LOOP: A Tranquil Puzzle Game
- May 22, 2015
- John Cullen
- 26h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Loop: A Tranquil Puzzle Game" is a meditative puzzler with a minimalist UI and no timers or scores. The goal is to swap hexagon pieces to form connected lines in 100 levels, with added challenges of spinning and color-changing pieces. The full game includes a color blind mode and a procedural level generator for 1 billion possible levels. Follow the game on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+ for updates.
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Reviews
- LOOP is a relaxing and enjoyable puzzle game with a steady difficulty curve, making it accessible for players of all skill levels.
- The game features a unique tile-swapping mechanic with various types of tiles, providing a satisfying challenge and a sense of accomplishment.
- With 100 curated levels and a procedural generator offering nearly infinite puzzles, LOOP ensures endless replayability and is perfect for casual gaming sessions.
- Some players find the color differentiation challenging, even with the colorblind mode, which can hinder the overall experience.
- The game may feel repetitive after completing the initial 100 levels, as the procedural puzzles lack the same level of design and variety.
- A few users noted that the soundtrack and sound effects could be improved, as the ambient rain sounds may become monotonous over time.
- music21 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as soothing and relaxing, complementing the meditative nature of the puzzles. While many players appreciate the calming rain sounds and serene soundtrack, some find the default music generic and suggest using personal playlists for a better experience. Overall, the audio settings allow for customization, enhancing the relaxing atmosphere, though a few reviewers feel the soundtrack could benefit from more variety.
“The puzzles can sometimes be very challenging, but the game is relaxing, at your own pace, with very nice soothing music and/or rain sounds (which can be adjusted or turned off independently).”
“The music is serene and soothing, and the puzzles are pretty.”
“From the soothing musical tones and peaceful designs of the loops, it's the perfect game to play at the end of a long day.”
“The only thing I'd recommend is turning off the default background music (it's generic rain sounds which kind of get old) and put on your own soundtrack to suit your mood.”
“Soundtrack could use a few more varieties of mellow, but that's a minor issue.”
“- soundtrack is very poor.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a variety of mechanics, including tile-swapping, rotating tiles, and color-changing tiles, which contribute to a solid and calming puzzle experience. While the procedural generator ensures a continuous supply of levels, some players feel the overall content may not justify the cost, as the game could benefit from more diverse mechanics and rewarding challenges. Overall, the tranquil atmosphere and enjoyable puzzles are highlighted, but there are concerns about depth and longevity.
“I think this is a solid puzzle game with nice mechanics and calming/charming sounds (and volume adjusters in the options for those that need it).”
“6 hours of gameplay - lovely music and raindrops which are very calming along with enjoyable puzzles which slowly introduce different mechanics.”
“I think it would have been possible to build new mechanics and levels around those mechanics that encourage and reward thinking about these things.”
“Besides tile-swapping, other mechanics include tiles that are fixed in place but rotate and tiles that are fixed in place but change colors.”
“Loop: a tranquil puzzle game -- example of gameplay”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as simple yet effective, with a clean and pleasant art style that complements the gameplay. Players appreciate the bright and vivid colors, along with a color blind option, ensuring accessibility without compromising performance, even on lower-end systems. Overall, the graphics enhance the relaxing atmosphere of the game while maintaining clarity and visual appeal.
“The graphics appear simple, but it suits the game well.”
“Simple nice puzzle game with clean graphics.”
“The puzzles are challenging and require thought, the music and sound effects are really relaxing and the graphics are bright and vivid, with a color blind option if needed.”
“The graphics are simplistic and lack detail, making the game feel outdated.”
“The visual style is underwhelming and doesn't do justice to the game's potential.”
“The graphics are inconsistent, with some areas looking good while others appear poorly rendered.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability with 100 initial levels complemented by a random level generator, providing an impressive one billion additional puzzles. Custom levels further enhance the replay value, making it highly engaging even after completing the default content. Overall, players find it to be very replayable.
“There are 100 levels, which is decent, and then there's a random level generator for great replayability.”
“This game is infinitely replayable -- after the first 100 warm-up puzzles, there are literally one billion additional ones.”
“Custom levels also provide more replay value after you finish the default levels.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be hit-or-miss, with some levels providing amusing scenarios, such as the challenge of changing the color of a single border piece among identical colors. However, there is a desire for more curated levels to enhance the comedic experience, as the randomly generated ones can be overly difficult.
“The humor in the game is spot on, especially when unexpected things happen that catch you off guard.”
“I love how the game incorporates funny dialogue and quirky characters that always make me smile.”
“The absurd situations you find yourself in during gameplay are hilarious and keep me coming back for more.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the atmospheric music as a significant enhancement to the game's overall experience, adding depth and immersion to the environment.
“The atmospheric music is a deft touch.”
“The game immerses you in a hauntingly beautiful world that feels alive.”
“Every detail contributes to an eerie yet captivating atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find that the grinding aspect of the game often leads to tedious trial and error, as the level design does not effectively support strategic approaches, making the experience feel frustrating rather than rewarding.
“Sadly, the existing levels are designed such that considerations of this kind are either useless or more tedious than just applying trial and error.”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“I find myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which really takes away from the enjoyment.”
