Review Information
Game Reviewed Dodge The Shy Guys, by supernesfreak
Review Author Cap'n Coconuts
Created Mar 29 2015, 6:13 AM

General Commentary and Game Overview
I know, I know. This game has been beaten to death years ago. I have no reason to review it.

But, when I was reminiscing on how much I hated Mario Minigame Mayhem (not to be confused with Mario LAND: Minigame Mayhem), I realized that I had not fully... erm, appreciated the craftsmanship of Dodge the Shy Guys, a game upon which one of MMM's horrible minigames is based. So I played it and found to my horror that MMM makes this game seem competent.

But enough about that. This is a review for Dodge the Shy Guys--and even though I find it favorable to a more recently submitted abomination, it is still an awful game. Unless you're interested in MFGG's history, there is nothing for you potential players to see here.

Now what am I waiting for? Let's beat this zombie horse.
 
Pros + It further assures me that Mario Minigame Mayhem deserves the nonstandard score I gave it.
+ It's a classic. I'll give it that.
 
Cons - No sound at all.
- Repetitive and unfulfilling gameplay.
 
Impressions
Gameplay
2 / 10
For whatever reason, Mario has decided to fly right into a cluster of Shy Guys. It is never elaborated on why this is the case, and why it has to be so boring and unfulfilling.

I have to give credit where credit is due. For instance, unlike a lot of the Recycle Bin filler on this site, Mario actually has some semblance of acceleration and inertia. He still jerks around at high speed if you change direction while he's moving, but supernesfreak made a token effort, and that's more than can be said for a lot of garbage that slips by quality control. I should also note that the Shy Guys move in a curved pattern instead of a straight line, which makes them slightly more challenging to dodge.

That said, all you do is dodge Shy Guys and collect coins until you reach the end platform, after which you are given your place in the high score table. Mario can take 3 hits before being grounded and has three lives that are never replenished. Once you reach the end, the game restarts and you do everything all over again while crowds of young children shout "Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!"

Like many other fan game disasters, DTSG has more than its fair share of bugs. For instance, you can fly off the left and top sides of the screen, which I suppose still counts as dodging the Shy Guys. You lose money each time Mario gets hit, even when he has no money. Perhaps this game is secretly a satire of the United States economy. The only way to success is to take it from the rich by force, and the rich are able to exploit you for money you don't even have!

That's quite some insight you've got there, supernesfreak.

Continuing on: the game restarts once you're finished, with your score and number of lives intact. I can't say for sure, but it feels like this feature wasn't entirely intended. And lastly, for you players who managed to game over: despite the command to "Press Enter," no amount of pressing the Enter key will start the game again.

I know this is terrible and all, but strangely, I just don't have the heart to give this a 1.
 
Graphics
5 / 10
Super Mario World meets Super Mario World 2! Can't say I'm fond of the choices, but this is an old game so maybe I should be a little lenient in this department. Still nothing new or interesting in this department, though.

I should note that Mario kind of floats down on a lethal hit rather than his typical KO sprite. It looks nothing like a Mario death at all.
 
Sound
1 / 10
Oh man, the sound in this game is just unbelievable. I can hear the wind blowing by as Mario flies. I can hear the Shy Guy propellers. I can hear Mario in pain as he falls to his death. I can even hear the children, cheering as Mario triumphantly makes a landing! It's as if I AM Mario dodging the Shy Guys!

Or maybe I was just hallucinating from sensory deprivation. Sorry kids, you were nice children and all but you aren't even real.
 
Replay
1 / 10
The game never changes, and grinding for an impressive high score is nothing but an exercise in tedium.
 
Final Words
2 / 10
An classic fan game that has long held a reputation as one of the worst games on MFGG. It's pretty bad, alright.

Comments
No comments have been left.
Pages: | Last Unread