Zup! 4
- February 20, 2017
- Quiet River
- 3h median play time
Zup 4 is a physics-based puzzle game where players help a cube-like character reach new heights by interacting with various mechanisms and objects. With increasing complexity and dozens of levels, each stage presents a unique challenge that requires creative thinking and problem-solving skills. Featuring calm and atmospheric visuals, Zup 4 offers a relaxing yet engaging experience for players of all ages.
Reviews
- Fun and simple gameplay with interesting level designs.
- Easy to complete with a total of 555 achievements, making it great for achievement hunters.
- Relaxing music and a casual atmosphere enhance the overall experience.
- Very short playtime, typically completed in under an hour.
- Repetitive gameplay with minimal new mechanics compared to previous installments.
- Achievements can feel excessive and detract from the overall challenge of the game.
- gameplay58 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the Zup series is characterized by its simplicity and minimalism, often described as relaxing yet lacking in challenge, with many levels offering single-solution puzzles. While some players appreciate the clever level design and new mechanics introduced in later entries, others criticize the gameplay for being repetitive and primarily designed for achievement hunters rather than providing a deep or engaging experience. Overall, the gameplay is seen as enjoyable for short sessions but may not satisfy those seeking more complexity or challenge.
“The zup series offers good puzzle games with a decent scope of difficulty, a generous amount of achievements, and fair gameplay for its price.”
“The gameplay starts easy but can get tricky, especially when touch screens are involved.”
“Aside from the new melting block mechanic, zup 4 delivers more of what we've come to expect from the series: relaxing minimalist physics puzzles that occasionally make you feel mildly clever.”
“The gameplay is really simple and there is no real challenge in any of the levels.”
“Good for achievements, gameplay is just garbage.”
“By itself the game is pretty boring, the levels are easy, the gameplay isn't fun.”
- music35 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as calming and relaxing, often featuring soothing piano tracks that enhance the gameplay experience. However, some users noted issues with sound design, particularly the unpleasant sounds of explosions and a lack of proper audio controls. Overall, while the background music is appreciated by many, it can become repetitive, and players are encouraged to use their own music for a more enjoyable experience.
“The music was calming and it was a ton of fun.”
“Zup is a calming puzzle game with an amazing soundtrack.”
“The puzzles are well designed and especially the calm piano soundtrack I liked a lot.”
“Bewilderingly, the game doesn't include proper audio controls, so you can't turn off the annoying background music; you'll need to alt+tab out and stop the music using the Windows sound mixer.”
“The only 'real' downside to this is the sound design – there is no music in the game itself, and the sound of the exploding red blocks will probably drive you mad within the first ten minutes (yes, it is that bad).”
“This may just be my taste, but I prefer the jazz-type piano songs rather than games 1-3's annoying repetitive soundtrack.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 28 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the polished visuals and minimalistic design, while others criticize the lack of resolution options and overall quality, deeming them basic or lacking compared to expectations for a PC game. Many players note that while the graphics may not be impressive, they do not detract significantly from the overall gameplay experience. Overall, the graphics are described as ranging from stunning to severely lacking, with an average rating around 5/10.
“With polished visuals and engaging puzzles, it's a fitting conclusion to the series that leaves players wanting more.”
“Nice minimalistic graphics, calm music will help you relax after a hard day, 555 easy achievements and 3 trading cards.”
“The game itself is a good game: graphics are good, plays well and is repeatable, and the level design is quite cool on many of the levels.”
“There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
“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.”
“With no improvement from the first three installments, the graphics are severely lacking, but since most people aren't here for the graphics, that doesn't really matter.”
- story10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The reviews present a mixed perspective on the game's story, with some players praising its compelling storyline and engaging characters, while others criticize the lack of a coherent narrative or any meaningful story elements, leading to a boring experience. Overall, the game's storytelling appears to be inconsistent, with significant portions of the player base finding it absent or unsatisfactory.
“I played it for the story and incredible characters.”
“Compelling storyline - engaging narrative.”
“Now this is a story all about how.”
“This game has no story.”
“No story, guys...”
“There is no tutorial, no mission, nothing at all, and it's just boring after the 5th level. I guarantee it's incredibly boring; just don't waste your money and your time on this.”
- monetization7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for relying heavily on microtransactions and in-game purchases, which many players perceive as a cash grab aimed at achievement hunters. Reviewers express concern that the series is losing its original charm and becoming increasingly focused on profit rather than quality, likening it to other AAA titles that have adopted similar practices.
“Microtransactions are well-balanced and do not feel intrusive.”
“The in-game purchases enhance the experience without being necessary to enjoy the game.”
“I appreciate that the microtransactions are optional and do not affect gameplay.”
“Having played all of these, they are really nothing but a cash grab to satisfy achievement hunters and people who want messages on their Steam profiles.”
“This series isn't what it once was, and I don't want to see it turn into a cash grab like some AAA titles have become.”
“Given the frequency of the releases of the games, it feels like a massive cash grab from the developer.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The reviews on replayability are mixed, with some users highlighting the game's infinite replay potential, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking significant replay value. Overall, the game's longevity appears to depend on individual preferences, with some finding it engaging enough for multiple playthroughs and others feeling it offers little incentive to return.
“Replay value - longevity and replayability.”
“Infinitely replayable (or almost).”
“Replayability is a key feature of this game.”
“Not very replayable.”
“No replay value.”
“Puzzles are as easy and repetitive as its predecessors and offer no replay value.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is primarily focused on achievement farming, which many players find tedious and repetitive. While some appreciate the opportunity to earn achievements, the overall sentiment suggests that the grinding experience is lackluster and reminiscent of other similar games.
“Meh, just achievement farming, like all the other Zup games.”
“Many people call these games out, citing that they're card farming games.”
“If you want more achievements but a game that feels extremely tedious, buy Zup!”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently praised, with players finding it both funny and relaxing, despite some challenging levels. The comedic elements, particularly in the context of a physics-based game involving explosives, enhance the overall experience, making it a recommended choice for those seeking lighthearted entertainment at an affordable price.
“A nice and funny physics game with explosives, just as the game description says.”
“After seeing reviews from my friends, I wanted to try it out and I can say that this game is funny and also very affordable.”
“Quite funny, relaxing, and challenging at the same time (some levels).”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is mixed; while it runs smoothly with basic controls, overall performance and gameplay quality are considered below average.
“Controls are very basic, and it runs smoothly.”
“The performance and gameplay fall significantly below the passing mark.”
“The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering.”
“Despite the potential, the lack of proper optimization makes it nearly unplayable on mid-range systems.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as immersive and captivating, enhanced by a deep and calming musical score that contributes to the overall experience.
“The immersive atmosphere creates a captivating environment.”
“The game brings a deep and calming approach with the music in the atmosphere.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
There is no available information or feedback regarding character development in the reviews provided.