Shing!

If you'd have told me before I played Shing! that I would like a control scheme that see's you launch combo attacks with an analogue stick, I would have karate chopped your kidney in anger. Ultimately, you would have been right. It's a control scheme that innovates, is accessible and offers a degree of combo flexibility not seen in more traditional beat 'em ups. In a stellar year for nostalgic side-scrolling beat 'em ups, Shing! is a new IP that absolutely demands your attention.

The art style, combat and humour make for a highly entertaining experience for anyone interested in a co-op experience with a retro brawler feel. Despite not having the same single player appeal and a couple of short comings this time round, Shing! is a promising new IP that can only improve its formula for future iterations.

Shing! is a beat ’em up with a few good ideas and facets to admire. While many of its ambitions aren’t executed in the best of ways, Shing! serves as a decent distraction with friends. Its four-player cooperation, competent if iffy combat, and polished art style make it an okay journey for its humble several hours of playtime.

I wish that Shing! stuck with traditional controls because it offers a fantastic campaign but the controls make it much less fun.