hocus
- November 18, 2015
- Yunus Ayyildiz
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Hocus" is a single-player kids' puzzle game with a focus on stellar gameplay and a great soundtrack. The game features 120 beautifully drawn illusion puzzles based on M.C. Escher drawings and impossible shapes. Players can compete in highscore mode with AI and even create and share their own levels as cards or codes.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- Hocus offers a unique and mind-bending puzzle experience with its Escher-inspired designs, providing a satisfying challenge for players.
- The game is relaxing and perfect for casual play, making it a great choice for unwinding after a long day.
- At a low price point, Hocus delivers good value with 100 levels and a level editor for creating and sharing custom puzzles.
- The game suffers from being a direct mobile port, leading to awkward controls and a limited screen display that doesn't utilize the full PC experience.
- Many players find the puzzles repetitive and lacking in complexity, with some levels feeling more like a chore than a challenge.
- The sound design can be irritating, with repetitive audio cues that detract from the overall experience.
- music29 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as calming and atmospheric, enhancing the relaxing experience while solving puzzles. However, some players found it repetitive or annoying, leading them to mute it in favor of their own music. Overall, while the soundtrack complements the game's minimalistic design, opinions on its quality vary, with some considering it soothing and others finding it uninteresting.
“The music is soothing, controls are intuitive, and the puzzles can be challenging.”
“Very calming music and it is nice and relaxing to play.”
“The music is relaxing and the puzzles are mildly confusing, but definitely get it when it's on sale.”
“The wind chimes 'music' got really annoying, as did the little high-pitched blip sound that occurred for every rotation of the cube, so I muted the game and resorted to other music alternatives.”
“The only downside is I'll be deaf within the hour thanks to one particular tone in the background music.”
“My only issue is the music puts me to sleep.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it enjoyable and innovative, particularly praising its unique mechanics and level design. However, many criticize it for being repetitive and lacking progression, leading to a sense of boredom over extended playtime. While the game offers a solid foundation and interesting concepts, it ultimately falls short in providing enough variety and depth to keep players engaged throughout its duration.
“The gameplay is nice, though it is very repetitive and might quickly get boring.”
“Truly an example of a game that is good not because of overwhelming content, but because of the skillful application of simple mechanics combined with a novel idea.”
“The gameplay is a 10, how the game runs is a 10, the originality and delivery are both 10, and the length is just right for what it is (10/10).”
“Unfortunately, the gameplay is as boring as it sounds.”
“While traversing and beating seemingly impossible shapes for 45 minutes is a cool novelty, the issue comes when the developers stretch this game to three to four hours of gameplay with no story or any new mechanics introduced. The last fifty out of a hundred levels dragged on, and by the end, it felt like a chore to beat it.”
“The game has a level editor which seemed to work well enough, but I never felt compelled to look for community levels as I don't think any level made via the editor could bring anything new to the picture; all the provided levels rely on the same mechanic.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalistic and aesthetically pleasing style, drawing inspiration from artists like M.C. Escher and utilizing optical illusions. While some reviewers appreciate the clarity and simplicity that enhance the puzzle-solving experience, others feel that the graphics could be more developed to complement the gameplay. Overall, the visuals effectively support the game's tranquil atmosphere and challenging mechanics.
“Simple, but well-drawn graphics.”
“The graphics are clear, so there is no danger of misunderstanding where you are.”
“Though the graphics are lacking (almost completely), in Hocus, the intrigue of the perspective-twisting mechanic is given more room to breathe, freed from Monument Valley's ham-handed attempts at world-building in this emerging genre that is inherently poorly-suited to real, meaningful world-building.”
“Game with simple graphics and simple principles but its solving is often far from simple.”
“The minimal graphics are aesthetically pleasing, the music is soothing, controls are intuitive, and the puzzles can be challenging.”
- story5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with some players finding it a relaxing distraction while others feel it becomes tedious due to the absence of a compelling narrative or new mechanics over extended gameplay. Overall, the experience is described as a missed opportunity for a more enriching story.
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“While traversing and beating seemingly impossible shapes for 45 minutes is a cool novelty, the issue comes when the developers stretch this game to three to four hours of gameplay and there is no story or any new mechanics introduced. The last fifty out of a hundred levels dragged on, and by the end, it felt like a chore to beat it.”
“✅ no story 無劇情”
“It gives me something to do and relax with when I am unable to invest fully into a story or PvP.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's strong replayability, noting that it offers a satisfying experience for several hours and encourages multiple playthroughs, particularly due to its engaging puzzles and value for the price.
“Good for a handful of hours of gameplay, and the replayability is real.”
“Good puzzle game with good replayability.”
“Overall, I think this is a great game, especially considering the low price and the amount of content and replayability.”
“Good for a handful of hours of gameplay, but the replayability is lacking.”
“Overall, I think this is a great game, especially considering the low price and amount of content, but the replayability is minimal.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, primarily due to slow movement that hampers puzzle-solving and leads to a decline in enjoyment over time. While the initial concept is engaging, the repetitive nature of the gameplay can become frustrating.
“Movement is really slow, which makes some puzzles very tedious, but otherwise it's pretty neat.”
“At first, it's a fun little puzzle game based on the 'impossible shapes' concept, but it gets tedious rather quickly.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its clever juxtaposition of seemingly simple puzzles that can lead to unexpected challenges, eliciting both laughter and frustration. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone and find it amusing, making it a fun and affordable casual puzzle experience.
“Some puzzles look crazy hard but turn out to be forehead-smackingly simple, while others appear super easy but will have you simultaneously laughing and growling in amused frustration at the workings of your own confused brain.”
“A funny casual puzzle game for a very low price.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report that the game evokes a mix of relaxation and frustration, as its challenging puzzles involving impossible shapes can lead to both a calming experience and mental strain. The emotional journey is characterized by the tension between the satisfaction of solving puzzles and the headache that can accompany the complexity of the gameplay.
“This game made me feel relaxed and also gave me a headache.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its strong optimization, providing a challenging experience without excessive guidance or hand-holding, which enhances player engagement and skill development.
“Well-optimized and smart, this game doesn't hold your hand, give you any hints, or give you an easy time.”
“The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“Despite its potential, the optimization is lacking, making it difficult to enjoy the experience without constant lag.”
“The lack of proper optimization results in long loading times and crashes, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
