Waveform

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Waveform is a single-player Science Fiction Action game that offers a unique gameplay experience, as you navigate through the solar system on a wave of light to restore light to a dying galaxy. The game features 100 levels of challenging action-puzzles, colorful graphics, and a retro soundtrack, with objects like wormholes, particle accelerators, and space squids adding to the mystery and fun. However, be prepared for some grinding as you master the game's masterful gameplay and outstanding visuals, accompanied by exceptional music.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,494 reviews

music215 positive mentions

grinding28 negative mentions

Waveform offers a unique and innovative gameplay experience that is both challenging and addictive.
The game features a beautiful soundtrack and colorful graphics that enhance the overall experience.
It is easy to learn but difficult to master, making it suitable for both casual and hardcore gamers.

The controls can be unintuitive and frustrating, especially when trying to achieve perfect scores.
The game can become repetitive and tedious, particularly towards the end where grinding for stars is required to progress.
Some players experience technical issues, such as crashes or resolution problems, which can hinder gameplay.

music
346 mentions
62 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising its relaxing and catchy qualities, often describing it as a perfect accompaniment to the gameplay. However, some users noted a lack of variety, leading to repetitive tracks that could detract from the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, enhancing the game's calming atmosphere and engaging visuals.
- “The soundtrack keeps you entertained throughout the game.”
- “Combined with an excellent soundtrack (which somehow manages to combine a light-hearted sound with something suitable to wandering through the depths of space) you'll find yourself smiling as you play this wonderful game.”
- “Scott McFadyen's work on Waveform's soundtrack captures the game's relaxing/challenging duality in a synth pop journey that ranges from funky to introspective, from energetic to serene, from epic to calm.”
- “Well, first of all, do not expect a non-repetitive, custom music-based waveform generator.”
- “Gameplay is kinda cool, but the music isn't good enough.”
- “Bad graphics, bad music (for a game about it) and poor font choice.”
gameplay
334 mentions
34 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a unique mechanic that involves manipulating waveforms to navigate levels, which many players find both simple to learn and challenging to master. While the introduction of new mechanics keeps the experience fresh, some players feel that the gameplay can become repetitive or frustrating, particularly in later levels where difficulty spikes without adequate use of previously learned mechanics. Overall, the game offers a blend of relaxing visuals and music, but opinions vary on its depth and long-term engagement.
- “The concept of controlling a wave of light is executed flawlessly through beautifully rendered levels and a challenging, but addictive gameplay experience.”
- “Each world brings a new gimmick that helps keep the gameplay fresh and interesting.”
- “This game blends crisp quality music with calm but suspensefully satisfying gameplay that all adds up to a great experience.”
- “For a gameplay this fluid, annoyingly hard levels with rare checkpoints is a no-go for me.”
- “Pretty average 2D graphics (at least it's not retro pixel) accompany the really boring gameplay.”
- “The gameplay was absolutely nothing like it was shown to be in the trailer.”
graphics
117 mentions
67 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the beautiful, colorful visuals and smooth animations that enhance the overall experience. While some describe the graphics as simple or average, they often note that they effectively complement the gameplay and soundtrack, creating a soothing atmosphere. Overall, the visuals are generally considered polished and enjoyable, contributing positively to the game's appeal.
- “The levels are challenging, the game concept is complex, the graphics are stunning and the music makes you feel warm and fuzzy.”
- “It has a very simple concept and is by no means content heavy, but with the beautiful soundtrack, polished but simple graphics, and relaxing gameplay, it results in both an enchanting and calming experience.”
- “This is a really great game with completely original concepts and outstanding graphics and sound.”
- “Pretty average 2D graphics (at least it's not retro pixel) accompany the really boring gameplay.”
- “Graphics aren't spectacular; simple and does the job.”
- “Bad graphics, bad music (for a game about it) and poor font choice.”
story
42 mentions
10 % positive mentions
81 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and not a primary focus, often conveyed through brief text screens that offer the bare minimum of narrative. While some players appreciate the underlying themes and the linear progression, many feel that the story could be omitted without impacting the overall experience. Overall, the narrative serves more as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a driving force.
- “Wow, I did not expect this game to be this good. It's got a story, it's got good music, it's relaxing. I started playing it yesterday and played for about an hour straight.”
- “The game comes with a base story mode which is fairly linear, but also has secret levels, endless modes, and a challenge mode once you beat the story.”
- “More elements of the story are revealed in later levels.”
- “There is no story, no character progression, no skill upgrades, and there is not more than a mouse movement to adjust the wave.”
- “It wouldn’t have made much of a difference if the story was left out completely, but whatever, it’s there and offers the bare minimum of storytelling to keep me satisfied, so I can’t really complain.”
- “No story at all.”
grinding
28 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly towards the end where level unlock requirements demand an overwhelming amount of time spent on previously completed stages. While some enjoy grinding, many feel it detracts from the intended relaxing experience, turning the game into a chore rather than fun. The slow pace and frustrating mechanics further contribute to the overall sense of tedium.
- “Yeah, 100% completing should be challenging but it’s getting to just being too tedious and not fun at all.”
- “I like grinding games, but here you need to grind 10 times more than I ever experienced to reach a perfect score.”
- “Each level will require a higher and higher amount of stars from previous levels to unlock, and you spend way too much time grinding through levels you have already finished.”
replayability
18 mentions
33 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players enjoying the challenge of achieving perfect scores and exploring additional content. While some users found the difficulty to be a barrier to continued play, the majority agree that the engaging gameplay, graphics, and sound contribute to its lasting appeal. However, a few players noted that the game may not hold significant replay value for everyone, particularly if they struggle with its difficulty.
- “I really like the gameplay here, the graphics are nice, the sound and music are great, and there is quite a bit of replay value if you want to achieve perfect scores or reach higher levels in 'deep space mode'.”
- “I would recommend buying the game; it has a lot of replayability, which makes it a great purchase.”
- “One of the most unique games I've ever seen, and it has loads of content and replay value to boot.”
- “It was fun playing the first two planets, but at the end of the second, it started to get hard and then I said screw it, uninstall. This game doesn't hold a lot of replayability power, but since it's free.”
- “Gotta have plenty of replay value, despite its extreme simplicity.”
- “Replayability is through the roof.”
humor
12 mentions
83 % positive mentions
-8 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many users finding it simple yet effective, often describing it as "funny" and "cute." While some players feel the humor doesn't fully resonate, the majority appreciate the game's lightheartedness and entertaining graphics, making it enjoyable for short play sessions. Overall, it seems to strike a positive chord with most players, earning high ratings for its comedic elements.
- “Funny little game.”
- “Funny simple game, works well on tablets too.”
- “A cute little game you'll probably play just for a few hours, but it's a nice arcade with funny graphics and a pretty nice soundtrack.”
- “The game is supposed to be funny and beautiful, but I can't experience it.”
- “The humor falls flat and feels forced throughout the gameplay.”
- “I expected a lot of laughs, but the jokes just didn't land for me.”
optimization
10 mentions
40 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally praised for running smoothly even on outdated hardware, making it accessible to a wide range of players. However, some users express disappointment with its performance on modern systems, especially given its age, suggesting that it should perform better. Overall, while the optimization allows for enjoyable gameplay, there are notable concerns regarding its efficiency on contemporary devices.
- “Nice optimization.”
- “Runs smoothly even on ancient, beyond obsolete computers.”
- “Stars are awarded based on performance, and certain levels cannot be played until enough stars have been collected, encouraging players to work back through and master the game's nuances.”
- “Considering this game is over 10 years old now, there is no excuse for such poor performance on modern hardware.”
- “Considering this game is over 10 years old now, there is no excuse for such poor performance on modern hardware.”
atmosphere
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a relaxing and surreal ambiance, enhanced by pretty graphics and hypnotic audio, reminiscent of 80s shoot 'em ups. Players find the atmosphere both challenging and addictive, with clever level design that complements the unique gameplay mechanics. Overall, it successfully blends retro aesthetics with a soothing, immersive experience.
- “A unique arcade-style game which tries out a new concept and nails it, with surprisingly clever level design and a relaxing, surreal atmosphere.”
- “Interesting and well implemented, explored mechanic, mixed with an ambient, relaxing atmosphere.”
- “Retro game with an 80s shoot 'em up atmosphere and a clever mechanic, pretty graphics and hypnotic audio.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to engage players fully.”
- “Despite the interesting mechanics, the overall atmosphere fails to create a compelling experience.”
- “The game has a retro vibe, but the atmosphere doesn't capture the excitement of classic arcade shooters.”
stability
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game has received consistent feedback regarding its stability, with users reporting significant bugs, particularly on Linux systems. Many players have noted issues such as improper screen fitting and overall strangeness in gameplay, indicating a need for substantial improvements in stability.
- “Very buggy on Linux.”
- “This game is quite buggy and strange to play.”
- “Too buggy, won't fit the screen.”
emotional
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is not prominently highlighted in the reviews, as the focus is primarily on the puzzle mechanics and gameplay objectives. Players seem to engage with the game more for its strategic challenges rather than for any emotional narrative or experience.