Upwards, Lonely Robot
- March 10, 2016
- Random Layers
Simple to play but difficult to master, Upwards, Lonely Robot combines addictive ‘one more go’ gameplay with quirky and endearing art direction and an intriguingly cryptic story to bring you a gaming experience unlike any other.
Reviews
- The game features several modes, including a customizable climber mode and a local multiplayer duel mode, providing varied gameplay experiences.
- The graphics and audio are well-designed, creating an engaging atmosphere that complements the gameplay.
- The game offers a nice progression of difficulty, keeping players engaged with its challenges and allowing for both casual and hardcore play styles.
- The gameplay can become repetitive quickly, as the core objective remains the same throughout the levels.
- Some players may experience dizziness from the spinning graphics, which can detract from the overall experience.
- The game lacks depth in terms of character progression and unlockables, leading to a feeling of simplicity that may not satisfy all players.
- story10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The story mode offers a mix of challenges across various levels, providing an engaging experience despite some criticisms of its execution, such as low-quality radio messages and a repetitive soundtrack. While some players found the narrative touching and memorable, others felt it was merely a supplementary feature that could have been improved. Overall, the combination of gameplay and story elements contributes to a satisfying experience, even if the story itself has its flaws.
“The story is touching, gameplay is engaging, and after 3 hours you have good memories and no regrets.”
“I thought that the radio messages in between each level were a great way to tell a story between levels.”
“Repetitive at times, with a disappointing two-song soundtrack, it could be better - but the surprising story (combined with excellent gameplay and beautiful graphics) makes for an enjoyable and really quite wonderful game.”
“The story mode is just tacked on; the radio messages are among the worst quality I've ever heard. I mean, I put more emotion in 'my toast is burned' than the authors put in 'everyone's dead.'”
“Maybe a few of them may require a bit of time to finish the story mode, but it's not that long.”
“The first being their story mode, which will see you complete 75 levels of increasing difficulty over pre-determined challenges.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally well-received, described as beautiful and well-designed, fitting nicely within the game's universe. While some users noted occasional repetitiveness, the overall visual presentation is considered suitable and enhances the enjoyable gameplay experience.
“Beautiful graphics, well designed, well thought through.”
“The game’s graphics are more than suitable for the game and the little robot’s sounds are very cute.”
“Repetitive at times, with a disappointing two-song soundtrack, it could be better - but the surprising story (combined with excellent gameplay and beautiful graphics) makes for an enjoyable and really quite wonderful game.”
“The game's graphics are more than suitable for the game, but they lack the polish expected in modern titles.”
“The graphics are okay, but they feel outdated and don't stand out in today's gaming landscape.”
“There is a lot of spinning graphics, which can be distracting and take away from the overall experience.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally engaging and features a variety of tower choices, but some players find it can become repetitive over time. However, the game compensates with improved mechanics and unique challenges in each level, making it enjoyable despite its simplicity. Overall, the combination of a touching story, beautiful graphics, and solid gameplay contributes to a positive experience.
“Story is touching, gameplay is engaging and after 3 hours you have good memories and no regrets.”
“Upwards, Lonely Robot is a fantastic concept with gameplay that matches.”
“Its mechanics are really simple, but each level has a different challenge; it doesn't get boring after some time.”
“The gameplay can quickly become repetitive, even though you can choose the type of tower you want.”
“The gameplay can quickly become repetitive, even though you can choose the type of tower you want.”
“The mechanics are really simple, but each level presents a different challenge, so it doesn't get boring after some time.”
- music5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's soundtrack is praised for its quality and ability to enhance the survival atmosphere, but it suffers from a lack of variety and repetition, leading some players to find it tedious. While the music complements the gameplay and visuals well, the limited two-song soundtrack leaves room for improvement. Overall, the music contributes positively to the experience, despite its shortcomings.
“The game looks good, handles very well, and the soundtrack is amazing, though there's hardly any variety.”
“The sound effects and background music are a great match for the survival atmosphere the game has.”
“The downside is that some of the noises and the music get very tedious, and I've ended up turning them off.”
“Repetitive at times, with a disappointing two-song soundtrack; it could be better.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be deeply impactful, with a touching story and engaging gameplay that leaves them with fond memories and a sense of fulfillment after just a few hours of play.
“The story is touching, the gameplay is engaging, and after 3 hours, you have good memories and no regrets.”
“The emotional depth of the characters really resonated with me, making every decision feel significant.”
“I found myself genuinely moved by the narrative; it left a lasting impact long after I finished playing.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game can become tedious, leading some to turn off the accompanying noises and music to alleviate the monotony.
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“After a while, the grind becomes more of a chore than an enjoyable part of the game.”
“The constant need to grind for resources takes away from the overall enjoyment and immersion.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the game's atmosphere, highlighting that the sound effects and background music effectively enhance the survival experience, creating an immersive environment.
“The sound effects and background music create a perfect match for the survival atmosphere of the game.”
“The immersive environment and haunting soundtrack truly enhance the game's overall atmosphere.”
“Every detail, from the visuals to the ambient sounds, contributes to a chilling and captivating atmosphere.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as simple yet charming, effectively blending challenge with comedic elements that enhance the overall experience.
“Simple, but charming, challenging, and funny.”