Ugly
- September 13, 2023
- Graffiti_Games
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Ugly" is a single-player Horror Platformer game with an intriguing story, phenomenal visuals, and a good soundtrack. Explore twisted puzzle rooms and battle bosses in this reflective platformer, using a unique mirror mechanic to solve puzzles and uncover secrets of a tragic past. With satisfying gameplay and a variety of puzzles, be prepared for a perilous journey of self-reflection, where sometimes, the truth is ugly.
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Reviews
- The game features a beautifully crafted story that is dark and engaging, with intricate details that encourage players to reflect on their experiences.
- The unique mirror mechanic is creatively utilized throughout the game, providing a fresh and rewarding puzzle-solving experience.
- The art style and soundtrack are exceptional, enhancing the overall atmosphere and immersion of the game.
- The second part of the game is criticized for its frustrating precision platforming and excessive backtracking, which can detract from the overall experience.
- Some puzzles can lead to unwinnable states, requiring players to restart levels, which feels like poor design.
- The boss battles, while visually impressive, are often considered too short and can be frustrating due to their timing and execution requirements.
- story64 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in this game is widely praised for its depth, emotional impact, and intricate storytelling, often described as dark and reminiscent of a twisted fairy tale. Players appreciate the environmental storytelling and the way narrative elements are woven into gameplay, with many noting the clever use of puzzles to reveal plot points. Overall, the combination of beautiful visuals, a haunting soundtrack, and a compelling narrative makes it a standout experience that encourages exploration and reflection.
“This game was amazing, the story is really where it shines, and every soundtrack is just gorgeous.”
“The story has a really good development, with you discovering memories through children's drawings and piecing together the story like one big puzzle.”
“The story is dark and heavy, and so is the overall mood of the experience, told mainly by the environment, with some surprising scenes and twists.”
“Warning, though: this is a very dark story.”
“Story is a dark and tragic tale that can get quite depressing at moments, but I found myself always looking forward to finding more of the tidbits to try to piece together what happened.”
“The story is somehow dark and it surprised me how involving it is, especially because it is told without almost using any words.”
- gameplay50 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its innovative and engaging mirror mechanic, which is both intuitive and rewarding as players progress through various puzzles and challenges. Reviewers appreciate the game's pacing, the clever integration of mechanics that evolve with each new area, and the seamless marriage of gameplay with a compelling story and stunning art design. While some mechanics may initially confuse players, the overall experience is described as addictive and creatively fulfilling, making it a standout title in the puzzle-platformer genre.
“The mirror mechanic makes the puzzles very creative.”
“Just when you think you've seen it all, the game throws a curveball your way, introducing new mechanics, challenges, and surprises that keep you engaged and excited throughout your entire journey.”
“The game did a very good job exploring its seemingly simple mechanics and rarely feels boring or repetitive.”
“Personally, there were some mechanics that took me time to understand, and in the second part, I struggled with the timing.”
“Some of the mechanics could do with examples of how they worked instead of just being dumped on you and having you figure it out.”
“Especially the eternally falling mechanic was frustrating to me initially because I just had no idea what you were supposed to do.”
- music21 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, perfectly complementing the atmosphere and themes of the story. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience with haunting melodies and immersive sound design. Many consider the music to be one of the game's best aspects, contributing significantly to its artistic and narrative impact.
“The music fits the atmosphere the game is going for very well, and really sells the themes of the story.”
“The art and soundtrack are wonderful as well, it's both haunting and beautiful!”
“Music and sound design is stupendous (best part of the game) and cannot recommend this game enough for people who love challenging puzzles and unique ways to use the core mechanic of the game.”
“The music does its job but the art direction truly shines: each stage is beautiful and full of detail without sacrificing visual clarity for the gameplay; cool animations and stylistic choices enhance the biggest moments of the journey.”
“Everything creaks in just the right way, the stumbling and falling has the right amount of crunch and the soundtrack and backing of the various rooms and scenes is very good.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 84 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and detailed art style, which features a unique and memorable aesthetic that avoids typical gritty themes. Players appreciate the gorgeous animations and the captivating soundtrack, which enhance the overall experience. The visuals are described as superb, complementing the engaging narrative and innovative puzzle design, making it a standout in the puzzle platformer genre.
“The graphics and animations are gorgeous, the music is beautiful and thoroughly fitting, the narrative is intriguing and moving.”
“The artwork is amazing - there are so many fine details.”
“Superb puzzle platformer with a great story and fantastic visuals.”
“But a game can't rely solely on aesthetics; it needs to deliver in terms of gameplay as well, and 'ugly' certainly does not disappoint.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as intense and impactful, with a story that evokes strong feelings of cruelty and sadness, complemented by artistic storytelling and atmospheric details. Players report a mix of frustration and satisfaction from the challenging puzzles, alongside moments of joy and nostalgia reminiscent of other emotionally charged games. Overall, the game is both hypnotic and devastating, urging players to be mindful of their emotional well-being while engaging with its narrative and gameplay.
“Great and emotional story, cool twists, storytelling through art, sweet little song, and even small boss fights in a puzzle game!”
“Be wary of your own emotional health as this game was a bit much for me.”
“A puzzle game that's both hypnotic and devastating, with super fun boss fights, a touching and sad story, and tons of atmosphere and little details.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its fitting music and unique, surreal qualities that enhance the storytelling. Reviewers highlight the combination of outstanding puzzle design, clever mechanics, and emotional depth, creating a captivating and immersive experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as artistic and rich in detail, contributing significantly to the game's impact.
“The developers have managed to create a unique, almost surreal atmosphere that is nothing short of an artistic masterpiece.”
“A puzzle game that's both hypnotic and devastating, with super fun boss fights, a touching and sad story, and tons of atmosphere and little details.”
“The music fits the atmosphere the game is going for very well, and really sells the themes of the story.”
“A puzzle game that's both hypnotic and devastating, with super fun boss fights (on the easy side of Cuphead), a touching and sad story, and tons of atmosphere and little details.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly in the latter half, which detracts from the overall experience of an otherwise beautifully crafted puzzle game with captivating art and story.
“It's just really tedious that way, and it didn't have to be.”
“A beautifully crafted puzzle game with incredible art and an intriguing story, unfortunately let down by frustrating and tedious puzzles in the latter half of the game.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, user feedback on stability is mixed; while some players report a smooth experience without glitches, others have noted occasional bugs that can affect gameplay.
“First of all, this game is kind of buggy sometimes.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the exceptional attention to detail in character design and environments, highlighting the significant care and creativity invested in developing a visually stunning and immersive world.
“The attention to detail in every environment and character design is simply mind-blowing, and it's evident that a tremendous amount of care went into crafting this beautiful, bizarre world.”
“The character arcs are incredibly well-written, allowing players to form deep emotional connections with each character as they evolve throughout the story.”
“I love how the choices I make impact the characters' development, making each playthrough feel unique and personal.”
