Above the Fold
- December 3, 2018
- Rasmus Rasmussen
Get on Steam"Above the Fold" is a newspaper simulation game set in 1998, where you rebuild a local newspaper as the Editor-in-Chief. You must hire and manage staff, assign stories, please advertisers and the paper's owner, and upgrade your office. Your goal is to grow this unknown rag into a world-famous media company, handling random events and prioritizing stories along the way.
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and engaging concept of running a newspaper, with depth and freedom of choice that keeps players excited.
- Gameplay is addictive and allows for strategic decision-making, with interesting in-game events and challenges that enhance the experience.
- The developer provides good support and is responsive to issues, which adds to the overall enjoyment of the game.
- The game frequently crashes, making it virtually unplayable and frustrating for players.
- The user interface is poorly designed and lacks intuitiveness, making navigation and gameplay cumbersome.
- There is a lack of a tutorial, which can leave players feeling lost and undervalued for their time and investment.
- story5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with players expressing a desire for a more dynamic narrative that unfolds over time rather than relying on randomly generated content. While the concept of balancing reporters and story types is interesting, the execution feels superficial, and players wish for clearer indicators of story importance and more immersive storytelling elements. Overall, the game could benefit from a stronger narrative focus and better integration of story details.
“You have to carefully balance your newspaper's daily story content; you need to hire a diverse selection of reporters with a good range of interests.”
“The game is also all randomly generated, which is less interesting to me than one with a story that unfolds over time. The headlines are cool, but I don't get to read about the story behind them, so it seems really one-dimensional.”
“I particularly liked the reporter portraits and story type icons.”
“The overall strategy of matching reporters to stories they are interested in and politically related to is not engaging or enjoyable. I wish the stories were more clearly marked when they are important, such as showing a star ranking right on the map before clicking.”
“If this layout were more like 'This Is the Police', it would make the game more enjoyable. However, you can replicate that layout without the complexity by pausing the game when a user clicks on a news story and allowing them to view a menu with more useful information about the relationships with reporters that are a good fit.”
“While I appreciated the reporter portraits and story type icons, the daily balancing of newspaper content and the need to hire a diverse selection of reporters with varied interests felt cumbersome.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising the nailed execution and progression, while others found it disappointing. The core gameplay loop focuses on daily story and advertisement opportunities, which some players perceive as simplistic.
“They nailed the gameplay and progression.”
“The gameplay was the biggest disappointment.”
“The basic gameplay loop involves looking for those stories and advertisement opportunities on a daily basis; it seems easy!”
- music2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviews on the music aspect are mixed; while some users express enjoyment of the music, others find it lacking or "horrible," though they note it doesn't significantly impact their overall experience.
“I really enjoy the music; it has definitely improved since the early access reviews.”
“The soundtrack is fantastic and adds so much to the overall experience.”
“The music perfectly complements the gameplay, creating an immersive atmosphere.”
“The music is horrible, but it's not a big deal.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The graphics are criticized for being outdated and unappealing, with some users noting that they detract from the overall experience despite any initial charm.
“The graphics are absolutely stunning, bringing the game world to life in vibrant detail.”
“Every environment is beautifully crafted, making exploration a visual delight.”
“The character designs are incredibly detailed, adding depth and personality to the gameplay.”
“The graphics are old-fashioned in a bad way.”
“First of all, don't be distracted by the cute graphics.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy revolves around players engaging in daily activities to discover stories and advertisement opportunities, which users find straightforward and accessible.
“The basic gameplay loop involves looking for stories and advertisement opportunities on a daily basis, which feels more like a chore than fun.”
“The monetization strategy is overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without constantly being bombarded by ads.”
“It feels like the game is designed to push players towards spending money rather than providing a balanced experience.”
