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[h1]The Game[/h1]
[i]Shudder[/i] is a simple arcade survival game that has some psychedelic look, optional glitchy effects, and quite addictive gameplay. It is a simple game in appearance and concept, and is definitely one game that you learn as you go, and adapt your game style to how you wish to play. [b]Warning: be careful if you have a seizure disorder.[/b]
[h1]Gameplay[/h1]
The creator has lovingly dubbed this game "a high-speed, twin-stick shooter with one stick and no shooting." So you get an idea that you are being hunted from all sides and needing to survive. The store description also mentions that it "sits somewhere in the middle of Geometry Wars, Pac-Man, and Snake." This is also fairly accurate. Though it's more like Pac-Man and Geometry Wars, with predominance on the Pac-Man aspect, because you are going around, gobbling up resources and boosting your energy to engage your Shudder Drive 9000TM. The Snake likeness is only in the need to go around and consume resources. Geometry Wars is clearly the inspiration of much of the artwork.
Once you engage your Shudder Drive 9000TM, based on your energy levels, all of the Para-Bugs that are at your energy level or lower are instantly paralyzed so that you can then turn on them to kill/eat them like in Pac-Man when you turn the tables. They have no fighting chance, though. You either kill them, or they explode at the end of a certain time period. This is quite a mighty Shudder attack that replaces the need to be able to shoot to keep your enemies at bay.
Various colored Vortex Cubes appear along with Energy Voids as you accumulate points on your run, and by using the appropriate energy Shudder attacks, you can destroy these obstacles as well. They interfere with your run, sure, but they also help, depending how you go about moving around them to your advantage. Of course they are also deadly to your ships as well, so be careful when you get too close! As you shatter them, they turn into rare currency orbs that you need to collect in order to spend at the Ship Shop to unlock other ships that may increase your survival chances, increase your points gained, but also with increased difficulty.
The objective of the game is just to accumulate as many points as possible in a traditional arcade score-chasing fashion. You start with three lives, and it is possible to gain extra as you play (I must say they are not easy to get.)
There are achievements, and some of the more difficult ones are going to be quite a reach for some people. This really helps with that need to play one more game right after your previous death. The game requires you to look at the high scores, and if you achieved a local high score, the need to input your name (this is saved from previously), and then click on start a new game to restart. This is a bit burdensome, as the game could just automatically post high scores and have a quick restart function after each game over.
[h1]Controls[/h1]
Works well with keyboard or controller. The controller is encouraged. You move with your left stick and you use a single button to use your Shudder attack.
[h1]Graphics and Music[/h1]
Psychedelic graphics, retro-style with smooth lines, but with optional glitchy effect that looks like tape-skips. The game warns players who may have seizure disorders that you would see a lot of flashing lights. There's some frames of ambiguity if you are massacring a screenful of the Para-Bugs that may lead to your instant death, I wish this is not the case, but you learn to work around and be a little more cautious. Music is there for the arcade game, it doesn't make it, it doesn't break it.
[h1]Audience[/h1]
This game is easy to learn, one joystick, one button, that it can be played by anyone. It is also addictive and there is no blood or gore. It only has plenty of flashing lights, as mentioned above, so people with seizure disorders should be careful.
[h1]Pricing[/h1]
Base price of $7.99 USD is perhaps slightly steep for a game like this, due to its simplicity. If you are someone who is easily addicted to games like this, you may find yourself playing in spurs of 1-2 hours, easily, especially after you learn the ropes. That next "one more" might last you quite a long time. For people who do not like repetitive nature of this game might find themselves playing one run at a time, and thus, shorter spurts are appropriate for some. Games like this often range in the 3-4 USD range on Steam. So a sale price is perhaps more appropriate.
[h1]Positives[/h1]
+Fun and addictive arcade survival game
+"high-speed, twin-stick shooter with one stick and no shooting" is a daunting task, but they made it work pretty well.
+Achievements
+Replayability
+Easy to learn
+Local, Global, and Friends leaderboards
[h1]Negatives[/h1]
-No changes in arena (single small box that is always the same)
-Repetitive motions that may be less desirable to some
-Shudder + Para-Bug killing often leads to instant death for you if an unsuspecting Vortex Cube or Energy Void appears out of nowhere
-Price is a bit steep
[h1]Conclusion[/h1]
[i]Shudder[/i] is a fun and addictive, albeit repetitive, arcade style arena survival game with score-chasing and psychedelic graphics. The game is not for everyone, and people with seizure disorders need to be aware of the graphics within. The game is a bit over-priced but is simple to learn and to play, while maintaining its replayability (my person opinion). I think it's a good game that deserves your attention.
The following is a video of my trying to learn my ropes and dying a lot in the process. I have since improved, and I am really enjoying the game:
https://youtu.be/CQYGLELGvDE
[quote]I received the product for free. I did not receive any compensation to write this review. The opinions represented here are entirely my own and were not influenced in any way.[/quote]
