Stick Swipe Review
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Stick Swipe Review

Our Review by Jennifer Allen on August 7th, 2012
Rating: starstarstarblankstarblankstar :: SHALLOW
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Stick Swipe offers a mindless distraction of a swiping game but one that fails to excite after a time.

Developer: Bored.com
Price: FREE
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Device Reviewed On: iPhone 4

Graphics / Sound Rating: starstarstarblankstarblankstar
Gameplay Rating: starstarstarblankstarblankstar
Playtime Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar
Replay Value Rating: starstarhalfstarblankstarblankstar

Overall Rating: starstarstarblankstarblankstar


Initially, Stick Swipe is a fantastically addictive experience. Combining RPG-style fighting elements with on-screen swiping might not be the most original idea ever but this game does it quite well. Dispensing with fancy graphics, Stick Swipe uses stick men and other simple creations to demonstrate what's going on. It's a nice idea that's charming in its own way. Unfortunately, it's not long before you'll realise that you saw everything the game had to offer in the first five minutes.

Spread across 6 levels, each with a boss battle at the end, Stick Swipe ends up a little repetitive. Swiping is a matter of following the numbers displayed on screen in order to complete a certain move. The only options, at first, are to attack with a sword or defend with a shield. Later on, it's possible to unlock new skills such as healing spells or fire attacks but the same swiping method applies.

Timing is crucial, both in terms of swiping through the numbers quickly and also when it comes to defending attacks. A blue bar underneath the enemy's health bar indicates when an attack is looming. It's great fun at first, simple to get into yet quite addictive to progress through. The problem is that it never really develops much further.

There's an upgrade system in which players can boost their attacks or buy one off power ups, but even after maxing some of them out, I didn't really notice a pivotal difference other than things getting a little easier.

As a free to download game, it's perhaps a little harsh to criticize Stick Swipe for lack of expansion. While it offers plenty of in-app purchases, not once did I feel forced to buy anything extra which felt refreshing. It won't be long till players find themselves a little underwhelmed by Stick Swipe, however, despite its very promising start.

iPhone Screenshots

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Stick Swipe screenshot 1 Stick Swipe screenshot 2 Stick Swipe screenshot 3 Stick Swipe screenshot 4 Stick Swipe screenshot 5

iPad Screenshots

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Stick Swipe screenshot 6 Stick Swipe screenshot 7 Stick Swipe screenshot 8 Stick Swipe screenshot 9 Stick Swipe screenshot 10
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