Because of Balatro‘s justifiable popularity, the influx of Balatro-likes hasn’t slowed down. Almost every casino game has had its take on the genre. It’s now expanding to other areas. I managed to get my hands on Lucky Shot a few weeks before the game went live. This one takes the challenge formula and puts you in front of target practice. If you live for shooters, this will be right up your alley. But for everyone else, this won’t win you over.
Hit enough targets within the time limit.
In Lucky Shot, you need to hit targets in a shooting-like range. You have 15 seconds to hit as many as you can and meet the required point total to advance. Like most of these challenge games, you start by trying to reach 100 points. But as you progress, the point totals get higher and harder.
Between rounds, you earn cash, which you can use to buy different items and perks. These can range from special bullets, drinks, or perks, which they call Holos. These are modifiers that change how you earn points and cash, and grant other adjustments.
With limited funds to start, you have to be cautious with what you spend them on. For some, you might want to invest in the special bullets since those are important. Others might focus on the Holo effects since they might offer notable perks. In most cases, Holos will have a risk vs reward qualifier. For example, you might get more coins per round, but you have to finish the round without missing a target. Some reward you for the bullets you have. This creates opportunities for you to combo the stuff you buy for better effects.
Randomization changes the outcome of a round
The RNG is the game’s main selling point, especially early on. As the point thresholds increase, you need to find ways to get the most points per target. You also have to be consistent with your shots. Every successful hit increases your multiplier. At the same time, every miss decreases it.
Because of that, you don’t have time to waste. 15-second rounds are faster than you think. One miss can screw up an entire run. This is where you have to make a choice. Do you aim to hit as many targets as possible and not care about your accuracy? Or, do you time your shots and hope you have a large enough target value so that you still reach the necessary score?
It doesn’t seem like there is one perfect approach. I would sometimes have great accuracy with my shots. I’d hit 85% of the targets but not get the points to advance. Other times, I would spray at will and not get a big enough multiplier. But since I hit enough targets, I was able to advance. It is very random and might frustrate some players.
Not designed for non-shooters
Since this is a target practice challenge, those who play shooters will feel right at home. For everyone else, this game will be difficult. I’m in the middle. Yes, I play my fair share of First-person shooters; I am not a pro. I lack the necessary precision aiming skills.
So, I struggled a lot at first. Most of my runs would end around the 2nd or 3rd level. My biggest problem was aiming fast enough to get quick shots. The target range is wide, and targets go everywhere. Yes, there are a few stationary ones, but most are moving. Moving targets are harder to hit, especially for the less experienced.
I spent time playing this on both a Steam Deck and a Wide-Screen monitor. The game plays much better on a desktop PC than a portable unit. The size of the target zone is big enough that my monitor covers more of the area. On a Steam Deck, I found moving around the zone to be too time-consuming.
Taking a while to find my groove
Another reason why playing on PC is better than portable is that this game is best played with a mouse. PC players already know this, but mouse controls for aiming are faster and more precise. But even with that, I still needed to tool around with the game’s sensitivity before I felt comfortable. Once I got my setting to my liking, I was doing much better. At this point, I can’t see anyone playing this with a controller, and again, I don’t recommend playing with one.
The problem with the controls is that it doesn’t let you have profiles for different setups. Yes, Controllers can adjust the sensitivity. But if you’re a lefty shooter, then there is no way to swap the analog sticks. All aiming is with the right stick, so if you prefer to swap this to the left analog stick, that option doesn’t exist. I’m not sure if Steam has a setting that allows for this change, but it’s one that the devs should include in the future.
I was able to finish a run with mouse controls. I got enough points to beat the 50K Boss to finish a run. My success was possible because of the Holos I acquired. I got a lot of help with one that granted a multiplier bonus for every x5 bullet I owned. Also, every time a drink increased the value of each target you hit, I made sure to buy it. I didn’t mention the drink perks earlier, but they are very helpful.
Not for everyone
It’s hard to recommend Lucky Shot. For people who love shooters, this offers a great challenge. But if you’re looking for something fun and approachable, this isn’t it. It lacks the charm that Balatro has, which it’s trying very hard to mimic. If this game is cheap and you are curious, then give it a try.
