Cross Set
- November 17, 2015
- Cuveet Story
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Cross Set" is a number puzzle game with a simple rule: fill every row and column with numbers 1 to N, while considering the constrained sets of candidates in a NxN grid . With over 50 unique levels and a calming ambient soundtrack, the game offers a refreshing and enjoyable experience, different from traditional Sudoku games.
Reviews
- A relaxing and enjoyable puzzle game that offers a good progression of difficulty, making it suitable for both casual and dedicated players.
- The game features a simple yet engaging mechanic similar to Sudoku, allowing players to exercise their brain while solving puzzles.
- The soundtrack is calming and enhances the overall experience, making it a pleasant game to play during downtime.
- The game lacks variety in mechanics and can become repetitive, as the difficulty mainly increases by grid size rather than introducing new elements.
- There are significant quality-of-life issues, such as the inability to save progress mid-level and the lack of a feature to mark eliminated numbers, which can lead to frustration.
- Bonus levels are designed to be unsolvable without external help, which may disappoint players looking for a complete and satisfying experience.
- music16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, described as calming and catchy, contributing to a relaxing atmosphere that enhances gameplay. However, some users note that it can be repetitive, which may detract from the experience over time. Overall, the soundtrack is appreciated, with many expressing a desire to purchase it separately.
“The soundtrack was nice background music and helped to preserve that 'zen feeling' that you got when you were playing this game.”
“The music is pretty catchy and mentally stimulating.”
“It offers a bunch of content for a low cost, has a calming soundtrack, if you could call it that, and a smooth learning curve.”
“The music can be repetitive.”
“Music gets a little repetitive but that's a very minor gripe.”
“The sound can be turned off (all sounds, not just music) by going back to the main menu; which brings me to the second issue...”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by simple mechanics reminiscent of Sudoku, with locked grids and shifting digit choices enhancing the experience. While the initial levels are engaging, providing a mix of word-search and Sudoku elements, the game lacks a progressive difficulty curve or new mechanics, leading to repetitive gameplay as players advance through increasingly larger grids. Overall, while enjoyable, players desire more variety in level design and gameplay to maintain interest.
“Simple mechanics like locking grids with suggested digits and shifting the choices of digits each grid can have helps a lot.”
“In my opinion, the most fun levels were the ones that provided a few squares to begin with, as they generally consisted of less word-search gameplay and became more similar to Sudoku.”
“Pleasant puzzle game with Sudoku-like mechanics.”
“It would have been nice to introduce something (I don't know what) that made the game mechanic feel a little bit different.”
“There is no real difficulty increase or introduction of new mechanics as the game progresses; the only increase in difficulty is in grid size and possible number sets, so you have to search longer to find your numbers. You come into the game, do the tutorial, and the only thing that's left is 64 levels that take increasingly long to solve.”
“Overall, I'm happy with the game, but I would like to see a bit more variety in the levels, either in layout or gameplay.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, especially in the later stages where larger puzzles can feel overly simplistic and repetitive. However, some still find satisfaction in completing these challenges despite the monotony.
“If you're a fan of more advanced puzzles, you may find it a little simple and perhaps even tedious at moments, but it's still satisfying to complete.”
“The bigger puzzles become very tedious towards the end.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is straightforward, as there are no hidden in-game purchases, and the fixed puzzle squares are not locked despite being advertised as such.
“The monetization model is fair and transparent.”
“I appreciate that the game offers plenty of free content without pushing for purchases.”
“Oddly, the fixed puzzle squares do not begin locked, even though all of the advertising shows them as locked.”
“There are no hidden in-game purchases.”
- story1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story conveys a powerful message about resilience and the unpredictability of life, emphasizing that perseverance in the face of adversity can lead to unexpected and rewarding outcomes.
“The moral of the story is that you never know what life has in store for you. If I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The replayability of the game is comparable to that of traditional sudoku or similar number games, suggesting a limited variety in gameplay experiences upon repeated plays.
“The replay value is comparable to classic puzzle games like Sudoku, offering endless challenges.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh, with new strategies and outcomes to explore.”
“The variety of choices and paths ensures that no two games are ever the same.”
“The replay value is the same as any Sudoku or similarly-styled number game.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
“The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel tedious and uninteresting.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users reporting smooth performance and efficient resource management, while others experience significant lag and technical issues. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary widely depending on individual system configurations.
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for its lack of stability, with users reporting numerous bugs and a generally unengaging experience, leading to a strong recommendation against playing it in its current state.
“The concept sounded like fun, but the creators did nothing with it, and the game is currently in a buggy and boring state, so I can't recommend this to anyone as it is now.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I encountered numerous bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience, leading to frustration.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The graphics are consistent with the marketing screenshots, accurately reflecting the game's art style.
“The art style is beautifully represented in the marketing screenshots.”
“The graphics are stunning, with vibrant colors and intricate details that bring the world to life.”
“The visual design is breathtaking, showcasing a perfect blend of realism and artistic flair.”
“The art style is essentially all displayed in the marketing screenshots accurately.”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from a modern game.”
“Character models are poorly designed and lack detail, making them look lifeless.”
