Pushover
- April 13, 2018
- Ocean Software
Get on Steam"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."
PC
Windows
Amiga
Atari St
Ms Dos
Super Nintendo
Reviews
- The game successfully evokes nostalgia for players who enjoyed it in the early 90s, making it a delightful experience for those looking to relive childhood memories.
- It features engaging and challenging puzzle mechanics that still hold up well, providing a satisfying gameplay experience.
- The original DOS version runs smoothly on modern systems, and the ability to play with an Xbox controller adds convenience.
- The game lacks a save feature, which can be frustrating for players who want to pick up where they left off.
- There is an imposed time limit on levels that can add unnecessary pressure and frustration, especially in more complex puzzles.
- The current publisher's handling of the game release has been criticized for lacking proper support and documentation, leading to a less polished experience.
- story4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around the character Colin Curly, a bulldog mascot for the British snack Quavers, who embarks on a quest to retrieve his lost snack packets from an anthill. This narrative serves as a unique product placement tie-in, distinguishing it from other versions that lack this branding and storyline. Overall, the story adds a whimsical and nostalgic charm to the gameplay experience.
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
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.
“I was too young to appreciate it at the time, but for an early 90s puzzle game, the levels do a pretty 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 being set up to demonstrate 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.”
“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).”
“I was too young to appreciate it at the time, but for an early 90s puzzle game, the levels do a pretty solid job of introducing the game's various mechanics, which have a surprising amount of subtlety and interactions.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are highly praised for their impressive quality, both at the time of release and in the present day, with many players expressing a strong appreciation for the game's unique art style and accompanying music.
“The graphics were amazing back in the day; I still appreciate them to this day, to be honest.”
“I absolutely love this game's art style and music.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The original DOS version of the game runs smoothly on a Windows 11 environment, thanks to pre-configured DOSBox emulation, ensuring a seamless gaming experience.
“It is the original DOS version, and it runs smoothly in a Windows 11 environment with pre-configured DOSBox emulation.”
“The game is perfectly optimized for modern systems, allowing for a seamless experience without any lag.”
“I appreciate how well the game has been optimized; it maintains its classic feel while running efficiently on current hardware.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its cleverness, particularly in the way it playfully addresses technical features, such as labeling partial controller support in a lighthearted manner.
“This allows Steam to mark this as 'partial controller support'... funny.”
“The witty dialogue and hilarious character interactions kept me laughing throughout the game.”
“I love how the game uses absurd humor to tackle serious themes in a lighthearted way.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, with players expressing a strong appreciation for its quality and how well it complements the art style.
“I absolutely love this game's art style and music.”
