GUNS UP!

Any good they might have had are quickly swallowed up by a plethora of issues. The desperate or the gullible may find a glimmer of fun hidden somewhere in the pit.

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GUNS UP! is a free-to-play side-scrolling strategy game that pits players against each other in a battle to destroy enemy bases to increase their own army’s strength. GUNS UP! combines the fun of enemy base invasion with tower–defense, for an experience like no other on the PS4 system.

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Reviews

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,269 reviews

gameplay48 positive mentions

grinding76 negative mentions

gameplay
133 mentions
36 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a mix of military strategy and base-building mechanics, often compared to mobile games like Clash of Clans, featuring a simple loop of building, attacking, and upgrading. While many players find the core mechanics enjoyable and addictive, there are significant concerns about repetitiveness, pay-to-win elements, and balancing issues that can detract from the overall experience. Additionally, technical problems such as server issues and bugs have been noted, impacting the enjoyment of the gameplay.
- “Military strategy and combat focused gameplay: 'Guns Up!' is a strategy game where players participate in battles by managing their own military units.”
- “The gameplay loop is simple: build a base, attack other bases, then use your winnings to further fortify your HQ and units.”
- “This is a very fun strategy tower defense mashup with captivating gameplay and a charming art style.”
- “The game has a lot of potential, but with no updates, the gameplay tends to get bland after unlocking most units in the game.”
- “Pay-to-win, repetitive gameplay; can't speed up against bots, and there are server issues.”
- “The gameplay mainly consists of: bugs, bugs, bugs, and more bugs.”
graphics
92 mentions
67 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant, cartoonish art style, which many players find appealing and well-crafted. While some users note minor graphical glitches and a low-fi feel reminiscent of older games, the overall visual presentation is considered beautiful and engaging, enhancing the gameplay experience. The combination of charming aesthetics and solid animations contributes to the game's fun and addictive nature.
- “For completely free, this game offers so much appealing content like strategy, base designing, and camaraderie: all drafted in a stunning and carefully crafted art style.”
- “The art style is superb and really fits the style of the gameplay, which is also magnificent.”
- “Beautiful graphics, gameplay is not too difficult for younger and new players to pick up.”
- “Only played it on my Steam Deck, there's a lot of minor graphical glitches.”
- “Graphics are a bit low-fi too.”
- “So all in all it's okay, but feels like I'm playing something made in the 90s for more reasons than just the graphics.”
grinding
80 mentions
3 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding, especially at higher levels, which can become tedious and time-consuming for players. While some find the grinding rewarding and part of the gameplay experience, many express frustration with the pay-to-win elements that exacerbate the grind. Overall, players suggest that while the game can be enjoyable, it requires a considerable investment of time or money to progress effectively.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Not too grindy.”
- “It's a really good game, but the only problem is that it's very pay-to-win or really grindy. I have over 50 hours in this game and have only unlocked three of the characters out of the many you can unlock. It takes so long to earn in-game currency, and it feels like they are very money-hungry after the mobile version was released.”
- “The game is grindy by nature, and while that's fine by me, it can become tedious. You will find yourself grinding endlessly without a sense of progression, which can be frustrating.”
- “Can't recommend this game because while it has some simple but well-designed gameplay, you will lose all interest once the matchmaker pits you against enemies you have zero chance of winning against without grinding excessively or paying to win.”
story
47 mentions
11 % positive mentions
79 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized, with many users noting the absence of a meaningful narrative. While some players find the missions engaging and enjoyable, they express a desire for a more structured storyline to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the lack of a compelling story detracts from the game's potential, leaving it feeling repetitive and unfulfilling for those seeking a deeper narrative.
- “Well, let me think... Guns Up! definitely has a real heartwarming story. The plot really keeps you engaged. I would recommend it if you are looking for some fun.”
- “For a free-to-play game, it was 100% a good game and could have been priced at $10-15 and still would have been good if a story/campaign was added.”
- “Great game! If it had a storyline, it would be even better. 10/10.”
- “☑ no story”
- “The game is neat and has no story, but you can get bored of it after a while. You might come back to it and have a good time, but then get bored again. It's just a big loop.”
- “But the next missions are very similar to the previous ones... it's just not fun.”
monetization
39 mentions
13 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing it for excessive microtransactions and a "pay-to-win" or "cash grab" mentality. While some acknowledge that the game can be enjoyable without spending money, others feel that the constant push for in-app purchases detracts from the overall experience. Overall, players recommend caution for those sensitive to aggressive monetization strategies.
- “They know how to get money out of you for in-game purchases, but it's fun.”
- “This game does have some microtransactions, but I would say it is heavily toned down compared to other popular games of its nature, such as Clash of Clans.”
- “Guns Up has some of the mechanics of Clash of Clans and Clash Royale, but the microtransactions are very much optional and it's very easy to stroll through the game without paying a dime.”
- “Too many microtransactions.”
- “This game is sadly a usual 'free' to play game cash grab.”
- “This is just another cash grab that should have never made it to Steam.”
stability
34 mentions
9 % positive mentions
-6 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent crashes, graphical glitches, and unresponsive features that render it nearly unplayable. Many users experience issues such as freezing every few minutes, targeting bugs, and problems with game mechanics, which detract significantly from the overall enjoyment. While some players appreciate the gameplay and art style, the pervasive bugs and instability overshadow these positives, leading to a consensus that the game is currently in a frustratingly buggy state.
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
- “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it never lags or freezes.”
- “Overall, the stability of the game enhances the overall experience.”
- “Overall just a buggy pay to win mess.”
- “Game is unplayable, it freezes every 30 seconds.”
- “Unfortunately there are many bugs and glitches that make the game unplayable.”
humor
28 mentions
96 % positive mentions
-7 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players highlighting its funny ragdoll physics, absurd AI behavior, and cartoonish animations that contribute to a lighthearted experience. Many reviews note that the comedic elements, such as humorous deaths and silly character movements, enhance the gameplay, making it enjoyable despite some criticisms regarding pay-to-win mechanics. Overall, the game is described as a fun and entertaining experience, perfect for casual play.
- “Funny man shoots other funny man for your financial gain.”
- “The AI acts really stupid; it's just hilarious sometimes how dumb they are.”
- “The fact that your units or enemy units can lose their heads with headshots is quite funny to watch.”
- “I think this game is not funny and not a good game for the Steam company because it's pay-to-win.”
- “The humor in this game falls flat and feels forced, making it hard to enjoy.”
- “I expected a lot of laughs, but the jokes are stale and unoriginal.”
music
12 mentions
58 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its immersive and epic quality, enhancing the overall experience. While some find the sound effects and music to be average or decent, others highlight the appealing animations and art style that complement the audio. However, a few users note that the music can become repetitive over time, and there is a limited variety available.
- “The animations and songs were good to both see and hear.”
- “A special mention goes to the music, very immersive and epic!”
- “Is a cool game, you'll be hooked from the start, the music is great, the soldier's animation is gorgeous, and the core game itself is a fresh and revisited version of Clash Royale maybe?”
- “The sound is average for a game like this and the music is only okay.”
- “Too shame, enjoy 20 - 24fps until you restart the game, which is really nice if you combine it with YouTube's auto-pause if you listen to a music playlist.”
- “Yes, this can get tiresome early on, but if you are working on other projects, listening to music, watching YouTube, etc., it makes it easier to slowly build up and upgrade your sniper towers, machine gun bunkers, and walls.”
optimization
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues, crashes, and long loading times, despite its relatively simple mechanics. Many feel that the developers have misallocated resources, leading to a demanding experience that detracts from gameplay enjoyment. However, some users acknowledge that the game is still in early access, suggesting that these issues may be addressed in future updates.
- “Of course, the game is still in early access, so the negatives relating to crashes and loading screens are of course to be fixed and optimized.”
- “This is a low-strategy phone game with significant performance drops that greatly take away its one redeeming factor, fun cartoony graphics.”
- “The worst optimization; I'm sure the developer team doesn't know anything about optimization.”
- “The game mechanics are so simple, there is no hard computing, no clever AI... but still, somehow they made it more demanding than some of the best games out there. In my opinion, wasted resources on the wrong aspects and possibly really bad optimization.”
- “With that being said, this is not a bad game at all; it just has some things in it that could use some more optimization.”
replayability
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been noted for its strategic depth but is criticized for its limited replayability due to bugs and a lack of meaningful updates. While players find it enjoyable, the presence of persistent issues and a focus on monetization detracts from the overall experience, leading some to lose interest over time.
- “Needs more replayability though.”
- “This is a very good strategic game; however, in terms of replayability, it's a little weak. But other than that, the game is great.”
- “The game would be more playable if there weren't many bugs that are rarely fixed, as the developers only add new things to pay for with cash, which makes some players stop playing.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized as light and fun, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience for players.
- “This style reflects the light and fun atmosphere of the game.”
emotional
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming story and engaging plot, making it a recommended experience for players who appreciate a mix of humor and sentiment.
- “The game delivers a truly heartwarming story that keeps you engaged throughout.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters really draws you in and makes you care about their journey.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the narrative; it left a lasting impact on me.”