mechanics, making it fun and engaging once mastered.
  • The art style and character design are appealing, with a humorous story that adds charm to the gameplay experience.
  • Shing! is a great option for local co-op play, providing enjoyable multiplayer experiences with friends.
  • The default control scheme is often criticized for being unintuitive and frustrating, leading to a steep learning curve.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive, with some players finding the combat mechanics lacking depth and variety.
  • There are significant bugs and performance issues, particularly in multiplayer mode, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • gameplay
    111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics and a nostalgic arcade feel, featuring responsive controls, character swapping, and a variety of combat options. However, it can become repetitive and overwhelming due to the complexity of mechanics and enemy variety, leading to frustration for some players. Overall, while the gameplay offers fun and challenge, it may lack depth and refinement in certain areas, making it a mixed experience.

    • “What kept me was the amazing gameplay loop and arcade-like experience, along with my compulsion of owning all cosmetics available through just playing (of which are a ton).”
    • “This is one of those challenging games where the more you master its mechanics, the more fun you have.”
    • “Overall it is a nice 2.5D action fighting game that does not ask you to learn precise timing to enjoy it; it is a throwback to the old arcade games from the 80s and 90s with nice graphics and fun gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay can get repetitive, and the action, while somewhat enjoyable, can soon turn into an irritating chore that has you multitask, in a game that doesn't really let you do so.”
    • “But I grew bored very quickly as the game doesn't have much depth and the fighting mechanics lead to lots of you managing attack spam, instead of fighting, which grows exhausting after a short while.”
    • “The right joystick mechanic, while clever on paper, simply doesn't work well in practice, as your character will often do the wrong attacks, or attack in completely the wrong direction.”
  • story
    106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is generally viewed as light and humorous, with some players appreciating the character interactions and banter, while others find it shallow and minimalistic. Although the narrative may not be the main draw, it provides enough intrigue and charm to complement the gameplay, making it enjoyable for those who prioritize fun combat over a deep storyline. Overall, the story is seen as serviceable, with a mix of engaging elements and juvenile humor that may not resonate with everyone.

    • “The cast of characters are well written and developed and the story is intriguing.”
    • “All in all - a great game, you have well designed characters, engaging story, funny over the top humor, fluid controls, inventive combat and interesting turns on mechanics.”
    • “Its a wonderful mix of flawless combat, interesting story and nicely written dialogue.”
    • “The story is very minimalistic.”
    • “The plot was being told right at the beginning and the following dialogues were just the reiteration of that.”
    • “The story is not engaging.”
  • graphics
    98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant art style and polished visuals that evoke a nostalgic 90s aesthetic. While some players appreciate the cartoonish design and overall visual appeal, others criticize it for feeling simplistic or reminiscent of titles like Fortnite. Overall, the graphics are generally considered good for an indie game, though opinions vary on their execution and style.

    • “The graphics are superb, as are the levels.”
    • “Great visuals and character design, fun gameplay, very polished game overall.”
    • “The visuals are top-notch for an indie offering.”
    • “Unfortunately, as much as I appreciate the graphics and basic style (as well as the concept of the plot), the game is just unenjoyable.”
    • “If there is one area dragging on the game's graphics, it might be the visuals of the enemies you fight.”
    • “- Gamers insisting on the highest fidelity of graphics rooted in 'uncanny valley' will be underwhelmed by Shing's much more simplistic cartoon-esque visuals.”
  • humor
    57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its light-hearted and over-the-top comedic elements, including funny character dialogues and memorable moments. However, some found the humor to be hit-or-miss, with certain jokes falling flat or feeling cringy, particularly in the dialogue. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with engaging gameplay, making it enjoyable, especially in a multiplayer setting.

    • “This game is very unique with a beautiful art style and funny humor.”
    • “Shing is fun and has some awesomely funny moments and characters...not at all what you'd expect from shinobi fighting yokai in a fantasy setting.”
    • “The game itself brings a breath of freshness, humor and innovation in its genre, and discovering specific attack sequences is a real joy.”
    • “It's sad because everything else is good: sound, graphics, etc. except maybe the dialogues with unfunny jokes at every corner that will make you roll your eyes or the poor story, but it's a beat 'em up after all and everything can be skipped.”
    • “It might be just the four of us who don't really enjoy long cutscenes with a lot of unnecessary talking. We know that it's supposed to be funny, but for us, most of the time it's just cringy.”
  • music
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally well-received, featuring an upbeat, oriental-influenced soundtrack that complements the gameplay and enhances the overall experience. While many players appreciate the slick production and thematic fit, some feel that the tracks lack catchiness for standalone listening. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, alongside strong sound effects and voice acting.

    • “Combat, art style, character design, music, sound effects are simply awesome!”
    • “There are some totally slapping soundtracks and I like the 4 protagonists.”
    • “Music is good and the tempo has a real hero feel to it during stages.”
    • “The music is comprised mostly of an upbeat collection of roughly oriental-influenced tracks, and while they all sound pretty slick and handle their role well, I found none particularly catchy enough to inspire an out-of-game listen.”
  • character development
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is enhanced through engaging dialogue and interactions at "resting spots," where players can hear characters converse, adding depth to their personalities. The character designs are widely praised for their creativity and appeal, complemented by a variety of unlockable costumes that further enrich the experience. Overall, while the gameplay and visuals are highlighted, the character development aspect is noted for its contribution to the game's immersive storytelling.

    • “I also like the character designs and there are plenty of unlockable costumes.”
    • “Great visuals and character design, fun gameplay, very polished game overall.”
    • “The character designer and dialogue writer may have been thirsty.”
    • “There are also 'resting spots' in which you can hear the characters talk to each other (character development) or secret challenge rooms that deviate from the main quest.”
  • grinding
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly highlighting the final boss battle as both boring and unfairly challenging for solo players. While some appreciate the storytelling, the overall experience is marred by the repetitive and grindy nature of certain gameplay elements.

    • “Ultimately, it was very tedious.”
    • “Final boss battle is tedious and boring, and the game is unfairly tough for a single player.”
    • “It's not as accurate in terms of choosing directions, but man is it way less tedious.”
  • optimization
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is primarily optimized for controller use, as it was originally designed for PlayStation, leading to subpar performance when played with mouse and keyboard. Users have reported significant performance issues, alongside problems with combat mechanics and enemy AI, which detract from the overall experience.

    • “This is a game originally made for PlayStation and optimized for playing with the controller!”
    • “The reason for that is the fact that this game was not intended or optimized to play with mouse and keyboard!”
    • “The reason for that is the fact that this game was not intended/optimized to play with mouse + keyboard!”
    • “On the store page, it doesn't say this game is optimized for a controller!”
    • “Has a few decent ideas and a reasonable premise up its sleeve but all of these things collapse under the weight of poor performance issues combined with scrappy combat and shoddy enemy AI and placement.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users consistently highlight the game's "infinitely replayable" nature, indicating that it offers a compelling experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.

    • “Infinitely replayable.”
    • “Infinitely replayable.”
    • “The game offers endless replayability.”
  • stability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has been reported to have significant stability issues, with multiple users experiencing game-breaking glitches that hinder gameplay. Overall, it is described as buggy and unreliable.

    • “I encountered two game-breaking glitches; it's nothing new.”
    • “The game is incredibly buggy!”
    • “I experienced multiple game-breaking glitches; this is a recurring issue.”
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60%Critics’ scoreBased on 13 critic reviews
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