Fling to the Finish, crafted by SplitSide Games, emerges as a cooperative racing adventure in its Early Access phase. This unique game binds two characters together via a rope, navigating a variety of challenging obstacle courses. Whether you prefer solo play using your keyboard and mouse or opt for a companion, the choice is yours. Select your characters from a roster of twelve circular avatars, featuring quirky options like a worm in an apple and a penguin sporting a bowtie. Watch out for explosive bombs propelling you and lasers posing a threat to the connection with your partner. Dive into the campaign or venture online to compete against others in this amusingly chaotic game.
Surprisingly, the game proved to be quite demanding. Juggling control of one partner with the keyboard and the other with the mouse, I grappled with the challenge of keeping them united. This delightful difficulty quickly became familiar, emphasizing the significance of teamwork. I utilized both characters to scale walls, traverse narrow logs over gaps, and prevent falls off the edge. The twelve distinctive maps each presented unique obstacles, with more promised in future updates.
The multiplayer experience is delightful, balancing the drive to claim victory and the unpredictable environment attempting to impede progress. Getting stuck around an obstacle adds pressure, and the shared struggle with opponents in the same area contributes to the fun. Random power-ups, resembling presents, spice up the competition for those lagging, such as weights to hinder progress or balloons for soaring above rivals. The overall vibe is reminiscent of Mario Kart, offering both amusement and frustration.
Despite its virtues, a critical aspect requiring enhancement is the matchmaking system. While I can understand the limitations of Fling to the Finish during its Early Access phase, the sparse player population remains a source of frustration for those attempting to queue at specific times. Fortunately, the developers have shown flexibility, fostering community growth through a Discord channel and encouraging Steam Remote Play to connect with friends who may not own the game.
However, these efforts might fall short. Attempting to play online with a friend resulted in persistent disconnections, even with a robust internet connection like Google Fiber. The cause of the disconnects, whether originating from my friend or the servers, remained unclear due to the absence of in-game ping tracking. Furthermore, the game experienced freezes when queuing alone after finding two players, warranting attention to this issue.
Fling to the Finish Torrent System Requirements
- OS: Windows 7/8/10/11
- Processor: Intel Core i5
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 860M
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: 2 GB available space
