Swing Shot Review

Swing Shot is a physics action game that proves one very simple thing: launching animals at inanimate objects is one thing. Using them to throw things at other animals is a much more fun beast. This has its heart in the physics puzzlers like Angry Birds, but is set up to where players have six animals hanging on a flimsy swinging structure. They choose their animal to throw a particular object at a similar set of animals on the other side of the screen, trying to not fall to their jungle-y doom. But being hit causes the animals to sway back and forth, making it harder to aim the harder they swing.

Oh, and did I mention that this takes place between other real people over the internet? Online gaming – it’s the future!

There are many ways to win in Swing Shot, and the game is set up to let players discover the best strategy for them. Want to just go for animal takedowns? Perhaps load up on boomerang-throwing pandas and stone-throwing monkeys. Prefer to take down the hanging environment? Load up on bug-throwing sloths and shuriken-throwing raccoons to take out the boards and ropes more effectively. It’s an interesting mix of strategy, and character positioning can play a big role in how an opponent is approached.

The multiplayer modes are the real draw, with the normal mode, a sniper mode where everyone has an aiming line, and a mode where all attacks are super-powered for lightning-fast matches. Don’t miss. The singleplayer arcade mode is a fun draw as well for its individual challenges that can earn extra bananas along with providing opportunities to practice.

The game does monetize by way of consumable character and part usage, though it appears that some items only go down when they’re broken, like characters that fall. It’s fair enough. While coins appear to be primarily gained through IAP, they can be used to unlock permanent versions of each character, though multiples will need to be bought for each of the 6 character slots. So, while long-term it feels like something where money will need to be spent for upgrades, it seems like each item has its drawbacks along with the advantages that they present. I’ve lost to people just using the default rollout of six monkeys and the default wooden boards. The upgrades feel more like they’re about customization, than “spend money to win.” The game is cross-platform, seemingly with its online multiplayer as well as accounts; games can be carried across different devices and operating systems as long as the same account is logged in to.

While it is another game about launching things at other things, and yes the temptation to spend money will set in – buy Swing Shot PLUS to start off with some extra bananas and coins – but this is otherwise a rather fun take on the physics puzzler.