Shing! is a side-scrolling beat ‘em up developed by Mass Creation. A lot of effort was clearly put into the game, which represents the confluence of vibrant, aesthetically pleasing environments, an innovative combat system, overarching storyline, and four unique ninjas with lots of attitude. However, many aspects of the game were a swing and a miss; especially damningly for a brawler, fighting enemies feels at once both simplistic and overly difficult.
Shing! tells the story of four ninjas who need to work as a team to protect their city from an invading army of demons. While many development teams might have actualized a serious, somber narrative with such a premise, Mass Creation decided to imbue their overarching storyline with humor. The four protagonists are more akin to caricatures than fully fleshed-out personas, and they constantly spout off-color jokes. This bold move could turn off potential players, but at the same time can be in a positive in that it has the potential to evoke the ethos of media such as Marvel’s iconic Deadpool movie series.
However, the frame of mind typically required to truly immerse in a game that narrows its storyline’s focus onto four supposedly adept yet immature ninjas feels at odds with the combat system that Mass Creation implemented in Shing!. Combat is awkward on a keyboard, requiring players to utilize an odd set of command keys. And while Shing!’s combat is innovate on a controller, the new idea is to require players to consistently spam the right stick to attack, and this becomes draining very fast.
Moreover, for lethal professionals, the ninjas just do not feel as preterhumanly strong as the game’s lore and cut-scenes makes them out to be. While a level might begin with a ninja standing on a veritable tower of corpses that he single-handedly took out off-screen, as soon as players take control it takes multiple well-timed hits to dismantle even the weakest of enemies. Thinning out hordes requires precise, meticulous work lacking in leeway, even at Shing!’s easiest difficulty levels and at its earliest levels.
What’s especially interesting is that combat system is objectively even slightly oversimplified while also feeling somewhat punishing. Players have access to two main attacks (a slam attack and a kick) in addition to a rage attack that can only be activated once they fill a certain meter, and the only other moves available to them are to jump, dash, and block. This ultimately leads to a lack of options for combos, which is exacerbated by the fact that there are no weapons or items in Shing!’s various environments to interact with or to unlock.
For a beat ‘em up to succeed, it needs to nail its fighting system. And while Shing! features great graphics, detailed settings, and a soundtrack that can enhance one’s gaming experience, its combat does not feel fully realized.
Rating: 6/10
Check Out the Shing! Steam Trailer:
Shing! is available for Windows PC, Mac, and Linux for $19.99 via Steam.
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Steam Review
I'm a recent graduate of Columbia University. Gaming has been a passion of mine my entire life; I enjoy everything from RPGs and FPSs to stealth and narrative-driven games. I love the deeply immersive quality that good video games inherently possess, and am looking forward to highlighting games worthy of acclaim. When I'm not studying or reading, you can catch me playing games like Uncharted, Dishonored, The Witcher 3, and Far Cry.
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