Pythagoria
- January 22, 2016
- Vladimir Maslov
Get on Steam"Pythagoria" is a casual, single-player number puzzle game that challenges players to find missing values in rectangular puzzles using only whole numbers, with 60 unique puzzles and features like freehand drawing and calming BGM music. The game offers five Steam achievements and trading cards for added replayability. Its simple mechanics and gradually increasing difficulty level make it enjoyable for all ages.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Offers a good selection of 60 levels that can be enjoyable for math enthusiasts.
- The game provides a unique way to practice geometry and logical thinking without requiring advanced math skills.
- Inexpensive and can be a fun way to brush up on basic geometry skills.
- The visuals are often misleading and not to scale, making it frustrating for players who rely on accurate representations.
- The user interface and drawing tools are poorly implemented, leading to a clunky experience.
- Many puzzles can be solved through guessing due to the limited range of whole number answers, reducing the challenge.
- music20 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game features a limited selection of royalty-free tracks that many players find repetitive and distracting over time, leading some to turn it off entirely. While some appreciate the relaxing quality of the tunes, others feel that a more varied or classical soundtrack would have enhanced the experience. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some enjoying the music as a pleasant backdrop and others finding it annoying.
“I actually find the music and visuals along with the unlimited time make it a great game to relax to.”
“The soundtrack is a very good one, very enjoyable.”
“I thought the overall design and layout of the game was pleasing to the eye, and I really enjoyed the music.”
“The three songs without copyright it uses start to make you crazy after the second time you hear them.”
“The music is annoying and distracting after a while, but you can always turn that off; the rounding to nearest whole thing is also annoying and feels off.”
“This puzzle game is poorly made: bad answering system, questions do not contain enough information, and the music becomes extremely annoying, repeating the same 3-4 songs over and over.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics are described as minimalist yet effective, with a strong graphical interface that enhances the overall experience. While the visuals and audio are generally praised for their quality, some users find the misleading scale of the graphics adds a layer of challenge, particularly for those who rely on visual accuracy. Overall, the combination of appealing visuals and relaxing music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere.
“Great graphical interface.”
“Amazing graphics.”
“The graphics are minimalist but sufficient.”
“It is - in my view - a strength of the game that the graphical representations of lengths (and subsequently angles) in the different problems are misleading.”
“I tried using a mix of the math I remembered from school as well as going off the visuals provided, but they don't seem to be to scale, which is very misleading.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has limited replayability, with many users noting that puzzles do not change between playthroughs. While some may return to practice or attempt speed runs, the general consensus is that the game lacks engaging content that encourages repeated play.
“This game is entertaining, well-designed, fun, quotable, and replayable, especially for speed runs and bragging rights.”
“Neat execution, no replay value.”
“There is no replay value to the game.”
“Puzzles don't change on playthroughs, but as for replay value, you may come back to practice and try them again after a bit, having forgotten the solutions.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by random and uneven difficulty, leading to a frustrating experience filled with mindless busywork. Players often find themselves engaged in tedious fraction equations and repetitive procedures that lack creativity, making the gameplay feel monotonous and overly simplistic.
“It's mindless busywork because the students are just grinding through procedures like an automaton.”
“That sounds tedious in the extreme, and I have an engineering PhD, so it's not like fractions scare me.”
“Even worse, there are a couple of puzzles where the solution is the unimaginative tedious method of figuring out all of the side lengths.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Gameplay is characterized by a central mechanic of deducing a one-digit number, which some users find engaging despite its visual inaccuracies adding to the challenge. However, there are complaints about certain mechanics being poorly implemented and not functioning as intended.
“The basic mechanic revolves around figuring out a one-digit number.”
“I love the game; I love how its visual inaccuracies contribute to a more challenging gameplay experience.”
“Some mechanics are not working properly and are poorly implemented.”
“In long: the basic mechanic revolves around figuring out a one-digit number.”
“I love the game, but I find its visually inaccurate design makes the gameplay harder.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a blend of black humor and clever wit, particularly appealing to those who enjoy mental puzzles. However, some users feel that the humor is overshadowed by the game's flaws and the developer's questionable practices, leading to a mixed reception overall.
“AI that designs minimalist tests of perspective to test your wit and cunning with, as Yathzee Crankshaw calls it, a healthy dose of black humor.”
“It's a really good and funny mental puzzle game; if you don't like that much math, you would probably not like it, but it's an original concept, 9/10.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is often criticized for its clunky performance and numerous bugs, which detract from the overall experience, despite the presence of enjoyable math puzzles.
“Clunky and buggy, nice math puzzles.”
