Up Left Out
- June 29, 2018
- RainbowTrain
- 1h median play time
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Get on Apple Store"Up Left Out is a single-player kids puzzle game with a stellar gameplay experience and great soundtrack. The goal is to rearrange tiles to free trapped blocks and complete levels, with increasing difficulty as you progress. Features include challenging gameplay, impressive level design, and clean aesthetics with different background colors. Playable on web browsers, iOS, and Android."
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Web Browser
Windows
Linux
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The game features intuitive mechanics and a gradual increase in difficulty, making it accessible and enjoyable for casual players.
- Visually appealing with a clean and minimalist design, the game provides a relaxing atmosphere complemented by satisfying sound effects.
- For its low price, the game offers a solid amount of content with clever puzzles that engage the player without becoming overly frustrating.
- The game is quite short, with many players completing it in under two hours, leading to a feeling of wanting more content.
- Lacks essential features such as a level select screen and volume controls, which can detract from the overall user experience.
- Some puzzles can feel tedious and repetitive, with a significant portion relying on trial and error rather than genuine problem-solving.
- gameplay66 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by intuitive mechanics that are introduced gradually, allowing players to easily learn and adapt to new challenges. While the puzzles are engaging and visually appealing, some players noted a lack of difficulty progression and a desire for more levels to explore the mechanics further. Overall, the game offers a satisfying and relaxing puzzle experience, though it may feel repetitive after extended play.
“The mechanics of the game are intuitive, and each time a new mechanic is introduced, it is done in a clear and understandable manner.”
“The mechanics are well thought out and play well together.”
“While simple to play, each new level mechanic adds a new twist and keeps the game interesting.”
“Although it would be pleasant to see if they added: a restart button, a level select menu, a text box saying what level you're currently on, remove/changeable white background (couldn't see a thing), and a tutorial level or a hint for each new mechanic introduced.”
“The game can get a bit monotonous after a while, but it’s not long and different mechanics help to enliven it.”
“Those mechanics only work to slow you down, not to add a challenge or complication.”
- music17 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its relaxing and ambient qualities, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. However, some users noted issues such as a lack of variety in the soundtrack and technical problems like music crashing on certain levels. Additionally, the absence of separate volume controls for music and sound effects was highlighted as a drawback, impacting the ability to customize the audio experience.
“The relaxing music and abstract graphics really let you lose yourself in it for a while, and the animation when you solve a level is somehow really satisfying.”
“Beautiful colors, ambient music, fair difficulty (no guide needed whatsoever), 50+ stages with new mechanics being gradually introduced.”
“Relaxing puzzle game with a nice soundtrack.”
“I've tried turning the music off and on each time it happens, but I'm not sure if that does anything; if it does, it's not immediate, and it might just be the placebo effect at work.”
“And since there's no separate mute buttons for sound and music, I had to mute the whole game.”
“A little variety in the music would have made the sound department just perfect.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of "up left out" are characterized by a minimalistic art style that is functional and clean, providing a calming aesthetic that complements the gameplay. While some reviewers appreciate the smooth animations and simple interface, others find the visuals somewhat bland and lacking the depth and vibrancy seen in previous titles by Maciej Targoni. Overall, the graphics are deemed good but not exceptional, serving their purpose without being visually striking.
“The relaxing music and abstract graphics really let you lose yourself in it for a while, and the animation when you solve a level is somehow really satisfying.”
“Another gem by Maciej Targoni, with the usual super clean visuals and interface, simple and intuitive rules that don't require any text, and elegant puzzles that will leave you satisfied with the couple of hours you'll spend in the company of this game.”
“Animations and piece movement are smooth; everything is in shaded 3D, although the pieces move on only one surface. While being simple, they're nice graphics.”
“It admittedly does lack the better style and looks of Klocki and Push, but both of those have the third dimension working for them when it comes to aesthetics.”
“They were also more visually striking in their use of color and the third dimension; Up Left Out, on the other hand, never deviates from its top-down perspective and has a bland aesthetic that I'd describe as 'business boggle' at best.”
“The graphics are fine, but there are no volume sliders (you'll want to turn off audio anyway, the level complete sound is really annoying), can only quit by pressing ESC and that was only added weeks after release, no level numbers, no level select screen, no reset puzzle button or hotkey, gotta click the top left corner, go back a level, then forward, very smooth... a rotate backwards function would've been nice too with the other mouse button to remove some of the tedium, but seeing how very basic functionality is missing, this would be too much to ask for.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often comparing it unfavorably to previous titles in the genre. While some acknowledge that it doesn't detract from the overall experience, the consensus leans towards a frustratingly monotonous gameplay element.
“It is atrociously tedious.”
“For me, this one is tedious.”
“Also, the levels with the rotate-all button felt more like grinding than puzzle-solving.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "up left out" is generally described as relaxing and minimalist, complementing its engaging puzzles. However, the loud sound effect that plays upon solving a level detracts from this calm ambiance, as it cannot be muted. Overall, the game successfully creates a serene environment, typical of other titles by the developer.
“Just like with the other Targoni titles, Up Left Out has the same relaxing, minimalist atmosphere with some fun puzzles that build up in difficulty.”
“Beautiful little puzzle game with a relaxing atmosphere and not-too-obvious, quite engaging puzzles.”
“In the case of 'Up Left Out', my only negative criticism would be regarding the loud sound that plays whenever a level is solved, which unfortunately cannot be turned off and disrupts the otherwise calm atmosphere of the game.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it has potential for replay value, particularly after a break, others feel it is too short and lacks significant incentives to play again.
“I wish it was a bit longer, but it definitely has replay value.”
“The game offers so many different paths and choices that I can't wait to play it again.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh and exciting, making me want to dive back in.”
“A very short game with no replay value.”
“Little replayability value, if you retry the game in a few months or more.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is reported to have excellent stability, with users experiencing no glitches or issues during gameplay.
“The game runs smoothly without any glitches or issues.”
“I haven't encountered any bugs, which makes for a stable gaming experience.”
“The stability of the game is impressive; it never crashes or freezes.”
