Shing!

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 102 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Shing! Game Cover
Shing! offers nothing new, is a bit clunky, and couldn't keep my attention after the first hour.
Starting at $1.25Buy now
Get on Steam

"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."

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 102 reviews
gameplay15 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and innovative control scheme that allows for fluid and satisfying combat, making it enjoyable for players who master its mechanics.
  • The art style and character design are visually appealing, with a humorous and engaging story that adds charm to the gameplay experience.
  • It offers a solid co-op experience, allowing players to switch between characters and work together to tackle challenging enemies and bosses.
  • The default control scheme can be frustrating and unintuitive, leading to issues with character movement and attack direction, which may deter some players.
  • The game can feel repetitive over time, with some players finding the combat mechanics lacking depth and variety as they progress.
  • Difficulty spikes and poorly designed enemy encounters can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially in solo play.
  • gameplay45 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a dynamic and engaging combat system that encourages mastery of mechanics, though it can become repetitive and overwhelming due to the complexity and number of mechanics involved. Players appreciate the arcade-like experience, responsive controls, and the variety of enemies, but some find the right-stick attack mechanic unrefined and the overall depth lacking. Despite these criticisms, many enjoy the fun and polished gameplay, which offers a satisfying challenge and opportunities for replayability.

    • “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 there are a ton).”
    • “This is one of those challenging games where the more you master its mechanics, the more fun you have.”
    • “Great visuals and character design, fun gameplay, very polished game overall.”
    • “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 game's unique right-stick control mechanic could have worked a treat but isn't refined enough or even given the room to breathe, and the story that backs the whole thing up is let down by atrociously dated writing.”
  • story41 mentions

    The game's story is generally viewed as minimalistic but entertaining, featuring humorous banter and well-developed characters that add depth to the experience. While some players find the narrative lacking in substance, it is often considered a fun complement to the engaging gameplay, with elements of mystery and charm reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons. Overall, the story serves its purpose in enhancing the enjoyment of the game, despite some criticisms regarding its execution and writing quality.

    • “As for a beat'em up, the story was surprisingly interesting, and the characters were funny, even having some depth in them.”
    • “The cast of characters are well written and developed, and the story is intriguing.”
    • “Nice story with a healthy sense of humor.”
    • “The story is very minimalistic.”
    • “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.”
    • “The game's unique right-stick control mechanic could have worked a treat but isn't refined enough or even given the room to breathe, and the story that backs the whole thing up is let down by atrociously dated writing.”
  • graphics34 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant, stylized art design and polished visuals that evoke a nostalgic 90s cartoon aesthetic. However, some players feel the graphics resemble a "Fortnite look," and while generally good, they may not meet the expectations of those seeking high-fidelity visuals. Overall, the game's unique art style and character design are highlighted as standout features, despite some criticism regarding enemy visuals and a desire for more diverse scenes.

    • “The locations are diverse and beautiful, the graphics are pleasant.”
    • “Amazing graphics.”
    • “Great visuals and character design, fun gameplay, very polished game overall.”
    • “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.”
    • “* the bad graphics”
  • humor20 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its engaging and often over-the-top nature, featuring hilarious characters, witty dialogue, and amusing scenarios, such as memorable toilet scenes. While some players find certain jokes cringeworthy or lowbrow, the overall comedic tone is appreciated for its blend of mature and immature elements, reminiscent of 90s B-movies and Saturday morning cartoons. The humor enhances the gameplay experience, making it particularly enjoyable when played with friends, despite some criticism of lengthy cutscenes.

    • “As for a beat'em up, the story was surprisingly interesting, and the characters were funny, even having some depth in them.”
    • “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.”
    • “Another notable aspect is the writing and voice acting; the humor even gets a bit lowbrow at times, but I think it's good for the most part.”
    • “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.”
  • music10 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, featuring an upbeat and slick soundtrack with oriental influences that complements the gameplay. While some tracks are enjoyable and enhance the gaming experience, they may not be memorable enough for out-of-game listening. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.

    • “Combat, art style, character design, music, sound effects are simply awesome!”
    • “Art design and animations are amazing, soundtrack and voice acting pretty good, gameplay and making combos so much fun and it has a funny humor too.”
    • “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 development5 mentions

    Character development is enhanced through engaging dialogue at "resting spots," allowing players to witness interactions between characters, which adds depth to their personalities. The game features impressive character designs and offers unlockable costumes, contributing to a polished overall experience.

    • “I also like the character designs and there are plenty of unlockable costumes.”
    • “There are also 'resting spots' in which you can hear the characters talk to each other, enhancing character development.”
    • “Character design is great and gameplay is fun overall.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression throughout the game.”
    • “I was disappointed by how one-dimensional the characters are; they don't evolve or change in any significant way.”
    • “Despite the interesting premise, the character arcs are predictable and fail to engage the player emotionally.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game is primarily optimized for controller use, as it was originally designed for PlayStation, leading to subpar performance and gameplay when using mouse and keyboard. While it features some interesting concepts, these are undermined by significant performance issues, ineffective combat mechanics, and poorly designed enemy AI and placement.

    • “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!”
    • “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.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly during the final boss battle, which is described as both boring and unfairly challenging for solo players. While some appreciate the storytelling, the overall sentiment leans towards grinding being a cumbersome experience.

    • “Ultimately, it was very tedious.”
    • “The 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.”
  • replayability2 mentions

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

    • “The game is infinitely replayable, offering new experiences with each playthrough.”
    • “Every decision you make leads to different outcomes, making it a game you can return to time and again.”
    • “With multiple paths and endings, the replayability factor is off the charts!”
    • “Once you complete the game, there's little incentive to go back. The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying feel pointless.”
    • “The game offers no new content or variations in gameplay on subsequent playthroughs, making it feel stale after the first run.”
    • “While the story is engaging, the linear progression means that replaying it doesn't offer any fresh experiences or surprises.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game has been reported to have significant stability issues, with users experiencing game-breaking glitches and overall buggy performance.

    • “I encountered two game-breaking glitches; it's nothing new.”
    • “The game is incredibly buggy!”
    • “There are numerous stability issues that ruin the experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

60% average critic score

Buy Shing!

Videos

Similar Games

Game News