Tic-Toc-Tower
- September 28, 2015
- Sneaky Mammoth
Get on SteamTic-Toc-Tower is an action packed puzzle platforming game in which players have only ten seconds to complete a room! You will be pushed to the limit to reach the end of every level, which also features an additional challenge. Players can choose to pursue the extra watch item in every level, picking up the clock will grant two extra seconds for the next level but can cost you the game...
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Reviews
- The game offers a fun and challenging gameplay experience with a variety of modes and levels that keep players engaged.
- It features a catchy soundtrack and appealing pixel art that adds to the overall charm of the game.
- The fast-paced nature of the game makes it addictive, encouraging players to improve their scores and try again after failures.
- The controls are often unresponsive and imprecise, leading to frustration during gameplay, especially in a precision platformer.
- Levels can feel repetitive due to a limited number of unique designs, which diminishes long-term engagement.
- The graphics and character visibility can be poor, making it difficult to distinguish the player from the background, which can hinder gameplay.
- graphics15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the use of outdated retro pixel art that lacks detail and contrast, resulting in a simplistic and lackluster visual experience. While some appreciate the charm of the pixelated style, others find it distracting and reminiscent of poorly executed designs. Overall, the graphics are seen as a significant drawback, failing to meet contemporary standards despite options for resolution adjustments.
“The graphics are smooth, retro looking, pixelated and cute.”
“I love these kinds of simplistic visuals.”
“The graphics style is simple but it works well.”
“A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
“While there are options to change the resolution for the game, all this does is scale up the simplistic 2D art assets used to make the game, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality.”
“I was also very disappointed with the graphics, which were pixel-style but severely lacking in detail and contrast.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it fun and challenging, particularly in fast-paced platforming scenarios like "Tic-toc-tower," which offers addictive mechanics and intense experiences. However, many criticize the overall handling and responsiveness as janky and unsatisfying, suggesting a lack of polish and testing from the developers. Additionally, some gameplay elements feel purposeless, and the sound design detracts from the experience.
“Fun and challenging gameplay.”
“Tic-toc-tower is a fast-paced platformer with some of the most intense yet simple gameplay I have ever experienced.”
“Tic-toc-tower is a simple concept which is executed well and has the addictive pick up and play gameplay due to the mechanically imposed timer set at 10 seconds to complete the level.”
“It's janky and unsatisfying to play... and any experienced gamer will tell you, the handling, responsiveness, and general gameplay feel of the control scheme must be well polished for this kind of game to succeed.”
“Unfortunately, this is something the developer seems to have phoned in, with little to no apparent gameplay testing or polish done.”
“It's a little too quick with no real way to learn the mechanics other than trial and error.”
- music8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as catchy and upbeat, providing a pleasant experience initially, but it tends to become repetitive and grating after extended play. While some players appreciate the soundtrack's energy, others find it lacks variety and can be annoying, particularly due to distracting sound effects during gameplay. Overall, the music is seen as suitable for short sessions but may not hold up for longer playtimes.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“It has a pretty good soundtrack to go with this experience.”
“- extremely catchy and upbeat music”
“The controls are mediocre at best (have fun trying to jump off a single-tile-wide block), the music is the sort of stuff that's fine for a thirty-second minigame, but grates on the nerves after the third or fourth minute.”
“In regard to the soundtrack, there wasn't much to it, and the buzzing/ticking sound effects during gameplay became annoying enough for me to mute the sound on my laptop.”
“The thing with the soundtrack though is that it only seems to get into it and sound good about a minute into gameplay.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its funny and cute characters, with players finding the chaotic gameplay of Tic-toc-tower particularly hilarious and engaging.
“Funny, hey!”
“The characters are funny and cute.”
“Tic-toc-tower is hilariously hectic.”
- story2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story conveys a moral about perseverance and the unpredictability of life, emphasizing that giving up can prevent one from achieving success. However, despite its meaningful message, the narrative failed to engage gamers, leading to a lack of interest in the game overall.
“The moral of the story is that you never know what life has in store for you. If I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“Hardly a success story; gamers just weren't all that interested in the game.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players consistently highlight the game's high replayability, noting that its engaging mechanics and enjoyable gameplay encourage repeated playthroughs. Many express that the experience remains fresh and compelling, making them eager to return for more.
“Overall, short but great game with high replay value.”
“There's a lot of replay value; it keeps you wanting to play over and over!”
“There's not much incentive to replay the game after finishing it once.”
“The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel tedious.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little reason to go back.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the randomized level order feature, as it reduces the grind associated with progressing through easier levels before reaching more challenging content, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
