Swarm

The game fails to innovate on its early mechanics, and it can feel like a chore to master some of the later levels. [Apr 2011, p.96]

An interesting new form of the Lemmings gameplay, but not interesting enough to keep me focused for more than half an hour. If it weren't for the ranking, I would not collect many points.

When all is said and done, Swarm is one of the few titles that can make frustrating, fun. It's certainly not a game for everyone, but if you can overlook some of the rough edges, there is a good time to be had. At 1200 MSP ($15), Swarm is on the pricier side for a downloadable title, so if you're on the fence, give the demo a try first. But if you've been jonesing for some good Lemmings-style action, this may be the closest you're going to get unless Sony decides to revive the Psygnosis classic one day.

Eventually fun, if you can stand the grind. [June 2011, p.105]

It's always refreshing to have a good game like this sneak up on you. Controlling the Swarm is solid and the platforming requires a deft precision.

I'm convinced the team at Hothead have a great downloadable game within them, but they're still not quite there yet.

It's almost as if the guys that made this game have been playing classic video games from the time before saves were invented and wanted to give you a taste of those early days of home gaming but with the saves added in.

Even when it's at its most curiously punishing, Swarm is dexterous enough to reward those who put the time into learning its methods and also satisfies with the type of cartoon violence that makes for a very endearing and well-made game on the whole.

Swarm is a simple game, but a fun experience overall. It lacks visuals but it offers a deep gameplay that keeps us busy for many hours. Not the best downloadable game out there, but fans of old-school gaming should give it a chance.

This pick-up-and-play title offers up more than enough challenge to keep you busy but enough charm and enjoyment to keep trying when hitting a brick wall. Though there's a high level of frustration in places, as levels take on the ridiculous difficulty of bullethell shmups, with practice and patience, you can master the swarm and have fun doing it.

Hothead Games has really gone out on a limb here by creating a more sadistic twist to what is essentially a psychotic lemming game on steroids right before a week long bender.

Swarm's cartoony violence is both charming and fun, but the game ends up being repetitive and mediocre. The game has got a good basic idea that unfortunately never reaches its full potential.

The core game just needed a bit more refinement to match up with what seems to be an exciting initial vision. If that had panned out, I honestly believe Swarm could have been something great.

Swarm is a game with a nice concept, which unfortunately isn't properly elaborated in the gameplay. Before you spend thirteen bucks, check if you have enough patience to play the same level over and over again.

A somewhat washed-out attempt at copying Lemmings and Pikmin, Swarm could have used more charm and a better structure for progress.

Clever in oh-so-many ways and almost endlessly replayable but, the level of frustration on offer might pose a health risk to those with blood pressure problems.

Even as the level designs seeks to frustrate you beyond measure, the game remains strangely addictive. If this were simply a bad game, you'd give up and move onto something else. But something at the core of Swarm keeps you coming back, despite all reason to the contrary.

Swarm will provide a stern test of both skill and patience.

An enjoyable enough score attacker, disappointingly one-dimensional and middling as it may be. [Issue#109, p.123]

It's a clever idea but being in charge of a swarm of moronic blue midgets proves a fairly fleeting and frustrating pleasure.