Shank

 PC
User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 183 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 74 out of 183
  2. Mixed: 87 out of 183
  3. Negative: 22 out of 183

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  1. JaydenPickens
    Feb 20, 2019
    6
    Fun, but short. The controls on keyboard are not good, but still I was able to finish this. Pickens approves!
  2. Jay_Pickens
    Aug 15, 2018
    6
    Fun, but short. The controls on keyboard are not good, but still I was able to finish this. Pickens approves!
  3. tech-noir
    Apr 4, 2012
    6
    As the game loads each time, you are instantly presented with a warning that you should be using a controller to play the game. This is unacceptable, as I've purchased it for PC, and I expect it to be played as such. Despite this misplaced excuse of a warning, Shank can be played and enjoyed with the keyboard. The controls and combinations aren't too pitiful, and you will be able toAs the game loads each time, you are instantly presented with a warning that you should be using a controller to play the game. This is unacceptable, as I've purchased it for PC, and I expect it to be played as such. Despite this misplaced excuse of a warning, Shank can be played and enjoyed with the keyboard. The controls and combinations aren't too pitiful, and you will be able to execute most of them as soon as you get used to how the mechanics work. The artwork is well done, in a comic book style setting. The voice acting is okay for what it is, but you should not expect them to be excellent. Even though the game is violent, the overall atmosphere is quite mild and cartoony. The story isn't very original nor is it interesting, but it does fit fine with the overall presentation and game play style. Even though Shank attempts to go back to the glory days of early to mid 90s Beat 'em ups, it comes off as unpolished and sometimes inadequate in some forced platforming elements. There is very little variety between the levels and enemies, and once you get acquainted with the moves, Shank gets increasingly repetitive in all aspects, and you will be hoping for a quick finish to the game. After a very short while, it all looks the same, feels the same, and plays the same. The unlocks don't add much at all, and there is very little to be gained with the weapons the game makes available to the player on a permanent basis as you progress through the story. The boss battles can often drag and do not offer any true challenge or difference in game play in comparison to the rest of the enemies. There is very little charm in Shank, in comparison to games of the same genre from earlier generations. It's button mashing without any skill or strategy whatsoever. The music and setting are akin to stereotypical Southwestern United States, and this provides the player with slight immersion to the theme, albeit a basic one. The general concept would have been better suited for a short animated film instead of a shallow and slightly subpar game. Tedious fight mechanics coupled with poorly designed boss battles makes for a forgettable and passable gaming experience. It took me about 5 hours to complete.… Expand
  4. gerszom
    Apr 13, 2013
    7
    Nice way to spend 2 and a half hour of Your life when You don't have anything better to do. And that Tarantino climate is awesome. I had a really good time with this product.
  5. JonesR
    May 12, 2012
    7
    I am genuinely impressed with Shank--a great old school action brawler with a story straight out of the Kill Bill movies. The action is very clean and fluid. It offers some basic combo moves, fitting weapons, and a few other pleasant surprises. On the downside, it only takes about 2-3 hours to complete the game on normal difficulty. Although it is an enjoyable 2-3 hours of non-stop action.
  6. cgriff63
    Jan 22, 2012
    6
    game play is fun, and i enjoyed the visual style, but it noticeably tries too hard to be an M-rated game. A lot of the mature content seems too forced. Also, the story is shallow and predictable, with a lot of lazy writing. So If you're interested in some fun, mindless game play, you might find a game worth playing here. otherwise, I'd let this one slide.
  7. Karlsefniy
    Aug 3, 2022
    7
    Overall, a really fun game. There is a lot of reasons to find story uninteresting, and I did'nt find it interesting either, but still it does its job to make the game continue. The two selling points of Shank, art style and gameplay, made me like it. Nevertheless; I still think total play time is too long for the limited content it has.
  8. Mashley
    Feb 13, 2012
    7
    Immensely repetitive, and very short, but it's still a good evening's worth of entertainment. Buy it if it looks like your kind of game. Remember to play with a controller as directed; if you don't have one you really should go an buy one.
  9. mrnice
    Jan 14, 2013
    5
    The game delivers mindless action in loads. But is that enough? Will the b-movie pastiche storyline keep you entertained? It works for a few hours, but you'll earn nothing from your investment.
  10. Dr_Radio
    May 9, 2013
    7
    While this game ain't no "Mark of the Ninja", it definetly is a game worth playing. I had so much fun with this, this should've been Devil May Cry! Some of the best combat i have ever seen in a game, great bosses, lovely graphics, and sound design (i think). However, the game is REALLY short (but there is a lot of challenge), and sometimes i feel like there are some odd difficulty spikes.While this game ain't no "Mark of the Ninja", it definetly is a game worth playing. I had so much fun with this, this should've been Devil May Cry! Some of the best combat i have ever seen in a game, great bosses, lovely graphics, and sound design (i think). However, the game is REALLY short (but there is a lot of challenge), and sometimes i feel like there are some odd difficulty spikes. But like Mark of the Ninja, you get the hang of it. The story is just stupid and the ending is even worse, but do you really buy a game for the story? Oh wait... The game is very addictive and time-consuming, so i recommend you try it!… Expand
  11. stop9091
    Jul 1, 2018
    6
    A funny little beat 'em up.

    Pros: - outstanding art style - entertaining - one can find its own style in the (excessive amount of) moves So-so - two levels of difficulty; the easy is a walk in the park, maybe a bit too easy - the combo system is sort of "slow"; although it's a somewhat fast game, it hasn't the reaction times of a fast platformer, since one has to wait the    A funny little beat 'em up.

    Pros:

    - outstanding art style
    - entertaining
    - one can find its own style in the (excessive amount of) moves

    So-so

    - two levels of difficulty; the easy is a walk in the park, maybe a bit too easy
    - the combo system is sort of "slow"; although it's a somewhat fast game, it hasn't the reaction times of a fast platformer, since one has to wait the animations to complete. this is not necessarily bad, but some people may not like it (I don't)
    - there are a lot of moves, maybe too much. some may like it, some not (I don't)
    - gun directions are weird

    Cons:

    - the controls are unnecessarily complex. the devs fit in the disturbing modern trend that if a game doesn't use 8 buttons, it's not worth developing
    - the combo system has minor bugs, e.g. sometimes a dash doesn't cross the enemy, or the direction doesn't change if pointing in the opposite direction during button mashin, etc.etc.
    - boss battles are all the same: wait, dash and hit, over and over again.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

60
#60 Most Discussed PC Game of 2010

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 11
  3. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. Absolute Games
    Jan 31, 2011
    69
    Shank may sound like the best game in the world, but in reality all its virtues are undermined by a fatal flaw – it's way too simple.
    Read full review
  2. PC Gamer UK
    Jan 20, 2011
    39
    Shank is a visually attractive but completely shallow excuse for a 2D brawler game. Frustrating combat doesn't help.
    Read full review
  3. PC PowerPlay
    Dec 30, 2010
    60
    Shank - like the hero - is a pleasure to watch, but there's not much going on inside. [Jan 2010, p.64]
See all critic reviews »