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Shio

I had a handful of small, niggling issues with Shio that by the end I was willing to overlook in the face of a game so expertly crafted that it shouldn’t be missed. I just wish there was more of it.
77%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
monetization, stability
79% User Score Based on 86 reviews
Critic Score 74%Based on 12 reviews

Platforms

Mac OSMac OSNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4WindowsWindowsPlayStationPlayStation
Buy Nowfrom $11.99
Buy NowGet on Steam$11.99

About

"Shio" is a challenging side-scrolling platformer where you jump from lantern to lantern to explore the world and uncover the past of a masked man. The environment is your only enemy in this game, which is divided into four chapters with meaningful environments. Using wits and dexterity is necessary to navigate through and find hidden rooms.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Shio screenshot
Shio screenshot
Shio screenshot
Shio screenshot
Shio screenshot
Shio screenshot
Shio screenshot
Shio screenshot
Shio screenshot
Shio screenshot

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 98 reviews
gameplay7 positive mentions
monetization2 negative mentions
  • Shio features beautiful graphics and a captivating atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience.
  • The game offers a decent level of challenge, making it engaging for fans of platformers who enjoy testing their skills.
  • Innovative mechanics, such as the midair jump reset, add variety to the gameplay and keep players invested.
  • The control scheme is overly simplistic, lacking advanced mechanics like variable jump heights or regrabs, which can make the gameplay feel repetitive.
  • Technical issues, including poor translations and bugs that cause the game to switch languages unexpectedly, detract from the overall experience.
  • The difficulty spikes can be frustrating, with some levels feeling unbalanced and punishing, leading to a potentially discouraging experience for players.
  • gameplay
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Shio is characterized by its engaging platforming mechanics and smart level design, which gradually introduces new challenges and requires precise timing, particularly with the "midair jump reset" mechanic. While the visuals and atmosphere are praised, some players note a lack of polish in physics and movement mechanics, which can lead to frustration. Overall, the game successfully combines old-school platforming elements with creative innovations, making for a varied and immersive experience.

    • “The platforming works well and keeps things varied with new mechanics introduced all the time.”
    • “Shio is an amazing platformer that takes tried and tested old school platforming and adds some new creative mechanics.”
    • “Though the story and music of the game didn't stand out at all, the level design, game mechanics, and overall flow of the game really carries Shio.”
    • “This is one of those Chinese platformers, which looks quite nice, has an okay level design, some interesting mechanics, but totally lacks any polish in regards to physics.”
    • “No small jump, no slow or fast jump mechanics, no regrabs.”
    • “The game makes use of a 'midair jump reset' mechanic which means you have to maneuver through difficult obstacles while making use of the jump resets; this means timing your jumps correctly, otherwise you’re sent right back to the previous checkpoint.”
  • graphics
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their captivating art style, colorful backgrounds, and smooth animations, evoking a distinct eastern aesthetic that feels almost like an art project. However, some users noted issues with frame rate management and a lack of visual diversity, while others found the visuals repetitive despite their overall appeal. Overall, the game is well-optimized and visually appealing, making it suitable for a range of hardware.

    • “It has an incredible art style, animations, and level layout that offer challenge and serenity.”
    • “It's got a great presentation with gorgeous visuals and a very immersive soundtrack.”
    • “The graphics in this game are very good looking and give a very distinct eastern feel to the game; all the sprite work is well made and looks great.”
    • “If you don't lock your FPS in the settings of your graphics card, this game takes every frame it gets and runs with like 800 FPS on modern hardware, which is kind of stupid and just a waste of energy.”
    • “Not too shabby, yet the visuals did lack both sufficient diversity and that certain something to draw attention to them.”
    • “I really wanted to like the game based on the visuals and music, but the controls are just too awful.”
  • story
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game is described as ambiguous and dreamlike, offering players a mysterious narrative that unfolds gradually through cryptic hints and small details. While some players appreciate the opportunity to interpret the story in their own way, others find it convoluted and lacking depth, often overshadowed by the game's challenging gameplay and level design. Overall, the narrative adds a layer of intrigue but may not be the primary draw for those seeking a straightforward storyline.

    • “It has great gameplay, sound, background music, and a story to follow.”
    • “The game has a very mysterious story surrounding it; it will only give you small hints and glimmers of what’s really going on, teasing you ever so slightly. There are also areas hidden throughout the game where you can find some more cryptic hints.”
    • “Shio is a decently challenging platformer with beautiful backgrounds and a moving story that you can unravel, which gives it a unique level of depth.”
    • “A convoluted story that isn't really explained.”
    • “Yet, the foggy storyline feels distanced from its rapid-fire level design, which can make the attempts at a meditative atmosphere feel forced and alienating.”
    • “The story is ambiguous and feels dreamlike, which led me to interpret things in my own way.”
  • music
    31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received positive feedback for its immersive and calming qualities, featuring a blend of eastern-inspired combat tracks and relaxing zen-like melodies. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance the overall atmosphere and level traversal experience, although some noted that the music alone does not compensate for other gameplay issues. Overall, the soundtrack is described as beautiful and fitting, contributing significantly to the game's presentation.

    • “The soundtrack to this game is also amazing, very calming and very fitting; I’m absolutely in love with it.”
    • “It's got a great presentation with gorgeous visuals and a very immersive soundtrack.”
    • “Though the story and music of the game didn't stand out at all, the level design, game mechanics, and overall flow of the game really carries Shio.”
    • “The soundtrack is comprised of oriental songs, which were the only relaxing part in Shio.”
    • “The game has a mix between eastern-inspired combat music and relaxing zen-like music.”
  • atmosphere
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beautiful graphics and fitting music, creating an engaging experience. However, some players feel that the disjointed storyline detracts from the intended meditative quality, making it feel forced at times. Overall, the combination of smart level design and a moody aesthetic contributes to a captivating atmosphere.

    • “The atmosphere and music are great and fit the game.”
    • “Great atmosphere.”
    • “Sublimely challenging, simple but attractive art style, moody and atmospheric.”
    • “The foggy storyline feels distanced from its rapid-fire level design, which can make the attempts at a meditative atmosphere feel forced and alienating.”
    • “The game lacks a cohesive atmosphere, making it difficult to immerse myself in the world.”
    • “Despite the beautiful graphics, the overall ambiance feels flat and uninspired, failing to evoke any real emotion.”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Shio is well-optimized for a 2D painting-like art style, allowing it to run on slightly older machines. However, some users have reported performance issues while streaming, which do not occur when playing the game without streaming. Overall, it caters to players who appreciate high-difficulty games that demand precise performance.

    • “Shio has a 2D painting-like art style and is well optimized, so it will probably run on slightly older machines.”
    • “It’s not for everyone, but if you enjoy high difficulty games which require perfect performance from the player, this one might just be for you.”
    • “I also had the performance issue while streaming that is not present when you’re not streaming.”
    • “I also had performance issues while streaming that are not present when I'm not streaming.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game "Shio" has not been directly addressed in the provided text, which primarily focuses on cultural elements rather than financial elements. Therefore, no specific insights on monetization can be drawn from this review.

  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is derived from its challenging gameplay, where players often find themselves failing in amusing ways, turning frustrating moments into comedic experiences.

    • “The game is so difficult that failure becomes genuinely funny.”
    • “The humor in the game is perfectly timed, making even the toughest moments enjoyable.”
    • “Every failure leads to a hilarious moment that keeps you coming back for more.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Shio offers nearly infinite replayability, allowing players to speed run each level and compete against a character known as "old friend," who presents challenging times to beat.

    • “Shio has nearly infinite replayability, as you can speed run each level, competing against a character in the game called 'Old Friend', who has some fairly good times.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users have reported issues with hit detection, particularly regarding lanterns, indicating that this aspect of the game may be unstable and prone to bugs.

    • “Hit detection on the lanterns seems a bit buggy too.”

74%Critics’ scoreBased on 12 critic reviews

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