Well, yes the mouse/cursor does set the direction. There’s a behind the curtain skill for throw strength that increases each level. There’s a drag force that slows down the pine cones over distance and they need to be going a certain speed when they hit to take down the penguin.
The projectiles were far more trouble than I expected. Sometimes I’ll shoot one and ask myself, “Now, why didn’t that knock down that penguin?” Penguin feet seem especially resistant to pine cones for reasons I do not understand.