With the launch of the Amico Home App, came an initial promise of at least four games for players to get their teeth into by the start of 2024. Side Swipers is the fourth after the initial two releases of Astrosmash and Missile Command. Along with Shark Shark, Side Swipers is the latest game for Amico fans to play, but this one is a little different than the others.
I think it’s only fair that we make it clear straight away, that unlike the other three Amico games available during this launch period, this one really is a far from a full game experience in its current release. This is reflected in its cheap launch price, but those expecting a game on par with Shark Shark and Astrosmash need to limit their expectations.
The current release of Side Swipers, which is a hot wheels like racing game, only features multiplayer, and only features one track. This is reflected in the cheaper launch price as I said, and it’s my understanding that when the game has a fuller launch those who paid early will get a free upgrade of the new content. So as long as that comes in a timely fashion, we should be getting a full priced Amico game for a considerably reduced rate.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t aware that the game was as limited as it currently is when I purchased it, and it took me a little while before I figured out that there wasn’t much on offer for me at this time.
With what you do currently get, you can play in single player mode and doing this, you should expect to be disappointed by the experience. With just your car on the track and the game being about stopping and starting to time ramming opponent cars off the track, I found I was acing the race with one button pressed down.
Fortunately I was able to play the game in multiplayer, and this gave a chance to see the greater potential of what is on offer here. The game is all about timing when you slow down so that you dodge getting hit by your rivals as a strike to the side will send you flying from the track in spectacular fashion. This was relatively fun with two players, and we got enough mileage out of the current release of the game for the purposes of me getting this review done.
I’m sure with more players the frantic action will come alive even more. It seems like this is a game designed around the idea of three or four friends being sat around competing in the same room.
But whilst I can see this potential here, I also do have to be realistic about what it is that we’ve got today. This initial release doesn’t feature enough to recommend it. If the promise of a fuller release being a free update for those who bought early does come to pass, then in some way I can say yeah…maybe get it if you think this will be your jam.
This being a multiplayer only experience as it is does highlight the issue of everyone needing a smart phone to play. Whilst most people do have smart phones, you could potentially need five android and iPhones to play the game to its fullest today.
I think this game should have been held back until there was more content on offer. A single player free demo of one track would have been fine. Or wait until there are three tracks and then charge this entry fee, but even then without a single player component to practice this will only get limited play time.
The game takes place on a single screen as all the Amico games released so far do. This is fine in that it seems to be part of the Amico identity of updating retro style experiences from the OG console. The graphics are clean and simple, and it’ll be interesting to see how the future releases mix things up visually between tracks.
I hope the update for this comes sooner rather than later. I think it would have made a grander first impression if they’d waited, but if nothing else, they’ve certainly got me intrigued for what the plan is on future updates.
What would you rate this game?
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