not available
- May 24, 2023
- Indiesolodev
- 7h median play time
Get on Steam"Only UP!" is a narrative-driven platformer inspired by the tale of "Jack and the Beanstalk." As young Jackie from the ghetto, you'll embark on a journey of self-discovery and learning about the world amidst crisis. With samurai-like patience and cunning, overcome obstacles and reach new heights, all while remembering that mistakes are opportunities for growth.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- gameplay143 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the core mechanics can be engaging and rewarding, they are often marred by clunky controls, inconsistent physics, and numerous bugs. Some players appreciate the challenge and unique climbing mechanics, while others find the experience frustrating due to the lack of polish and the absence of a save feature. Overall, the game offers a visually appealing environment but struggles with execution, leading to a divided player experience.
“Foddy's charismatic narration leads the player through an increasingly difficult-to-traverse world, wherein players improve as they play more and master the mechanics of the pick-axe.”
“The core gameplay is engaging, nail-biting, and rewarding.”
“With its climbing-focused mechanics, accessible controls, and visually janky design, Only Up! stands out among similar games, keeping players engaged from start to finish.”
“The mechanics are absolutely terrible; I've seen better mechanics on a Sega Dreamcast. The game crashes, you can't adjust sensitivity without it changing back to default, the jump button is terribly inaccurate, and to top it all off, you can't save the game (in 2023).”
“The game mechanics are so unresponsive and clunky for a game that requires precision and fluidity to beat it.”
“This game is just a blatant asset flip with very dull gameplay.”
- stability106 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- -2 % neutral mentions
- 99 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent glitches, crashes, and unresponsive controls that significantly hinder gameplay. Many users describe the experience as frustrating and unplayable due to the overwhelming number of bugs, which often lead to losing progress and unexpected character behavior. While some find the glitches amusing or part of the challenge, the consensus is that the game feels unfinished and requires substantial improvements to its stability.
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or bugs.”
“I haven't encountered any stability issues; everything works as intended.”
“The performance is consistent, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
“This game is a buggy, awful mess, made by a sleazy cash-grabbing developer piggybacking off of developers / artists who truly worked hard to publish their works.”
“The game is so buggy you fall through floors, walk through walls and get stuck in spots where you should be able to walk.”
“Game is unplayable due to bugs and glitches.”
- graphics91 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the stunning visuals and vibrant art style, while others criticize poor optimization and performance issues, leading to lag and crashes even on high-end systems. Many users note that the graphics can be inconsistent, with some assets feeling out of place or poorly integrated, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, while some find the graphics captivating, others deem them subpar and frustrating, especially when performance hinders gameplay.
“The game boasts stunning graphics, vibrant colors, and meticulously designed environments.”
“Engaging gameplay, beautiful graphics, and a captivating story.”
“Its unique blend of accessible controls, captivating visuals, and the thrill of ascending higher provides an unmatched sense of accomplishment.”
“The graphics are awful even on high settings, and the third-party assets give the game a really 'garbage bin' feel.”
“I've seen mobile games with better visuals than this so-called 'next-gen' catastrophe.”
“From its lackluster gameplay to its uninspired graphics, it fails to deliver even a modicum of entertainment.”
- music76 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying its relaxing qualities and others finding it repetitive and annoying, particularly the track that plays upon falling. Many users expressed a desire for more music variety and better volume control options, as the current soundtrack often disrupts the gameplay experience. Overall, while the music can enhance the atmosphere, its execution leaves much to be desired, leading to frustration for some players.
“Love the graphics, dialogue, and music.”
“Chilling game, especially with music in the background.”
“This game is pretty relaxing with its background music and philosophical speeches, while at the same time keeps you focused.”
“After a few runs, I honestly just turned down the volume and played music or a podcast.”
“The music is bog-standard elevator music but has really strange cues that I can only assume are based on height level.”
“The game would be playable if every time I fell it didn't play that stupid music and it's so loud I turned it down all the way and it's still loud.”
- optimization62 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 55 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with users reporting severe performance issues, frequent bugs, and poor graphical fidelity even on high-end hardware. Many players experience significant frame drops and unresponsive controls, leading to an overall frustrating gameplay experience. Despite some acknowledging the game's potential, the consensus is that it is currently unplayable due to its lack of optimization.
“Isn't very well optimized, and that's ok.”
“Whether you're playing on a mobile device or a gaming console, the controls are optimized for each platform, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience.”
“The game itself is super fun but it's poorly optimized.”
“A good idea but very poorly done, it is full of bugs, extremely poorly optimized, not worth playing for more than 15 minutes.”
“Horribly optimized, only the most bare-bones UI, and terrible, thoughtless movement mechanics.”
“The game is not optimized at all, within the first 10 minutes I'd re-triggered the same audio track at least 5 times, and the text-to-speech narration style feels ridiculously cheap and only good for a quick laugh before then getting obnoxious.”
- story61 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely criticized for being poorly executed, with many reviewers noting its reliance on a monotonous text-to-speech narration that detracts from any emotional impact. While some players appreciate the attempt at a deeper narrative about overcoming adversity, the overall consensus is that the story feels disjointed, underdeveloped, and often nonsensical, leading to a lack of immersion and engagement. Despite a few positive remarks about the visuals and the potential for a meaningful tale, the execution leaves much to be desired, resulting in a generally unfavorable reception.
“This game has a beautiful story, beautiful graphics. I love this game, but I hate it at the same time because of the falls. This game is so frustrating, and if you are a stressed person, don't play this game, but the end is so beautiful and I felt a relief. This game is a 10/10 for sure.”
“Which may be true, but it’s clearly a beautiful, tragic, and metaphoric story of a child escaping systemic and generational poverty.”
“I knew absolutely nothing before starting it up, and as I climbed higher, I really enjoyed the subtle story it tells you if you look into the environment and what it's trying to convey.”
“The plot is paper thin, obviously not seriously worked on or considered in the making of the game.”
“It ruins the little immersion that the game offers in the first place; the story is not really existent in the game besides the equivalent of the TikTok female default text-to-speech voice grating on the ears about the 'adventure.'”
“There just isn't any emotion to be found in the voice lines, which is such a shame for a game that seems to be attempting to tell a really deep and personal story on the narrator's behalf.”
- humor30 mentions
- 93 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is polarizing, with many players finding it amusing due to its chaotic gameplay, funny obstacles, and quirky voiceovers, while others criticize it for lacking genuine wit and being frustrating rather than funny. Some reviews highlight the potential for hilarious moments, especially in multiplayer settings, but others express disappointment, feeling that the humor falls flat or is overshadowed by poor controls and design. Overall, the game seems to cater to those who enjoy a mix of frustration and laughter, though it may not resonate with everyone.
“There are so many easter eggs and funny details that you can't even imagine.”
“It's a hilarious mess that will leave you questioning your life choices, but hey, at least you'll have a good story to tell.”
“Took too long, the voices in this game make me laugh and the random animals that discourage you are way too funny.”
“Not funny.”
“I bought this game thinking it would be funny, but it was not. It's so frustrating; after 10 minutes, you'll be asking yourself why you bought this game. Was it really worth 10 dollars? No, it's not worth it. Do not spend your money on this. You'll regret it. This game is just trash, and I'm warning you: if you want to avoid depression and live a happy life, do not buy this game.”
- emotional27 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players describe the game as an emotional roller coaster, eliciting feelings of heartbreak, stress, and relief, often leading to tears during moments of failure and triumph. Many highlight the game's ability to confront deep emotional themes, with some expressing a sense of catharsis upon completion despite the frustration of losing progress. Overall, it is characterized as a deeply moving experience that resonates with players on a personal level.
“Tear jerking, heart wrenching, and soul crushing with a tinge of hope lingering at the end of an extremely long tunnel.”
“This game was an emotional experience.”
“An emotional roller coaster with the highest of highs followed by the lowest of lows when you fall (pun intended).”
- replayability17 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag among players; while some find it infinitely replayable and enjoyable for speedrunning and content creation, others feel it lacks substantial replay value after the initial experience. Many players appreciate the challenge and the thrill of competing against themselves, but some criticize the game for having repetitive sections that diminish long-term engagement. Overall, it appeals to those seeking a difficult platforming challenge, but may not hold lasting interest for everyone.
“Although I've only played this for a very short time, I can say it's very fun, very addicting, and very replayable. I watch streamers have so much fun with this and also get really mad when they fall.”
“Equal parts frustration and love, infinitely replayable.”
“There's a lot of replayability, and especially after you beat it the first time - you start getting that confidence.”
“The replayability of this game is very short; a lot of sections have 2-3 minute parts where you just hitch a ride on a random object and pray you don't clip through said object.”
“Unless you are a speed runner, there is effectively no replayability factor, and even if you like speed running, the temporary hype and popularity this game got seems to have died down, so you're only really competing against yourself.”
“This is a game truly made for content creators; there isn't any replayability, but I recommend this game for those seeking a difficult platform challenge.”
- monetization16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- -12 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of this game has been widely criticized as exploitative and focused on promoting NFTs, with many reviewers labeling it a "cash grab." Players report an overwhelming presence of NFT advertisements and microtransactions, detracting from the overall gaming experience and suggesting that the game was designed primarily to capitalize on trends rather than provide genuine entertainment. Overall, the monetization approach is seen as a major flaw, overshadowing any potential gameplay value.
“The game offers a fair balance between free content and paid options, making it enjoyable without feeling pressured to spend.”
“I appreciate that the monetization system is transparent and doesn't interfere with gameplay.”
“The microtransactions are optional and don't hinder progress, allowing players to enjoy the game at their own pace.”
“Ultimately, this game just comes off as a soulless advertisement for NFTs.”
“This feels like a massive cash grab, one that tries to capitalize on the popularity that the successful 'Getting Over It' brought to this genre.”
“The game is riddled with microtransactions and loot boxes, turning what could have been a mediocre experience into a blatant cash grab.”
- grinding15 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 87 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and unrewarding, with players expressing frustration over repetitive tasks and lost progress. Many reviewers note that the lack of quality-of-life features, such as checkpoints, exacerbates the grind, making it feel more like a chore than an engaging challenge. Overall, while some see potential in the game's mechanics, the current implementation leaves much to be desired.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It is vacuous, tedious, and unrewarding.”
“Lost progress is tedious to regain, with most of the climbing being dull and trivial.”
“However, as many already said, the game lacks some proper quality of life features such as checkpoints, especially since getting back up is so tedious thanks to slow climbing animations and poorly implemented music/voicelines.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its impressive design, unique concept, and visually quirky level layouts, which collectively create a captivating and distinct identity. Reviewers highlight how these elements enhance the overall experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
“The models, stages, and atmosphere are very well-designed and impressive.”
“Great atmosphere.”
“Its unique concept instantly grabbed my attention as a fan of games like 'Getting Over It' and 'Jump King.' The visually janky level design adds a quirky and captivating atmosphere, giving the game its own distinct identity.”
