Shu Reviews
Shu is a great platformer inspired by some classic games, and although it never quite lives up to that inspiration, it still delivers a fun experience.
Shu is not exactly a memorable experience, mostly because of its non-existent difficulty and derivative gameplay. Nonetheless, the game from Coatsink is perfect for touch and go moments, has a peculiar style and art, and a peaceful soundtrack.
Review in Italian | Read full review
In the end, Shu is a well-made platformer that is short but does many things right. It may not be the best, flawless or the most original game out there, but it's a fun and varied journey that's worth taking if you're fond of the genre.
In conclusion, Shu is an earnest little platformer that tries its best to mimic the big boys and almost does so with it’s very solid gameplay and ability switching mechanics. It’s only a brief experience with not too much incentive to go back but at least it doesn’t outstay its welcome. It’s got solid presentation too and stands above other rivals at the same price point or higher. It’s not a game I will remember for years to come or anything, but it was a pleasant experience I’m happy to have had and, aside from a couple of frustrating parts, I’m sure you will too.
Shu is a memorable and charming little 2D adventure that features varied gameplay and plenty of replay value.
Shu is a decent 2D platformer that puts gameplay first, and in stripping away needless distractions provides a refreshing and pleasant few hours of fun. The art style and soundtrack are pretty good, giving way to some lovely sights and sounds on your journey, while the ever-changing set of abilities ensures the game is able to provide new challenges throughout. There are numerous collectibles and other goals to encourage players to stick around, although it all feels somewhat inconsequential. Overall, Shu is a fun distraction that goes to show games don't have to be complex in order to entertain.
Shu is an elegant, attractive and thoughtful 2D platformer that strips away a lot of the excess of its genre rivals. It's still not ripping up any rulebooks or reinventing the wheel, and it's far from the best platformer on the eShop. If you're after a more sedate alternative to Sonic Mania and company, however, it's an enjoyable way to spend a few hours.
Shu is a no frills approach to the classic 2D platformer. With a beautiful artstyle, fine-tuned controls, and a brisk difficulty, Shu is a short but sweet experience. However, even with collectibles and time modes, some players will likely be turned off by the simple controls and lack of innovation.
Shu is great in its presentation, but flalters with its raw mechanics. It provides a solid, albeit simple platforming experience.
Yoshi's Island this is not, but it's a honest and cute (albeit very short) platform, with a handful of good ideas but a strange difficulty curve. If only it didn't play that safe, it could have been a first choice for Switch owners.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The actions of the characters are stiff but somehow the developer still created smooth and flowing gameplay. The platforming itself is complaint free and, once again, the score and level design are beautiful. The key word for this review is relaxing. Shu didn't blow me away as a platformer but it's still a really solid and enjoyable game.
Despite the goodwill that Coatsink may have gathered with the release of Gang Beasts, Shu is still likely to have a hard time making itself heard not only among its own genre, but among games in general, considering the crowded time period it has been released in.
Shu has pretty and nice visuals, and a solid gameplay, which mixes classic dynamics with original features, and shows a good level design. The game is suggested, even if it lasts only a few hours and it does not present such strong incentives to play it again.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The game may not do too much more than tick the boxes of what one expects of a platformer, and stumbles a few times on level design and coherence, but the wrapping of the game is a masterfully neat bow that will really help to draw in an audience.
While it never really shakes up the genre, it ticks all the boxes that platformer fans enjoy. Shu's main campaign doesn't last very long, just a handful of hours, but it's designed so that players will want to continue playing to find every collectible and improve their timing. If you're the kind of player that likes that sort of challenge, Shu may just be for you.
All said Shu is an absolutely gorgeous game that can likely be enjoyed by gamers of all skill levels as long as they’re ready to challenge themselves. The darkness phases can all be beaten if you’re patient and work out how to cut corners to save time, so even if you feel a little overwhelmed at first some commitment should get you through in the end. I do wish the challenge were more evenly distributed and there were tangible rewards for bothering to collect everything but overall Shu is a solid platforming experience.
Shu will long be remembered for its wondrous art direction and hand-drawn characters, but also for the game’s many shortcomings. It’s bittersweet to reach the game’s conclusion, a moment that comes far too soon and leaves the player without enough of a compelling reason to sink more time into it. There’s charm to be found in the experience, but, as I soon discovered, it doesn’t take long to outrun a storm.
Ultimately Shu is a bit of a strange beast; it’s probably not difficult or substantial enough to appeal to the Super Meat Boy crowd, but also perhaps a little too frustrating to rope in those craving a purely relaxing experience. The near-total lack of a story certainly does it no favours, but on the flip side, when this game really hits its stride, it can be ludicrously entertaining.
Recommended 2d-Platformer that offers something unique
I still don’t understand why the storm has teeth.