Review by Jon Donnis
There is something wonderfully ridiculous about sitting on a swing and launching shoes at targets, yet somehow, Shoe it All! turns that simple idea into an entertaining little physics puzzle game.
You play as Lace, an angsty teenager with a pile of shoes and a determination to challenge anyone trying to tell them what to do or who to become. The setup is simple, but thankfully, so are the controls. You push left and right to build momentum on the swing, then kick off and launch your shoe towards the target. Getting your aim and timing right is crucial, and when everything comes together, landing the perfect shot is genuinely satisfying.
The physics are a big part of what makes the game enjoyable. Not every throw goes according to plan, and that is often where some of the best moments come from. Shoes can bounce in unexpected directions, shots can go horribly wrong and you can occasionally stumble across an accidental solution. Rather than making failure frustrating, the game manages to make those mistakes part of the fun.
As you progress, the levels become increasingly challenging, introducing new obstacles and mechanics that force you to think more carefully about your shots. The game does a good job of taking its basic idea and gradually building upon it, while the multiple solutions available on some puzzles encourage experimentation.
Visually, Shoe it All! is a particularly attractive little game. It has a unique art style that immediately gives it an identity, with its comic-inspired world and memorable characters helping it stand apart. It looks bright, energetic and suitably playful, which fits the game's personality perfectly.
The soundtrack is another highlight. The high-energy punk rock music is a great match for the game's attitude and gives the experience plenty of energy. It is one of those soundtracks that feels like an important part of the overall package rather than something simply playing in the background.
There are more than 65 handcrafted levels in the full game, along with nearly 200 collectible stickers to find and add to your journal. There are also secret challenges and hidden bonus levels.
This extra content is particularly important because the main game is relatively short. You can work your way through the levels fairly quickly, so anyone expecting a lengthy puzzle adventure may be left wanting more. However, completing the levels is only really the beginning if you want to see everything Shoe it All! has to offer.
Trying to achieve maximum points, hunting down secrets, collecting all of the stickers and working towards completing all of the achievements gives you plenty of reasons to return to previously completed levels.
There are also occasions where it is not immediately obvious what you are supposed to be aiming for. Some levels can initially leave you wondering what the game expects you to do, although you will soon figure things out as you experiment with the mechanics. Given how much the game encourages creativity and different approaches, this is not necessarily a bad thing.
Ultimately, Shoe it All! succeeds because it keeps things simple. There is a fun central mechanic, the levels gradually become more challenging and the physics provide enough unpredictability to keep even failed attempts entertaining. It is the sort of game you can pick up, play for a while and put down again without needing to commit to a huge adventure.
At £6.99 in the UK, it is also an easy game to recommend if you enjoy simple puzzle experiences. It is quick, addictive and has enough collectibles, secrets and achievement hunting to provide some worthwhile replayability once you have completed the main levels.
The biggest disappointment is simply that there isn't more of it. Once you have completed the levels, found the collectibles and unlocked the achievements, there is little reason to keep returning. Hopefully, the developers will release updates with more levels in the future, because the core gameplay is certainly good enough to support them.
Shoe it All! is a fun, charming and occasionally hilarious physics puzzle game. It may not last particularly long, but the combination of satisfying throws, unpredictable failures, creative solutions, secrets and collectibles makes the journey enjoyable while it lasts.
For £6.99, there is little reason not to give it a go if you like simple puzzle games with a quirky personality.
I score Shoe it All! a solid 7 out of 10.
Out Now on Xbox
