Critical Mass
- January 20, 2011
- Manic Game Studios
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Critical Mass" is a 2011 top-down shooter game set in a futuristic world. As a pilot of a powerful spacecraft, players must navigate through treacherous environments, battling enemy ships and bosses in frenetic combat. The game features a variety of weapons and upgrades, with missions that require strategic planning and quick reflexes. Reference
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game is a fun and addictive puzzle experience that challenges players' spatial reasoning skills.
- It offers a variety of game modes, including a relaxing meditation mode that allows for casual play.
- The graphics and music are well-received, creating an engaging atmosphere for players.
- The game requires a constant internet connection for features like achievements and leaderboards, which are no longer functional.
- Many players experience technical issues, including crashes and difficulty launching the game on newer operating systems.
- The gameplay can feel frustrating due to its reliance on speed and a lack of clear indicators for next moves, making it less enjoyable for some.
- music17 mentions
- 76 % positive mentions
- 12 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising it as catchy, hypnotizing, and enjoyable, while others find it repetitive and stressful, particularly due to its short loops. Overall, many agree that the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, despite some frustrations with its limited variety.
“Also the soundtrack is great!”
“The music is incredibly hypnotizing; it's one song, some ambient/trance.”
“I enjoy the music and the way the game is played.”
“This 5-second loop music drives me nuts.”
“The music is the same 10-second loop featured in the trailer, repeating forever.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it simplistic and uninspired, primarily revolving around linking four cubes of the same color. While some appreciate the quick-twitch mechanics and the option for untimed strategic play, others criticize the lack of depth and satisfying elements, leading to a feeling of randomness and boredom. Overall, it is seen as a fun, casual experience but lacking in complexity and engagement for hardcore players.
“Very fun and challenging with rewarding online gameplay.”
“While most modes do require you to work within various time tables, meditation is a completely untimed relaxing strategic gameplay.”
“Its a pretty fun game, it has a great concept and overall gameplay is pretty much straightforward, good side is that you can play this game with no DRM or DLC and a great time-waster, but overall a great game!”
“Puzzle design is uninspired; gameplay is totally boring. It felt there was more to it, but it is literally 'link 4 cubes of the same color to make them disappear and clear everything out before the timer runs out.'”
“I once wrote a negative review for that game, revolving around the game mixing frantic gameplay and a more strategic approach and failing quite miserably.”
“The game doesn't even provide basic gameplay elements like a heads-up about what the next color is, so you can strategize accordingly.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics are polished and visually appealing, drawing comparisons to the 2008 WiiWare game Cubello while enhancing the experience with full mouse control. Users appreciate the beautiful visuals and immersive audio, although some find the countdowns and effects can induce panic during gameplay. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's addictive nature, requiring decent graphics acceleration for optimal performance.
“Along with the great core game, the audio and visuals are sublime.”
“The graphics are beautiful and the soundtrack is nice.”
“It is extremely similar in design to Cubello, the 2008 WiiWare art style game for Nintendo Wii, although it offers full mouse control to rotate the puzzle and choose the angle of attack, rather than Cubello's pure-shooter/puzzle-boss-battle experience where you are watching it drift and looking for openings.”
“All the countdowns and vibrating graphics are making me panic and perform poorly.”
“The graphics are polished.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, particularly with a buggy leaderboard search and numerous problems related to achievements. These glitches detract from the overall experience and suggest a need for improvements in the game's stability.
“The leaderboard search is incredibly buggy.”
“The achievements are really buggy!”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
While some users express a desire for more variety, such as randomized levels to enhance replayability, others highlight that the game offers a high replay value overall. The consensus suggests that the repetitive nature of starting from scratch can diminish the experience for some players.
“Replay value is very high.”
“I do wish you didn't have to start from scratch every time or that the levels were randomized or something; the replay value gets worn down by replaying the same thing over and over again.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is described as immersive and relaxing, creating a deceptive sense of calm that contrasts sharply with the tension of gameplay, often culminating in frantic moments as players race against time to make matches before disaster strikes.
“The immersive and relaxing atmosphere belies how tense it can get; just be ready for most rounds to end with you scrambling to make one more match as the whole thing explodes in your face.”
“The game's atmosphere is beautifully crafted, drawing you into its world and making every moment feel significant.”
“From the haunting sound design to the stunning visuals, the atmosphere envelops you, creating a sense of wonder and tension that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is appreciated for its lightheartedness, making it an enjoyable choice for quick play sessions, such as while waiting for other games or during short breaks.
“A funny game to play while you are in queues for other games or when you just have some 10-15 minutes of spare time.”
“The humor in this game is spot on, making even the simplest tasks entertaining.”
“I love how the game incorporates witty dialogue and hilarious scenarios that keep me laughing.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is minimal, focusing instead on a simple yet challenging objective that enhances the fast-paced puzzle experience. Players appreciate the casual nature of the game while still requiring thought and focus, making it suitable for those seeking engaging gameplay.
