FISH Review Summary

Though its beautiful art, outstanding bosses, and great feel impress, the short length, low replayability, combat issues, and insufficient content for the price hold it back.

Overall positive and recommended: The game is highly recommended and provides an overall good, fun, and silly experience that is addictive and enjoyable.

Excellent gameplay feel: The game offers smooth, responsive controls and a satisfying flow. Players consistently praise the overall feel and movement.

Beautiful and unique art: The art style and direction are highly praised for being visually appealing and distinctive. The unique absurd style with fish smoking and sliming teeth stands out.

Outstanding bosses and characters: Bosses and characters are considered peak, with specific mention of the Sweeper boss being excellent and the main villain being cute.

Great for speedrunning: The game is very fun to speedrun, with time attack and optional modes that enhance replayability.

Insufficient content for price: Players note the game offers only one extra level beyond the demo for $10, with only three stages total, leading to a perception of low value.

Combat and dodge issues: Many players report cannot dodge, attacks are not readable, shield won't parry damage, and parry timing is off, leading to unavoidable hits.

Endless mode curses and chaos: Curses in Endless Mode can force impossible enemy selections, and the mode is described as too chaotic with many enemies and stacking curses causing quick death.

Overall short and low replayability: The game is frequently called short, ending after the docks level, with minimal replay value and only three stages in early access.

Early access value and update expectations: Players acknowledge early access state but feel current price is too high given the short length and lack of completion (not expected until late 2027).

Endless mode with curses: The game includes an endless mode where players can select blessings and curses, adding variety and replayability. This mode is highlighted by multiple users as a core feature.

Boss fights with projectiles: Bosses use attacks like gun projectiles with a half-second warning, and limited arenas. This creates tension and requires precise dodging.

Character and fish theme: The game centers on a fish with a gun, possibly a killer fish from San Diego. Characters are a key focus, with a quirky aesthetic.

Platformer side-scroller: The game is described as a side-scrolling platformer with mechanics similar to classic run-and-gun titles. This is a common structural element noted by several reviewers.

Dodge and parry mechanics: Key gameplay includes dodge and shield parry mechanics, with specific timing for enemy attacks. This requires precise reflexes.

Good performance on PC: Users report that the game runs well on PC, with no lag even on older hardware, indicating solid optimization.

Highly recommended by many: Several reviews give the game a perfect score or strong recommendation, calling it the best game ever and worth every penny.

Wait for updates or finish: Some players advise waiting for more updates, holding off on purchase, or only buying when the game is finished, suggesting the current version is incomplete.

Niche audience recommendations: The game is specifically recommended for certain niche groups: feet lovers, cozy fishing fans, Cuphead-style enthusiasts, and fans of bizarre or fever dream experiences.

Price concerns: Some players feel the game is not worth its current price tag or suggest buying only if you have money to spare, while others say it is worth every penny.

Appeals to specific genres: The game is recommended for fans of chaotic side scrollers and silly, fast-paced, challenging games, indicating its genre appeal.

Cuphead-Style Challenger: Reflex-heavy, aggressive, and focused on pattern recognition and quick reaction times; embraces a 'trial and error' approach. Motivation: To overcome demanding boss fights and experience intense, skill-based action. Stance: buy.

Fairness-Focused Critic: Methodical, analytical, and seeks to learn patterns; prefers predictable mechanics and dislikes random difficulty spikes or forced debuffs. Motivation: To enjoy a challenging but fair experience where player skill determines success. Stance: sale.