Don't Shoot Yourself! Review

By , on November 18, 2013
Last modified 10 years, 4 months ago


Don't Shoot Yourself!
Download on the AppStore
4 out of 5

PROS

  • You need to use different tactics to beat every level.
  • Truly testing reaction-based gameplay.
  • An easily understood concept presented smartly.

CONS

  • Unlocking levels is tougher than is stricly necessary.
  • Can be fiddly on iOS devices with smaller screens.

VERDICT

Though it locks much of its content behind tough achievement walls, Don't Shoot Yourself!'s novel anti-shooter gameplay is fun, if a tad frustrating at times.


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“Don't shoot yourself!” Once just sensible piece of advice, this statement is now the title of an iOS game. This game has a simple premise: survive long enough to shoot 100 bullets. How hard can that be? As you might expect, it's tougher than it sounds.

You take control of a small arrow which finds itself trapped inside a number of oddly-shaped prisons. Normally this solitude would be good for such activities as introspection and self-discovery. But the arrow has a problem: it is continuously spitting out bullets. These bullets ricochet off the walls of said prison, and can easily rebounding into the arrow. If you can dodge and weave your way between the long enough to fire the designated 100 bullets, however, you will spit out a super bullet, which will shatter your jail, freeing you to repeat the whole ordeal over again in brand new surroundings.

The control system gives you half the screen to use your thumb to direct your arrow to safety. Movement is responsive, and often you'll find that taking things slow and steady is the key to survival.

This is not always the case however. Each stage has its own unique challenges to overcome. One might have you zooming through timed doors to keep one step ahead of your bullets, while another might feature circular zones which give your bullets homing properties. However, in order to access the boss levels or the new tiers, you have to achieve a perfect run in most levels. This can become restrictive, especially if you're still getting to grips with the first tier.

If you're just after a few minutes of light action gameplay, you might find Don't Shoot Yourself! a bit too stressful. However, if you enjoy testing your reactions to their limits, and don't mind the odd restart, then this self-destructive blaster may suit you down to the ground.

Screenshots

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