Unium
- March 26, 2015
- Kittehface Software
- 4h median play time
Unium is a puzzle game where you draw a single line to flip tiles from black to white and vice versa. With over 100 levels, each with potentially hundreds of solutions, players can unlock harder puzzles and learn what strategies work. A level editor and Steam Workshop integration allow for creating and sharing user-generated content, making it a great pick-up-and-play experience for both casual and dedicated players.
Reviews
- Unium offers a simple yet challenging puzzle experience, with a well-designed difficulty curve that keeps players engaged as they progress through over 100 levels.
- The game features a relaxing atmosphere with soothing music and minimalistic graphics, making it a great choice for casual gaming sessions.
- With a level editor and Steam Workshop integration, players can create and share custom puzzles, adding to the game's replayability and community engagement.
- Some players find the advanced puzzles overly complicated, often requiring multiple crossings of lines, which can lead to frustration and a trial-and-error approach.
- The game lacks a comprehensive tutorial or hint system, making it difficult for players to learn new mechanics as they progress to harder levels.
- While the game is enjoyable, its simplistic presentation and mechanics may not appeal to those looking for a more visually engaging or innovative puzzle experience.
- music26 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as relaxing and soothing, enhancing the overall atmosphere while solving puzzles. However, some players noted that the limited variety of tracks can lead to repetitiveness, making it tiresome during extended play sessions. Overall, the soundtrack is appreciated for its unobtrusive nature, though some users suggest the option to turn it off or introduce more diverse tracks.
“Unium presents a good puzzle element accompanied by good and relaxing music.”
“Very relaxed puzzler, with the music adding to the nice vibe.”
“The music provided a nice, unobtrusive ambience that worked even for hours of play at a time.”
“I wish there was a better variety of music with the game, because the same ambient noises over and over got really tiresome.”
“Music can get annoying if played for too long; either do longer pauses or turn it off as explained above.”
“Music is soothing, though a little sleep inducing because it's so calm.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Unium features straightforward gameplay centered around a simple mechanic of drawing a line to cover black squares on a grid, making it accessible and relaxing for players. While the game lacks depth in terms of new mechanics, it effectively utilizes its minimalist design to create enjoyable puzzles that gradually increase in difficulty. Overall, the gameplay is smooth and easy to grasp, appealing to those who appreciate a casual puzzle experience.
“Unium is a puzzle game with simple mechanics: draw a single line in a way to cover all black squares in a grid.”
“Very relaxing gameplay.”
“No bugs and smooth, simple gameplay that is astoundingly hard to master.”
“And that’s all the mechanics.”
“It's nice that it has various difficulty levels but sadly there aren't many mechanics.”
“The puzzles in beginner are easy to understand and can be solved in minutes, but as more mechanics of the game are revealed to you (namely neutral tiles and crossing lines), the puzzles start to suck away more and more time.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by a minimalist 2D design that prioritizes functionality over visual flair, allowing players to focus on challenging puzzles without distraction. While some find the visuals bland, others appreciate their neatness and the overall aesthetic that complements the gameplay. The sound design is similarly simple, contributing to an engaging experience without overwhelming the player.
“Both music and graphics are of simple design, which is fine as you are not disturbed and can fully concentrate on the puzzles.”
“Engaging puzzle game with nice visual and music aesthetics.”
“Graphics are minimalist, 2D, and take zero advantage of the PC's capabilities.”
“Bland looking visuals and simplistic sound design are just the backdrop for the head-bashingly hard puzzles.”
“It might not be the most visually interesting game around; however, its minimal aesthetic means you’ll be keenly focused on the problem at hand rather than ogling all the pretty colors.”
- story2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story conveys a powerful message about perseverance and the unpredictability of life, emphasizing that overcoming challenges can lead to personal growth. While the narrative is straightforward, the complexity of mastering the game adds depth to the overall experience.
“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.”
“Despite the simplicity of understanding the game, mastering it is a completely different story.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent narrative arc, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“Character development is shallow, leaving players with little emotional investment in their journeys.”
“The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises, diminishing the overall experience.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the challenging achievements and alternate solutions that encourage multiple playthroughs, others feel that the lack of substantial content limits replay value despite its low price.
“There are challenging achievements to be obtained, often requiring players to solve given riddles in a particular, alternate manner, adding to the game's replayability.”
“The game offers multiple endings and branching storylines, encouraging players to explore different choices and outcomes on subsequent playthroughs.”
“With a variety of character builds and playstyles, each run feels unique, making you want to dive back in for a fresh experience.”
“It's price point is cheap; that said, there is no replayability here.”
“There are challenging achievements to be obtained, oftentimes requiring you to solve given riddles in a particular, alternate manner, adding to replayability.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a magical quality that transforms simple tasks, like drawing a straight line, into enjoyable experiences, complemented by a relaxing soundtrack that enhances the overall ambiance.
“Finding fun in drawing a straight line is somewhat magical, and the soundtrack creates a wonderfully relaxing atmosphere.”