Game Reviews

Smashy Duo review - An arcade game done just right

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Smashy Duo review - An arcade game done just right
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| Smashy Duo

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Smashy Duo is one of those games that just clicks from the start. It's a two-touch action game that's all about whomping down piles of enemies.

It's part Pong, part modern mobile sensibilities, and it runs along at such a hectic pace that it's almost impossible not to get caught up in its cavalcade of wonderful nonsense.

Two to tango

The game sees you controlling two different heroes. Tap on the left to swing one bat, tap on the right to swing the other. You're trying to keep a ball in play.

But that ball isn't just breaking blocks, it's smashing zombies in the face. You don't have any control over where the ball ends up, so it's a case of reaction rather than skill.

Sometimes you'll hit a special zombie, and that'll set off a chain reaction of destruction. There's fire, there's lightning, there's ice.

The game throws unlocks at you in a beautifully quick way. Here's a new stage, here are some new heroes to play with, here are a few coins because you've done well enough in the last few plays.

It urges you to keep playing. And even though the actually play is contained in bite-sized chunks that'll fit perfectly into a toilet break or a bus-trip, you're going to keep diving back in.

This is arcade gaming done with swagger and charm. There are pop culture references throughout, and every time you get a new set of heroes you're going to smile.

New balls plz

There's no real depth here, but there's enough going on that you can't help but want to keep going. It's simple and repetitive, but in the very best ways.

There are definite shades of Nitrome here, and that's no small feat. If you're looking for a new game to take your mind off the horrors of existence, then this one is well worth checking out.

Smashy Duo review - An arcade game done just right

A brilliant arcade experience that begs to be played
Score
Harry Slater
Harry Slater
Harry used to be really good at Snake on the Nokia 5110. Apparently though, digital snake wrangling isn't a proper job, so now he writes words about games instead.