Only Up!
- 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
- gameplay160 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the core mechanics can be engaging and addictive, they are often marred by clunky controls, inconsistent collision detection, and numerous bugs. Some players appreciate the challenge and unique climbing mechanics, while others find the experience frustrating due to the lack of a save feature and poorly optimized gameplay. Overall, the game offers a visually appealing experience but requires patience and a tolerance for its mechanical shortcomings.
“The gameplay cycle is addictive as each 'level' presents new challenges, rewards, and power-ups that motivate the player to keep climbing to even more challenging heights.”
“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.”
“Unlike other challenging games, the controls are easy to grasp, allowing you to focus on the climbing mechanics and the thrilling adventure.”
“It's impossible to distinguish the actual mechanics from the glitches.”
“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.”
- stability121 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent glitches, crashes, and unresponsive mechanics that significantly hinder gameplay. Many users describe it as a "buggy mess," with issues such as freezing, collision problems, and inconsistent controls leading to frustrating experiences. While some find the game enjoyable despite its flaws, the overwhelming consensus is that it feels unfinished and requires substantial improvements to its stability.
“The gameplay has little to no glitches.”
“If you're gonna make a game where you can lose over an hour of progress, make sure it's actually bug free first.”
“Game is hard to start, I'm not bad; but it wasn't complete, even the version in Fortnite has more players, and has fully complete models, no glitches, etc.”
“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.”
- graphics107 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the stunning visuals and artistic design, while others criticize the poor optimization and performance issues, leading to lag and crashes even on lower settings. Many users note that the game demands high-end hardware to run smoothly, and some express disappointment with the inconsistency in graphical quality. Overall, while the artwork is appreciated by some, the technical execution leaves much to be desired for a significant portion of the player base.
“The graphics are amazing.”
“This game has a beautiful story, beautiful graphics. I love this game, but I hate at the same time because of the falls. This game is so raging, and if you are a stressed person, don't play this game, but the end is so beautiful and I got a relief. This game is 10/10 for sure.”
“The game boasts stunning graphics, vibrant colors, and meticulously designed environments.”
“The graphics are awful even on high settings, and the third-party assets give the game a really 'garbage bin' feel.”
“Between the terrible godrays, awful textures, crude mapping, and the fact that graphics are swapped from other games in places says there's nothing of value here.”
“I've seen mobile games with better visuals than this so-called 'next-gen' catastrophe.”
- music86 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players enjoying its initial charm and relaxing qualities, but ultimately finding it repetitive and annoying due to its limited variety and frequent loops. Some players expressed a desire for a music slider to adjust volume and mute options, as the soundtrack can become grating during extended play sessions. Overall, while the music complements the game's atmosphere, it lacks depth and can detract from the experience for some players.
“Love the graphics, dialogue, and music.”
“Chilling game, especially with music in the background.”
“The music fits perfectly to the type of anger you feel after falling and hours worth of playtime, so it just kind of adds to that will to beat the game because you are mad at the game rather than at yourself.”
“Also, you will hear the same music over and over and it gets very repetitive.”
“After a few runs, I honestly just turned down the volume and played music or a podcast.”
“The music gets very annoying after it repeats as well.”
- story70 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding it engaging and meaningful, while others criticize it for being poorly executed and lacking depth. Many reviews highlight the use of monotonous text-to-speech narration, which detracts from the emotional impact of the narrative. Overall, the story attempts to convey themes of struggle and perseverance but often falls short due to its execution and presentation.
“The story of the game takes place in the year 2035 when North Korea officially ends the ceasefire for the Korean War and launches a series of surprise attacks on the United States of America and South Korea.”
“This dystopian city and a little bit of dark backstory were really interesting.”
“The story is very captivating and the voice acting is amazing.”
“The plot is paper thin, obviously not seriously worked on or considered in the making of the game.”
“The story is sparse, mid, and depressing.”
“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.”
- optimization70 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 56 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with users reporting severe performance issues, frequent bugs, and inadequate graphical settings that fail to improve gameplay. Many players experienced significant frame drops and high CPU usage, even on high-end systems, leading to frustration and a lack of enjoyment. Overall, the consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, detracting from its potential fun and playability.
“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.”
“Good game, terrible performance.”
“A good idea but very poorly done, it is full of bugs, extremely poorly optimized, not worth playing for more than 15 minutes.”
“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.”
“Badly optimized, I was able to play it when setting everything to low & 1280x720 screen (I do not have a bad PC).”
- humor35 mentions
- 94 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is polarizing, with many players finding it genuinely funny and enjoyable, particularly in multiplayer settings that lead to shared laughter and frustration. However, some reviews criticize the humor as lacking depth, with AI-generated narration and unoriginal jokes, while others express frustration with the game's mechanics overshadowing any comedic potential. Overall, it seems to be a hit-or-miss experience, often depending on the player's expectations and tolerance for chaotic gameplay.
“Whole group of friends bought this game, sharing screens in Discord has had us crying laughing.”
“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, 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 will regret it. This game is just not good, and I'm warning you: if you want to avoid disappointment and stay happy, do not buy this game.”
- emotional29 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by intense feelings of frustration, heartbreak, and relief, often leading players to tears due to the challenging gameplay and the emotional weight of its themes. Many players describe it as an emotional roller coaster, where the highs of progress are sharply contrasted by the lows of failure, creating a profound and sometimes painful experience. Despite criticisms of its execution, the game resonates deeply with players, evoking a strong emotional response that lingers long after playing.
“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).”
- replayability18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag among users; while some find it infinitely replayable and enjoyable for speedrunning and content creation, others argue that it lacks substantial replay value after the initial playthrough. Many players appreciate the challenge and the thrill of competing against themselves, but some feel that the game's appeal diminishes over time, particularly for those not interested in speedrunning. Overall, the experience seems to hinge on individual play styles and preferences.
“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.”
“Was worth the money no doubt, but for me, there is no replay value.”
“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 speedrunner, there is effectively no replayability factor, and even if you like speedrunning, the temporary hype and popularity this game got seems to have died down, so you're only really competing against yourself.”
- 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 allows players to progress without spending money, while still providing optional purchases for those who want to enhance their experience.”
“The microtransactions are reasonable and don't disrupt the gameplay, allowing for a satisfying experience whether you choose to spend or not.”
“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 gameplay becomes monotonous due to slow animations and poorly designed obstacles, making the experience feel more like a chore than an engaging challenge. While some see potential for improvement, the current state of grinding is seen as a significant drawback.
“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.”
