Bouncing Toward Glory in Fling to the Finish
A whimsical race against physics and patience that tests the bonds of friendship—in the best way possible.
Early Access Review
last updated Dec 12, 2023
A wonderfully woven mess of coordination and physics that insists you take joy in both triumph and disaster.
A Tethered Dance of Chaos and Precision
Fling to the Finish is a game best played with an uncooperative cooperative spirit, where you and a pal become two peas in an extremely unruly pod. With an elastic rope as your lifeline, you'll be flinging your way through a chaotic obstacle course littered with traps that threaten to tear apart weaker friendships like damp tissue paper. The controls are a frantic juggling act of coordination and chance, requiring a ballet of bizarre button mashing that somehow translates into laughter more often than not. While the gameplay can sometimes feel like trying to thread a needle during a rodeo, it's the moments of synchronized success that keep you coming back for more.
(Ear)Wormholes of Melody
Racing through the artistic mayhem wouldn't be nearly as enthralling if it weren't for the upbeat, catchy soundtrack that seems to glue everything together. Think of it as the best friend you didn't know you needed, egging you on with every zany jump and ill-fated fling. Not to mention, the sound effects are like cherries on top of this funky sundae, giving weight and charm to every action, even when you're meeting the business end of a giant flyswatter for the nth time.
Eye Candy Mayhem
Let’s talk aesthetics—Fling to the Finish is like diving headfirst into a crayon box alongside your most nihilistic crayons. The colors are vibrant, the environment designs are a delightfully escalating series of 'what the heck?', and the animated expressions on your bouncing avatars capture every ounce of your collective joy and agony. Performance-wise, the game runs smoother than a greased-up weasel, ensuring that not a frame drops as you're flung from one disaster to another. The graphics and performance are a testament to the polish that indie developers can achieve, even when the gameplay feels like organized chaos.
A Symphony of Silliness and Strategy
Underneath the layers of visual and auditory glee, there's a surprising degree of depth and strategy. Mastery over the wild physics requires practice, timing, and, perhaps most critically, communication with your partner. Each racetrack is a new opportunity for collaborative solutions and, inevitably, a new way to fling your friendship into the fires of frantic competition. It's the sort of game that begs for repeated plays, promising new secrets and shortcuts for those willing to embrace the madness.
EARLY ACCESS RATING
Developer
SplitSide Games
Publisher
Daedalic Entertainment
Early Accesss Release Date
August 23, 2021
The Verdict
Fling to the Finish straddles the line between maddening and magical, making it a must-play for those who revel in co-op pandemonium. It's a wonderfully woven mess of coordination and physics that insists you take joy in both triumph and disaster. For an indie title that morphs the mundane into a colorful, pulse-racing romp, Fling to the Finish earns its place at the starting line of your gaming library. Wrap yourself around this game at least once—you and your friends might just get hooked.
