Ballz
- February 18, 2017
- Ketchapp Games
- 77h median play time
Ballz is an addictive arcade-style game with a wholesome story and pretty visuals. As a single-player, you swipe your finger to throw balls and break bricks, increasing in difficulty with each round. With a good soundtrack, be prepared for lots of grinding, bugs, and moments that will make you laugh, while attempting to beat high scores and collect items for additional balls. However, beware of the overwhelming advertisements.
Reviews
- monetization898 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism from users, primarily due to the overwhelming number of intrusive ads that disrupt gameplay. Many players report that ads appear unexpectedly during play, often redirecting them to their browser, and that even those who paid for an ad-free experience still encounter ads. While some users acknowledge the necessity of ads in free games, the frequency and nature of these ads have led to frustration, with many stating that they detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“The only items in the game are cosmetic, so you don't have to worry about microtransactions.”
“I paid for the no ads because it's worth it.”
“It's good that I have no ads because I bought the no ads feature and it's a really fun app. I recommend using this app.”
“I absolutely will not stand for having ads open themselves, especially while I'm in the middle of a game.”
“The mystery ads opening the browser at random have ruined the game.”
“Good game but I have a sneaking suspicion they forcefully open ads without your consent to incentivize paying to remove ads.”
- music365 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 86 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback from users, primarily due to the app's tendency to automatically lower the volume of any background music or podcasts when the game is opened, even if the in-game sounds are muted. This issue significantly detracts from the overall experience, as players often find themselves having to adjust their music volume repeatedly, leading to frustration, especially during gameplay and ad interruptions. Many users express a desire for a fix that would allow them to enjoy their own music without interference while playing the game.
“Great game, but unfortunately when I open the app while listening to music, it reduces the volume of the music to about half the usual level.”
“I love this game, it's totally addictive and fun, but it does this really frustrating thing where, even if you turn off the sounds in the app, it still lowers your music if you're listening to something while playing.”
“The game lowers the volume of music playing from other apps.”
“I love the game but huge problem when I play it lowers my music in the background. Can you fix that so it doesn't lower the music while I play?”
“It's a great and fun game but whenever I play while listening to music it turns my music lower.”
- stability131 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent glitches and freezes, especially at higher levels. While some players find it enjoyable and addictive, the overwhelming presence of bugs—particularly with the speed-up feature—detracts from the overall experience, leading to frustration and diminished gameplay. Overall, the game is seen as fun but in dire need of stability improvements to enhance playability.
“Simple, minimal ads, next to no glitches, loved it.”
“Safeut app is better, no glitches.”
“No glitches, it's amazing.”
“It's very buggy and will rarely actually work.”
“The game is fun; however, it needs an update as the continue playing button no longer works and the game sometimes freezes.”
“I would love this game, but it constantly freezes on me and I can't play it.”
- gameplay112 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is generally described as simple, addictive, and entertaining, with many players appreciating its easy-to-learn mechanics and satisfying physics. However, numerous reviews highlight significant issues, including excessive ads that interrupt gameplay, lag at higher levels, and a lack of variety or scaling difficulty, which can lead to repetitive experiences. Overall, while the core gameplay concept is praised, many users express a desire for improvements in mechanics, additional features, and a reduction in ad interruptions.
“Solid gameplay, easy to pick up and play for 5 minutes when you have a bit of spare time, and one thing that not many mobile games like this do is save your progress, and this one does.”
“The gameplay is one of those great ideas that has you coming back again and again, to best your score through a satisfying run.”
“Great idea, love the spin on Atari Breakout, the gameplay is awesome, simple but yet captivating.”
“The gameplay is just very flawed but it's cute!”
“The problem is that the gameplay gets dull quickly.”
“Gameplay is boring and plays a commercial at all times; it's sad.”
- graphics73 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the simple and colorful aesthetics, especially in the early levels. However, numerous users report significant graphical issues and lag as they progress beyond level 300, leading to a frustrating experience. While some praise the graphics as good or cute, others criticize them for being glitchy and poorly optimized, particularly during high-speed gameplay.
“It's graphics and play is smooth and clean.”
“The graphics are good and gameplay.”
“I love it, great graphics, great gameplay.”
“After it runs down to 300 balls or so, it runs slower than normal speed and also the graphics glitch.”
“If both of these glitches were fixed and the graphics improved a bit, this would definitely be a 5 star game, but currently almost unplayable.”
“Game is good until about level 1,000 when it completely bogs down graphically and levels take forever to finish when balls sloooooooowwwwwwwwlllllllllyyyyy move.”
- optimization27 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting significant performance issues, especially on various Android devices and screens, including the OnePlus 7 Pro and Galaxy Note. Many players experience lag after reaching higher scores, and there are complaints about the game not fitting properly on certain screens, leading to frustration. Despite recent bug fixes, the overall sentiment indicates that the game still requires substantial optimization to enhance performance and compatibility across different devices.
“Loved this game on my Samsung S7 Edge, but it doesn't seem to fit the screen on my OnePlus 7T. Maybe we can get an update for screen optimization?”
“I wish the game could be better optimized for Android so we don't have to wait around so much.”
“This game needs some serious performance upgrades, especially with the speed-up button.”
“Poorly optimized game and it's been maybe 2 years like this.”
“Good game but it's not optimized for OnePlus 7 Pro screen; the game is cropped out and can't see the ball if it gets to the display edge.”
“The game is horribly unoptimized and has a few basic bugs.”
- humor17 mentions
- 94 % positive mentions
- -12 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is primarily derived from its amusing name, which many users find entertaining, though opinions on the overall fun factor vary. While some players appreciate the game's comedic elements and find it a good distraction, others feel that the humor doesn't extend beyond the title itself. Overall, the game is described as funny and addictive, but it faces criticism for excessive ads and a lack of content.
“Ruined my game but was also pitifully hilarious.”
“Unfortunately, it draws a lot of your battery, but besides that it's amazingly funny.”
“This game is so good that my whole family plays it, isn't that funny?”
“The humor in this game falls flat; it feels forced and unoriginal.”
“I expected a lot more laughs, but the jokes are stale and predictable.”
“The attempts at humor often miss the mark, leaving me more confused than amused.”
- grinding15 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, especially as they progress to higher levels. The fast forward feature, which initially enhances gameplay, often malfunctions, leading to prolonged waiting times that detract from the experience. While the game starts off enjoyable, it quickly becomes a monotonous chore, with many users expressing frustration over the lack of depth and the slow pace of progression.
“This has become nothing but a click farming game.”
“The fast forward button stopped working and when you have 100+ balls bouncing around the screen it just gets tedious at standard speed.”
“At some point it just gets tedious... I mean, watching one single ball bouncing horizontally for five minutes trying to get rid of a thousand-point block is not exactly fun.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of emotional experiences with the game, ranging from heartwarming moments to significant distress caused by technical issues and gameplay frustrations. Many users report feelings of heartbreak when losing progress or encountering glitches, while others highlight the emotional impact of the game on themselves and their loved ones, particularly in challenging situations. Overall, the emotional responses are deeply tied to both the game's mechanics and the personal experiences of the players.
“This game was incredible and heartwarming.”
“Turn phone back on all data gone, high score is now zero and it is the most heartbreaking moment that has happened to me three times.”
“I let my autistic sister play this and it was emotionally distressing that she has emotional breakdowns every day since she played it.”
- story7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it lacking in depth and originality, while others appreciate its compelling gameplay intertwined with a decent narrative. Critics argue that the story fails to deliver a moral resolution, suggesting it could benefit from a more engaging plot. Overall, the narrative is seen as a weak point that detracts from the overall experience.
“A true war story is never moral.”
“If a story seems moral, do not believe it.”
“Compelling gameplay with a nice story.”
“If at the end of a war story you feel uplifted, or if you feel that some small bit of rectitude has been salvaged from the larger waste, then you have been made the victim of a very old and terrible lie.”
“It's an okay game, but it needs a different game plot though.”
“That has a better story than this.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it highly enjoyable with significant replay value, others report limitations and bugs that detract from the experience, leading to a consensus that replay value diminishes with continued play.
“Great game with lots of replay value.”
“Replay value gets lower the more you play.”
“Zero replay value.”
“Replayability is very limited.”