Pushover

About

Pushover is a single player puzzle game with a comedy theme. It was developed by Ocean Software and was released on April 13, 2018. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Pushover is a platform puzzle game where you control a soldier ant named G.I. Ant. Your mission is to recover Quavers packets or cash that have been dropped down a giant ant hill by collecting them with a push of a domino. The game features 100 levels with increasing complexity and 11 different types of dominoes that you must topple in a specific order to advance."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 30 reviews

gameplay3 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game successfully evokes nostalgia for players who enjoyed it in the early 90s, making it a great experience for those looking to relive childhood memories.
It features engaging and challenging puzzle mechanics that have stood the test of time, providing a satisfying gameplay experience.
The original DOS version runs smoothly on modern systems with pre-configured dosbox emulation, allowing for easy access and play.

The game lacks a save feature, which can be frustrating for players who want to progress through the levels without starting over.
There is an imposed time limit on each level that can add unnecessary pressure and frustration, especially in a puzzle game.
The current publisher's handling of the game has been criticized, including the lack of proper support and documentation for players.

story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
38%
The game's story revolves around the character Colin Curly, a bulldog mascot for the British snack Quavers, who loses his snack collection down an anthill and seeks help to retrieve it. This narrative serves as a product placement tie-in, with the original version maintaining its branding, unlike the SNES release that altered the story. Players appreciate the quirky and abstract nature of the plot, which adds a unique charm to the gameplay experience.
- “Most of the releases follow an utterly abstract plot of the bulldog Colin Curly (old mascot for British snack food Quavers) losing his collection of Quavers down an anthill and enlisting the help of his pal G.I.”
- “Despite what the Steam description says - which describes the SNES version that had its Quavers branding stripped and the story replaced, this is in fact the original, branded version, where the story is that you're descending the anthill to rescue packets of snack food.”
- “Full disclosure, when I played it at the time, I got it at a LAN party, so nearly 30 years later, I've paid for the game for the first time... I was an American teenager who had no idea what 'Quavers' were, and if not for the game's story, I never would've suspected this was a product placement tie-in.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The gameplay of this early 90s puzzle game is well-structured, gradually introducing players to a variety of domino types and their unique interactions through thoughtfully designed levels. While the game effectively eases players into its mechanics, it requires them to independently learn the controls for manipulating the dominos, adding a layer of challenge to the experience. Overall, the subtlety and complexity of the gameplay mechanics provide a rewarding puzzle-solving experience.
- “For an early 90s puzzle game, the levels do a solid job of introducing the game's various mechanics, which have a surprising amount of subtlety and interactions.”
- “Making this tricky is that there are around a dozen different types of dominos - dominos that explode (making holes for others to fall through), dominos that split in two and go both ways, dominos that float up to the ceiling before falling, dominos that make bridges across gaps. The early levels introduce each of these while also demonstrating some of the interactions and other mechanics.”
- “Push-over specifically does a reasonable job of easing you into the mechanics with the earlier levels, but it's entirely on you to figure out how to actually pick up and push dominoes (for the curious: spacebar and arrow keys).”
- “Making this tricky is that there are around a dozen different types of dominos - dominos that explode (making holes for others to fall through), dominos that split in two and go both ways, dominos that float up to the ceiling before falling, dominos that make bridges across gaps... the early levels introduce each of these, while also being set up to demonstrate some of the interactions and other mechanics.”
- “[/i] push-over specifically does a reasonable job of easing you into the mechanics with the earlier levels, but it's entirely on you to figure out how to actually pick up and push dominoes (for the curious: spacebar and arrow keys).”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their impressive quality, both at the time of release and in the present day. Players particularly appreciate the unique art style and its harmonious integration with the music, contributing to an overall enjoyable aesthetic experience.
- “I absolutely love this game's art style and music.”
- “The graphics were amazing back in the days; I still like them to this day, to be honest.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The original DOS version of the game runs smoothly on Windows 11, thanks to pre-configured DOSBox emulation, ensuring a seamless experience for players.
- “It is the original DOS version, and it runs smoothly on a Windows 11 environment with pre-configured DOSBox emulation.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted for its cleverness, particularly in the playful use of phrases like "partical controller support," which adds a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.
- “This allows Steam to mark this as 'partial controller support'... funny.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is highly praised, with players expressing strong affection for both the soundtrack and the overall art style, indicating a harmonious blend that enhances the gaming experience.
- “I absolutely love this game's art style and music.”