ComPressure

About

ComPressure is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by Charlie Brej and was released on May 3, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

"ComPressure" is a challenging steam-based computation game where players revolutionize machine control using valves and steam. The game features an accompanying Discord community of steam engineers for assistance and innovation-sharing. Players optimize and tune previous designs with new knowledge, as each solved challenge yields useful components for future stages.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 46 reviews

graphics2 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

Compressure offers a unique and challenging puzzle experience that encourages players to improve their designs as they progress through levels, making it deeply rewarding.
The game features interesting mechanics based on pressure and flow, allowing players to build complex systems using only a few basic components, which adds depth to the gameplay.
The community around Compressure is welcoming and supportive, with active developers who are responsive to player feedback and regularly update the game.

The user interface is clunky and unintuitive, leading to confusion and frustration when navigating through levels and controls.
Many players find the game's requirements and scoring system unclear, making it difficult to understand what is needed to progress.
The steep learning curve and lack of comprehensive tutorials can lead to a frustrating experience, especially for those unfamiliar with the mechanics.

gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The gameplay is centered around mastering a pressure-based computing mechanic that offers depth and complexity through a few fundamental building blocks, akin to an electronics engineering sandbox. Players appreciate the well-implemented core mechanics and the challenge of optimizing systems, making it particularly enjoyable for fans of automation games like Factorio. The game effectively balances introducing new challenges while providing clear goals, enhancing the overall exploration experience.
- “I played through the entire campaign and really enjoyed exploring the concept of pressure-based computing and learning to master the mechanic.”
- “Highly recommended for people who enjoy games in the vein of Factorio or automation, where the central mechanic is optimizing systems based on physics.”
- “Beating this game means continuously studying its mechanics and improving your designs.”
- “Despite this, the core mechanic of the game - the steam mechanics - are perfectly implemented and the challenges are, at least for me, someone with zero in-depth experience with electronics, nontrivial.”
- “The gameplay itself is basically an electronics engineering sandbox, but presented with steam pipes instead of wires.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The music in the game is highly praised for its fitting style and quality, enhancing the steampunk aesthetic and complementing the engaging storyline. Reviewers note that the soundtrack stands out, with some tracks exceeding expectations for a puzzle game, and evokes a nostalgic feel reminiscent of titles like Risk of Rain. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's immersive industrial atmosphere.
- “The music, style, story, and theme all fit very well.”
- “With the dialogue from famous classical thinkers, the music, and the overall aesthetic design, it also comes together as an enjoyable (and genuine) industrial steampunk atmosphere, somewhat in the vein of Factorio.”
- “The graphics and music work reasonably well with the steampunk aesthetic, though also sometimes feel retrocomputery at times.”
- “With the dialogue from famous classical thinkers, the music, and the overall aesthetic design; it also comes together as an enjoyable (and genuine) industrial steampunk atmosphere, somewhat in the vein of Factorio.”
- “The story is kind of neat background, and some of the music is better than it should be for a puzzle game.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The story is described as a fun and engaging backdrop, featuring a historical-fiction theme that incorporates rock star scientists and the development of the first analog computer. While some users find the narrative somewhat unclear or nonsensical, others appreciate how well it complements the game's music and style, enhancing the overall experience.
- “The music, style, story, and theme all fit very well.”
- “Nice touches: a fun historical-fiction storyline, and a great little soundtrack that reminds me of Risk of Rain.”
- “The retro pixel art and story featuring historically accurate rock star scientists lends itself well to a fun and engaging game about building the world's first analog computer.”
- “The criteria aren't clear, and I have to understand the nonsense about the story.”
- “The story is kind of a neat background, but it feels underdeveloped.”
- “The story featuring historically accurate rock star scientists is interesting, but it doesn't fully engage the player.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The graphics are described as retro and reminiscent of early Zachtronics games, with some users noting that they are poorly defined. However, they effectively complement the steampunk aesthetic, creating an enjoyable industrial atmosphere that aligns well with the game's overall design.
- “The graphics and music work reasonably well with the steampunk aesthetic, though also sometimes feel retrocomputery at times.”
- “With the dialogue from famous classical thinkers, the music, and the overall aesthetic design; it also comes together as an enjoyable (and genuine) industrial steampunk atmosphere, somewhat in the vein of Factorio.”
- “Like an early Zachtronics game, except the objectives aren't well defined, and the graphics are somehow even worse.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers note that "compressure" effectively maintains challenging levels while focusing optimization efforts in a clear direction, setting it apart from newer titles in the genre.
- “Compared to newer Zachtronics titles (sorry for the constant comparison, but they are, in my humble opinion, the gold standard of this genre), Compressure manages to keep each level a challenge and directs optimization into a single direction.”
- “The optimization mechanics feel clunky and unintuitive, making it frustrating to achieve the desired results.”
- “I found the optimization process to be overly complicated, which detracted from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is characterized by a genuine industrial steampunk aesthetic, enhanced by dialogue from classical thinkers and a fitting musical score, creating an enjoyable and immersive experience reminiscent of games like Factorio.
- “With the dialogue from famous classical thinkers, the music, and the overall aesthetic design, it creates an enjoyable and genuine industrial steampunk atmosphere, somewhat in the vein of Factorio.”
- “The immersive sound design and detailed environments transport you to another world, making every moment feel alive and engaging.”
- “The combination of haunting melodies and stunning visuals creates a captivating atmosphere that draws you in and keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by witty dialogues that effectively enhance the experience, with players particularly enjoying the comedic portrayal of characters reminiscent of a steampunk Victorian-era cast of scientists and engineers.
- “The dialogue is funny enough to get the job done; that's another plus.”
- “Speaking of the dialogues, I find it hilarious that the game's characters are basically a steampunk version of the Victorian who-is-who of science and engineering.”