Shoot the Wall Review

Weapons, sarcasm, and a distinct repetitive edge make Shoot the Wall a divisive title. I found it to be oddly addictive, but I struggled to understand why. After all, there is little depth, and the micro progression is so limited that I should have been in tears. However, it amused me for hours, and I liked the mindless action.

Horsefly Games has developed this refined gaming experience. This FPS experience has a pixelated aesthetic. Moreover, it blends silence and deliberately loud but effective sound effects. Yet, it is the rudimentary gameplay that takes centre stage. Shooting bricks, collecting XP and money, and replenishing your ammo are essential tasks if you are to discover each secret.

Shoot the Wall tells a weird story.

If you are ever told not to push the red button, this makes you want to push it more. This is the exact dilemma in Shoot the Wall. The narrator dares you to see what is hidden beyond the seemingly never-ending pile of bricks. As you move deeper, messages appear that push you further into the abyss. However, it is the layers of mystery that keep you going further.

Each of the 4 chapters has its own secret. Furthermore, there is a small arsenal of weapons that must be improved if you wish to get through the wall quicker. It is simple, easy to understand, but strangely addictive. Unleashing thousands of rounds into stone shouldn’t be fun, but carving a path and discovering what lies beyond was hard to resist. Additionally, testing out each gun and maximising its potential was rewarding.

Shoot the Wall doesn’t have traditional enemies, puzzles, or any major obstacles. Instead, the wall is all those things. You don’t know how far the wall extends, and running out of ammo is a risk. Additionally, what will you find when you eventually break through? These questions are what keep you playing, and this is what got under my skin!

Alongside the main “story” mode is 2 other options to test you. The sandbox mode lets you unleash your anger with no goals or mystery. This offers limited depth, and I visited a handful of times. The time trial is where a competitive edge excels. Mastering each wall, understanding the paths, and utilising the most powerful weapons will help you to top the leaderboard.

Shoot the Wall looks dated.

If you want polished, shiny, and modern graphics, Shoot the Wall won’t be for you. It has a pixelated and voxel style that doesn’t punish modern systems. Furthermore, the basic animation is a little clunky. This didn’t bother me, as it works well with the refined gameplay and the core ideas. The audio maximises each weapon’s impact. The sniper has a booming shot, whereas the pistol sounds weaker and less demanding. This soundscape works incredibly well as it supports the incremental progress and the sense of achievement.

Shoot the Wall is clunky but easy to understand. The UI is refined, and switching weapons was a breeze. The lack of a tutorial should be frustrating, but it adds to the mystery, and I enjoyed this approach. Replay value and longevity are limited. The main story takes around 3 hours to complete. However, the time trial mode demands that you speedrun the game in one sitting. This was challenging as it tests your memory as well as your accuracy.

Shoot the Wall is a niche experience.

No matter what way you look at it, Shoot the Wall is unbelievably niche. The concept of shooting a wall will not appeal to everyone. Moreover, it is ridiculously short, and that isn’t great. However, I enjoyed it despite its shortcomings. It is strange, addictive, and I like the mystery. Accordingly, I recommend grabbing a copy from the Xbox store!