Unlock The King 2
- January 31, 2020
- Minimol Games
Get on Steam"Unlock The King 2" is a 3D puzzle game inspired by chess, where players move pieces to create a path and uncover the king in 70 original levels. Featuring an electronic board, quick piece movements, and trigger buttons, it offers a unique and challenging experience for both newcomers and fans of the original game. The sequel includes an original soundtrack and improved features, such as adjustable level difficulty, for a more immersive experience.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The new mechanics and structure encourage deeper strategic thinking with each move, making for a more engaging puzzle experience.
- The introduction of portals and multiple kings adds variety and complexity to the gameplay, enhancing the overall challenge.
- The game features nice graphics and a relaxing soundtrack, contributing to an enjoyable atmosphere while solving puzzles.
- The camera controls are buggy and often lock up, making it difficult to navigate the 3D environment and requiring frequent restarts.
- The undo button is inconsistent, sometimes deleting pieces instead of restoring them, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- Many puzzles feel cluttered and confusing due to the 3D perspective, detracting from the clarity and enjoyment of the game.
- gameplay18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Unlock the King 2" introduces innovative mechanics and a 3D elevation system that enhances strategic thinking, making players consider each move more carefully. While the new features, such as the stargate and portals, add complexity, some players feel they are underutilized early on and that certain puzzles serve as filler. Overall, the game builds on its predecessor with challenging puzzles and evolving mechanics, particularly in the later levels, though some aspects may not fully meet expectations.
“Love the new mechanics and structure that make you think way more than usual about every single move.”
“This iteration really builds forward on the basic rules and mechanics set in the first game.”
“Lovely graphics and challenging puzzles with new mechanics introduced throughout.”
“The new '3D' mechanics, though, just aren't used enough; early on, it is a gimmick and it isn't until the later part that it is actually used.”
“There are a further dozen mid-game puzzles where new mechanics are introduced which are likewise filler - one click to solve, no opportunity to get it wrong - puzzles.”
“Ok, I went deeper into the game and also understood that the 3D board actually does absolutely nothing new for the gameplay.”
- stability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent bugs such as disappearing pieces, random rotation locks, and camera freezes that often require players to restart. While some users find the gameplay enjoyable, the overall experience is marred by these persistent technical problems, making it feel less polished compared to its predecessor.
“Unlike the first game, which was very fun and bug-free.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it really enhances the overall experience.”
“It is also very buggy; for example, undoing a move that had the king move to a portal makes the king disappear, and the rotation locks at random points, forcing you to restart the game.”
“Only complaint is that the undo feature is buggy; if you make a mistake on some levels, you pretty much have to reset.”
“Puzzles are either too easy or buggy, preventing you from rotating the level and requiring a restart of the game.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been noted as a significant enhancement over the original, with many praising its quality and ability to create a calming atmosphere. The minimalist design and futuristic elements complement the relaxing soundtrack, contributing to a unique and enjoyable gaming experience.
“The music is really great too.”
“In addition, the minimalist layout combined with the futuristic look, neon details, and calm and relaxing music make the game experience something unique that provides excellent moments of leisure.”
“Together with the soundtrack, it creates a very relaxing experience.”
“The background music is a marginal improvement over the original.”
“The minimalist layout combined with the futuristic look and calm, relaxing music makes the game experience unique but lacks depth.”
“While the soundtrack creates a very relaxing experience, it ultimately feels repetitive and uninspired.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the nice visuals and engaging design, many criticize the lack of resolution options and customizable settings, leading to a perception of low-quality graphics that do not meet the expectations of PC gamers.
“Nice visuals”
“Lovely graphics and challenging puzzles with new mechanics introduced throughout.”
“There's no option to change the resolution for the game or customize the graphics settings.”
“There's no way for gamers to try to improve the low-quality graphics.”
“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.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is criticized as exploitative, with developers accused of producing low-effort, asset-flipped titles that resemble cash grabs rather than original content. Many reviewers view this approach as a form of shovelware, undermining the integrity of the gaming market.
“These guys do nothing but copy premade game templates and tutorials, fill out a few things using the construction kit templates, slap on an asset-flipped set of sprites, and dump them on Steam and into daily indie game bundles as cash grabs.”
“Trying to get paid for someone else's game templates and assets... at best, this is shovelware; at worst, it's a scam and a cash grab.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect tedious due to the nearly identical and hard-to-distinguish portals, which complicate planning and gameplay, especially in levels with a large number of them.
“Portals are uniquely identified but nearly identical and hard to distinguish, making them tedious to plan and play when present in large quantities on certain levels.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is negatively impacted by an artificial difficulty that disrupts its overall pace and immersion, leading to a less enjoyable experience for players.
“What it actually does is bring an unnecessary artificial difficulty that ruins the atmosphere and pace of the game.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently described as funny, indicating that players find it entertaining and enjoyable.
“The humor in this game is absolutely hilarious, with clever jokes and witty dialogue that kept me laughing throughout.”
“I love how the game incorporates humor into its storytelling; it adds a lighthearted touch that makes the experience so enjoyable.”
“The comedic timing of the characters is spot on, and the absurd situations they find themselves in had me in stitches!”
