Shakes & Fidget – The Game is a classic, especially in Germany. However, the latest update has caused the community to take to the barricades.
Many probably still know Shakes & Fidget from the comics. However, the parody cartoons also served as the basis for a game that has now existed for 16 years. New servers are still regularly going online. But now the developers have implemented the first huge graphic and design update – and suddenly everything is different.
We’ve introduced you to MMORPGs for PvE fans here:
What kind of game is this? “Shakes & Fidget – The Game” is a browser game in which you, similar to an MMORPG, create your own character, level them up, and improve them further through equipment and quests. As you level up and join guilds, you unlock additional game modes – such as a pet collection, your own fortress with numerous buildings, or even Legendary Dungeons.
The game parodies, just like the underlying webcomic, the customs in MMORPGs and pop culture. Whether it’s World of Warcraft, Game of Thrones, or Sailor Moon – everything in Shakes & Fidget is lovingly pulled through the cocoa.
Even if browser games are still a closed book for many – many have already tried the “Shakes & Fidget” game. In 2010, shortly after its release, the game was even chosen as the “Game of the Year” in the category “Best Browser Game” by GameStar.
Shakes & Fidget is also available on Steam and mobile devices. Especially on Steam, the game previously had fantastic ratings of 94% positive – since the update, however, there has been a flood of negative reviews.
What has changed now? A few days ago, the new update to version 22 was released and brought the “largest game update ever” in over 15 years. The patch not only revamped the design of the game, but also adjusted many mechanics.
- The game’s “city” has a completely new design and all places and characters now have a fixed position in the game world.
- The quest system has been completely replaced by expeditions that present players with “multiple choice” tasks.
- A new vacation mode allows the character to “continue playing” without any intervention while, for example, you cannot be at the PC for a while (like during a vacation).
- All items in the menu have been completely rearranged and grouped into different categories.
- Each screen now has an optional “info screen” that explains details about game mechanics more precisely.
This is how the community reacts: Although it is the largest update to date, it is not well received by the community at all. On YouTube, the video presenting the new patch has extremely poor ratings. Only about 20% give a “thumbs up” – the rest is dissatisfied (as of: 05.07.2024, 11:15 AM). This is also reflected in the comments under the YouTube video:
- “The update is terrible. The new UI is so uncomfortable. You need double the clicks to do the same things you did before. […] We already have 2 in the guild who have quit, and honestly, I have little desire to click through so many menus every day. This is really a step backwards.” – Oliver-eo2xz
- “How to destroy the game with just one update.” – Spielestyler
Especially the vacation mode is causing a lot of trouble. Because activating it costs 75 mushrooms per day, the game’s “premium currency”. This amounts to, depending on the purchase option, between €2.50 and €7.50 per day – which is either really expensive or quickly depletes the mushrooms that have been saved for a long time:
- “75 mushrooms for a day!!! Such expensive holidays can only be afforded by the Emirs of Qatar! Haha” – tuktuk5606
The menu navigation is also criticized. Many things now require more clicks to perform the same actions. This contributes to even greater discontent, especially in a game that relies on nostalgia:
- “The whole game is completely based on nostalgia. You have now lost a player from 2009.” – Pingpong5779
Positive comments are virtually non-existent under the video.
The result seems to be obvious: The update has ruined a game for many veterans that some of them have been with since childhood. This is reminiscent of the debacle of “WoW: Cataclysm,” which destroyed the “old world” – replaced by something new that may be liked someday but is currently viewed critically and negatively.
