Shredders
- March 16, 2022
- FoamPunch
- 13h median play time
Shredders is not as challenging as I was expecting, and whilst this limits its overall longevity, it's accessible, laid back and fun to play.
Break into the snowboarding event of the year in the hope of scoring a wildcard entry to an exclusive invitational. To prove you’re up to the challenge, master the art of park riding, buttering, rails and massive kickers and earn your place in the world of snowboarding. While making another goofball video at the Frozen Wood resort, brand ambassador Lisa makes an offer for a couple of sponsored vi…
Reviews
- Incredibly realistic snowboarding mechanics that provide a true-to-life experience.
- Addictive gameplay with a satisfying learning curve, making it rewarding to master tricks.
- Beautiful graphics and a large open world to explore, with a variety of terrains and parks.
- Controls can be unintuitive and difficult to master, leading to frustration for new players.
- The story mode and voice acting are often considered cheesy and lack depth.
- Some bugs and glitches can disrupt gameplay, particularly with trick registration and physics inconsistencies.
- story301 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story in "Shredders" is generally perceived as lighthearted and self-aware, often described as cheesy or cringy, but it adds a fun element to the gameplay. While some players appreciate the humor and charm of the narrative, many criticize the voice acting and mission structure, noting that the missions can be frustrating due to bugs and unclear objectives. Overall, the story serves primarily as a vehicle for unlocking gameplay features rather than a focal point, with many players preferring the freeride experience over the structured missions.
“The story is hilarious, goofy characters, and an engaging story in general, there's plenty of real snowboarding superstars in this game that you can shred with!”
“The story does a great job of progressively teaching you new techniques and tricks, then ramping up in difficulty.”
“I love the story throughout the missions you do.”
“The story mode leaves a lot to be desired.”
“The actual core gameplay is great, but I feel like the forced story missions are extremely frustrating.”
“Voice acting and story could use some polish, but who cares about that when you can shred that gnar pow!”
- gameplay164 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this snowboarding game is widely praised for its realistic mechanics and intuitive controls, offering a satisfying blend of arcade and simulation elements that appeal to both casual players and enthusiasts. While some users note issues with certain mechanics, such as rail sliding and scoring systems, the overall experience is described as fun and engaging, with a steep learning curve that rewards skill mastery. Despite minor bugs and a lack of polish in other areas, the core gameplay is considered exceptional, making it a standout title in the genre.
“The gameplay is extremely satisfying and intuitive without putting the player on rails.”
“I am a ski instructor and an aspiring game developer, and for me this is the most authentic snowboard feel in a video game but still 'arcade' enough so almost anyone can learn it, with great physics and very intuitive mechanics like spinning in counter-rotation using the upper body and the board separately.”
“The mechanics are probably the best out of any snowboard game.”
“Takes me another 50 tries to beat because the letters are tiny, the lines borderline make no sense, the natural line is constantly broken with weird tight janky turns. The game was almost designed as if the player character moves slower than they do, constantly creeping up on the NPC I'm following and hitting stuff way too fast. Going off ledges, the character just starts twisting in random directions for no reason, like a magnetized snap mechanic, but it's like thin air and the character will slowly start backflipping to snap to the wall of the ledge you just went off. Jank.”
“I recommend this game if you want to just relax and ride, but I do not recommend this game if you want to 100% challenges and go for unlocks. The game has way too many glaring mechanical issues when you get into the high-end challenges where you're no longer being challenged by gameplay, rather, you're being challenged by really bad scoring systems and physics limitations.”
“Controls are counter-intuitive and go against the natural flow of movement, which is antithetical to what is promoted by the gameplay style.”
- graphics93 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received mixed but generally positive feedback, with many players praising the stunning visuals and immersive environments that enhance the snowboarding experience. While some users noted occasional graphical glitches and optimization issues, the overall consensus is that the graphics are solid, especially for an indie title, and effectively capture the essence of the sport. Players appreciate the balance between graphical fidelity and gameplay depth, highlighting that the game's realistic physics and controls often take precedence over high-end visuals.
“The attention to detail in Shredders is unparalleled, capturing the essence of the sport with stunning graphics and realistic physics that made me feel like I was carving through powder on a real mountain.”
“Fantastic game for someone who snowboards in real life like me; the graphics are insane and it is super realistic.”
“Shredders fills the void left behind by SSX and Amped with its beautiful visuals, easy-to-pick-up nature, and a story that knows (and pokes fun of) the limitations brought by the indie space.”
“There's occasional graphical bugs like shadows disappearing (especially in the replay view).”
“The snowboard game did a lot of things right but lacked quality graphics and general AAA-type polish.”
“This is like a budget version of Riders Republic, with worse physics, controls, graphics, etc. Glad I could get my money back.”
- music73 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its energetic and immersive qualities that enhance the snowboarding experience, while others criticize it as repetitive and lacking variety. Many users suggest that the soundtrack complements the gameplay well, creating a chill atmosphere, but some feel it quickly becomes stale, leading them to prefer their own playlists. Overall, while the soundtrack has its fans, it also leaves room for improvement in terms of variety and volume control options.
“Best snowboarding game ever, the music gives you energy.”
“The soundtrack deserves special mention, as it perfectly complements the high-energy vibe of shredders.”
“The music is great and the storyline is amazing!”
“The music is terrible.”
“It's some weird electronic music that is very repetitive and gets old fast.”
“The music is wack, not an issue with having Spotify in the background.”
- humor33 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- -6 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its lighthearted and self-aware tone, with players enjoying the goofy storylines, funny dialogue, and humorous glitches that often enhance the experience rather than detract from it. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to mock itself, creating a relaxed atmosphere filled with laugh-out-loud moments, particularly during missions and cutscenes. Overall, the humor adds a charming layer to the gameplay, making it a recommended choice for those seeking a fun and entertaining snowboarding experience.
“The story is cringy in a funny way - doesn't take itself seriously at all.”
“I like how they mock their own game in the beginning of the story, laughing at the fact that the developers didn't have a budget for faces.”
“The campaign was quite fun, and I also did not expect such hilarious cutscenes!”
“The cutscenes are so corny and unfunny that they detract from the overall experience.”
“The humor in this game feels forced and falls flat, making it hard to enjoy.”
“The jokes are so poorly executed that they make the game feel more tedious than entertaining.”
- stability30 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many users noting a variety of bugs and glitches, particularly in physics and mission mechanics. While some players find these issues detract from the experience, others appreciate the overall gameplay and fun factor, suggesting that the game runs well despite its imperfections. Overall, it appears that while the game is enjoyable, it is marred by stability issues that could benefit from further optimization.
“Runs great.”
“Awesome game, looks and runs great.”
“Aside from those things, I think this game is pretty sick; looks great, runs great, very satisfying when you get the trick you want.”
“The quest for 100% game completion turned this relaxing, enjoyable game into a blood boiling feud against the buggy physics and seemingly impossible task at hand.”
“However, there are still a lot of glitches (both visual and gameplay), missions not working, and input delay (ex: turning the left thumb stick results in no response from the rider).”
“Overall the game is fun but very buggy.”
- grinding20 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The grinding mechanics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the fun and immersive experience, while others criticize the clunky controls and inconsistent grind detection that disrupts gameplay. Many express a desire for more fluidity and style in grinding, comparing it unfavorably to other titles like Shaun White Snowboarding. Overall, while some find grinding exhilarating, others see it as a tedious and frustrating aspect of the game.
“Maybe I suck at the moment, but I would love some more style when grinding, like tweaking a nice nose or tail press. This is the snowboarding I have been waiting for.”
“Grinding in this game is an absolute mess.”
“That said, the unbelievably inconsistent grind detection and magnetism make it impossible to get genuinely 'good' at grinding.”
“The only gripes are that the map UI sucks (just give me a Skyrim-style where I have markers and can scroll and select!), and the grinding is pretty clunky and interrupts the flow.”
- optimization18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report solid graphics and decent performance on mid-range systems, others experience significant stuttering and performance issues, particularly in multiplayer scenarios. Recent updates have introduced new graphics settings and optimizations, but many still find the game janky and lacking in audio and graphical refinement. Despite these challenges, the developers are actively working on improvements, indicating a commitment to enhancing the game's performance.
“The PC version now has new graphics settings and optimizations to help it run smoothly.”
“Can't recommend this game enough; the developer Foampunch really seems to care about this game and is still updating it with new areas to the map and optimizations.”
“The game's performance has improved since launch, and the recent addition of FSR makes this game locked at 75fps at medium settings on my rig (GTX 1650, Ryzen 5 2600, 16GB RAM).”
“Game is overall really janky and unoptimized, controls feel a bit clunky.”
“Supposed to be deck verified but struggles to even maintain 30fps on lowest settings; very poorly optimized and should be removed from the verified list.”
“Wish the optimization was better; however, my 3070 will get some pretty bad stutters when bombing hills after spawning in certain areas, and it can really mess up my tricks.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its rich sound design and engaging visuals, which enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the fantastic soundtrack that complements the environment, creating a relaxing and immersive setting. However, some feel that there is room for improvement in terms of variety and color to further enrich the atmosphere.
“And the excellent visuals and the fantastic soundtrack just add to the already great atmosphere.”
“The sound and atmosphere are rich and engaging and provide a consistent amount of variety from terrain parks to towns.”
“The fluidity, atmosphere, and most importantly the physics all work so much better than any other snowboarding title I've ever played and it isn't even a competition.”
“It completely destroys the atmosphere.”
“Doesn't quite have the same atmosphere as Steep, neither a comparable original OST.”
“- More color in places would be nice for a little bit of atmosphere.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players have praised the game for its emotional depth, particularly in the story missions that evoke strong feelings, with some even reporting tears during gameplay. The combination of stunning graphics and realistic physics enhances the immersive experience, making players feel genuinely connected to the sport and their performance. Overall, the game successfully engages players on an emotional level, compelling them to express their appreciation.
“I almost cried during some of the story missions; they were so deep and emotional.”
“This game made me feel compelled to write this; it's just so good for being released one day prior to this review.”
“The attention to detail in Shredders is unparalleled, capturing the essence of the sport with stunning graphics and realistic physics that made me feel like I was carving through powder on a real mountain.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers significant replayability due to a wealth of quality community-created content and the opportunity for players to improve their skills. While some users note control inconsistencies and graphical errors that may limit replay value, the variety of parks and features still provide ample activities to engage with.
“The amount of quality community-created content also gives it a ton of replay value.”
“The constant feeling of being able to do a trick better or make it look more rad adds to the replayability of this amazing game.”
“A little pricey for the amount of story, but there's still lots to do and the parks/features you can hit are very replayable.”
“Shredders snowboards its way onto the Xbox Series X, but it limits the replay value with some control inconsistencies and graphical errors.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the absence of microtransactions for unlockables and cosmetics, others criticize the $30 price tag given the existing issues. Overall, the game offers good customization options without additional costs, but the lengthy story may not justify the initial investment for some players.
“The story is alright but very long, good customization and no microtransactions.”
“There are unlockables, of which none can be bought by microtransactions, but have to be found by hitting floating coins in the world.”
“But it shouldn't be a $30 game with microtransactions for cosmetics when there are these issues not ironed out.”
“The monetization model feels exploitative, especially considering the game's current state.”
“It's frustrating to see a game that charges full price still rely on microtransactions for basic content.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game lacks significant character development and a deep story mode, making it unsuitable for players seeking a rich narrative experience typically associated with high-quality video games.
“This is not a game for you if you need a deep story mode, cut-scenes, character development, and other classic metrics that would deem a video game good in an overall sense.”
Critic Reviews
Shredders Review – Far From A Wipeout
Shredders, in an analogous sense, is more Session than it is Skate. It’s hard to see the odd story resonating with anybody, the generously proportioned terrains are sparsely populated and, as a package, it feels feature-poor. This is all despite it feeling super confident in its controls and systems. It’s a small slam from which the developer can dust themselves off, but it’s far from a wipeout.
70%Shredders Review #XSX (Xbox Series X)
Shredders snowboards its way onto the Xbox Series X that while it limits the replay value with some control inconsistencies and graphically errors, it still delivers an enjoyable time.
70%Shredders Review
Needlessly complex controls dragging down a robust system, a storyline uninterested in upping the ante to wacky hijinks or otherwise, and a world that fails to acknowledge your existence, Shredders performs self-sabotage by seemingly not performing at all.
30%