The Spike
- June 5, 2020
- SUNCYAN studio
- 13h median play time
Get on Steam"The Spike" is a physics-based sports game where you play as a sentient volleyball trying to defeat your opponents in intense matches. Use unique abilities and strategic planning to outmaneuver the other team and score points. With fast-paced gameplay and charming graphics, it's a fresh take on the sports genre.
iPad
iPhone
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and addictive volleyball experience with simple mechanics that are easy to learn but challenging to master.
- Players appreciate the unique 2D graphics and the satisfying gameplay, especially when executing spikes and blocks.
- Many fans of volleyball and the Haikyuu anime find the game enjoyable, with a good amount of customization and character progression.
- The game suffers from frequent bugs, including data loss and AI issues, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- There is a significant lack of content and updates compared to the mobile version, leaving players feeling bored after completing the available story modes.
- The monetization and gacha system are criticized for being grind-heavy and not providing enough value for players.
- story59 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it enjoyable yet too short and simplistic, leading to a sense of boredom after completion. While some appreciate the intriguing plot and high-quality cutscenes, others criticize the lack of depth in character development and the absence of multiplayer options, which could enhance the storytelling experience. Overall, players express a desire for expanded narratives and additional game modes to keep the experience fresh and engaging.
“The story in this game is also very good and intriguing; it's also fun to replay the story just in case you get bored of grinding out the tournament mode.”
“I believe it's worth your money because you instantly get hooked on the storyline, and the gameplay is a bunch of fun.”
“The simplistic graphics and animation are smooth, and the story is perfect for the game this is.”
“The game has lots of bugs and is incomplete: it lacks game modes, the main story is way too short and shallow, and the AI is a mess.”
“Mainly its storyline is small and with no multiplayer mode, players can get bored easily as there are no new things to do after completing the storyline.”
“The story mode cutscenes have very high-quality art on the mobile version, but why wouldn't you use the same artwork for the PC version?”
- gameplay42 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by simple and easy-to-learn mechanics that offer a satisfying depth for players who invest time in mastering them. While the game features fluid and dynamic volleyball mechanics, some players find the narrative elements overly verbose and the tournament mode repetitive after extended play. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its fun, arcade-style experience, though some aspects, like the receiving mechanic and story integration, could benefit from further refinement.
“Easy to learn and a little hard to master, the game mechanics are very simple and easy to learn but you still have to play without any training wheels to really prove if you have truly mastered and learned the game. Turning off beginner options takes a while to get used to, but it feels really rewarding once you have truly mastered how the game is supposed to be played.”
“Surprising amount of detail, fluidity, and freedom to the overall gameplay and physics inspired by real volleyball, although maybe the mechanic for receiving could use a little more love.”
“The way they made a simple game have such good gameplay is amazing.”
“So you'll spend a huge amount of time not playing the game, but clicking through endless lines of poorly written visual novel text cutscenes because the developers couldn't figure out how to relate their narrative through the game mechanics, and decided instead it would be better to compete with reading a book for your time.”
“Though from actual gameplay, it's kind of boring. The tournament becomes repetitive after you beat it 700 times, and you get one strong team; hard matches are few, while the others seem to forget how to play volleyball, making it easy to farm.”
“Gameplay seems fun, but it's extremely buggy.”
- grinding15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- -13 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be both a source of enjoyment and frustration. While some appreciate the relaxing nature of grinding and the challenge it presents, many criticize the excessive grind required for character acquisition, particularly through the gacha system, which can feel tedious and detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as fun and engaging, especially for volleyball enthusiasts, but the grinding mechanics could benefit from reworking to enhance casual play.
“This game is a lot of fun, especially if you enjoy grinding. It's a game where you have to put in the effort, but it's super enjoyable. I recommend it if you're into volleyball, as it teaches you how to receive, set, spike, and even block. Overall, it's an amazing game, and I would rate it 100 if I could.”
“If you like grindy games, this one is definitely worth buying. Even though I don't usually enjoy grinding, I found this game to be very engaging and fun. The details, especially with the special characters, really enhance the experience.”
“I had a great time playing this game, even though I only logged 7.4 hours. It's a grindy type of game, but the fun factor makes it worthwhile. If you're looking to get into volleyball, this game is a fantastic way to learn the basics.”
“The gacha system is really bad and it takes a lot of grinding for an S-tier character.”
“Basically, expand on the missions section - but rework it as it's currently very tedious and too grindy for a game that seems like it's trying to be more casual and fun.”
“To 'recruit,' or more accurately buy new members is extremely expensive and grindy.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users noting the simplistic, cartoonish 2D style typical of low-effort mobile apps, which lacks resolution options and customization. While some appreciate the art style and smooth animations, others express disappointment in the overall quality, especially for a PC game, suggesting that the graphics feel underwhelming compared to industry standards. Additionally, there are calls for improvements, particularly in aligning the high-quality artwork seen in mobile cutscenes with the PC version.
“The story mode cutscenes have very high quality art on the mobile version; why wouldn't you use the same artwork for the PC version?”
“The simplistic graphics and animation are smooth, and the story is perfect for the game this is.”
“Mobile graphics are really good!”
“There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
“The mobile app features simple, cartoony 2D graphics, of the type you normally expect to see in low-effort mobile apps.”
“Considering this is being evaluated as a PC game, having the graphics phoned in like this isn't going to result in a high quality, visually impressive game that PC gamers are used to seeing.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers enjoyable gameplay but is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, which detracts from the overall experience. While it stands out among volleyball games, players consistently report issues that need addressing for improved stability.
“Gameplay seems fun, but it's extremely buggy.”
“One of the best volleyball games I've played, but it's buggy.”
“Love it, just fix the bugs and glitches.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized, particularly for its exploitative practices on mobile, where it is seen as a cash grab aimed at PC gamers. While in-game purchases are present, many users feel that the game lacks value as a serious PC title and is primarily designed to profit from players rather than provide a quality experience. Overall, the transition from mobile to PC has left players disappointed, as it appears to prioritize monetary gain over genuine gameplay quality.
“I understand that you have in-game purchases, and I don't have a negative opinion about that. However, your game is not 'pay to win'.”
“Although this game is actually somewhat okay, its monetization on mobile is disappointing. It's frustrating that they are abandoning this version for a newer one, seemingly for monetary reasons.”
“Although this game is actually somewhat okay, besides its horrible monetization on mobile and how incredibly easy it is to get the premium currency on the PC version, it's actually disappointing that they are abandoning this for a newer version. They want to integrate PC and mobile users, which is obviously just a monetary vision, since this version isn't available anymore and buying the premium currency isn't possible.”
“The Spike is a mobile app that's been dumped on Steam as if it were a real PC game (it's not). It's a cash grab from greedy mobile developers. This mobile app is a grind-heavy 'volleyball' 2D arcade game with no real value as a serious PC game. It's just here to try to scam PC gamers into paying cash for a free mobile app.”
“Gamemaker Studio is most commonly used to make retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, effectively enhancing the mood and drawing comparisons to the theme song "the feeling of not losing" from Kuroko no Basket. Additionally, players appreciate the option to add their own music, further personalizing the experience.
“The music is pretty good and sets a very good mood, reminding me of the theme song 'The Feeling of Not Losing' from Kuroko no Basket.”
“The ability for the player to add their own music to the game.”
“The game lacks a diverse soundtrack, making the music feel repetitive and uninspired.”
“The background music is often too loud, drowning out important sound effects and dialogue.”
“There are very few music tracks available, which makes the gameplay experience feel monotonous.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be genuinely funny, highlighting its effective use of humor throughout the gameplay experience.
“This game had me laughing out loud with its clever jokes and witty dialogue.”
“The humor is spot-on, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining.”
“I love how the game incorporates absurd situations that keep the gameplay light-hearted and fun.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game highly replayable due to its engaging gameplay and the potential for exploring different storylines, making it enjoyable to revisit. The simplicity of the game adds to its charm, encouraging multiple playthroughs.
“Great game! Simple is good. Press Alt + Enter or explore settings if you think you can't full screen. I'm still trying to get to the better story, but it's very fun and highly replayable.”
