Zup! 9
- June 24, 2019
- Quiet River
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Zup! 9" is a physics-based puzzle game where players navigate a cube through various levels with increasing difficulty. The objective is to reach the goal by interacting with the environment and using creative problem-solving skills. With over 100 levels and the addition of new mechanics, this game offers a challenging and engaging experience for players of all ages.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Zup! 9 offers a fun and addictive puzzle experience with simple mechanics and satisfying explosions.
- The game is great for achievement hunters, featuring 770 easy-to-unlock achievements that enhance your Steam profile.
- With over 100 levels, Zup! 9 provides a good amount of content for a low price, making it a solid choice for casual gaming.
- The gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks significant innovation compared to previous entries in the Zup series.
- Some levels can be frustrating due to inconsistent physics, leading to trial-and-error gameplay.
- The minimalist graphics and sound design may not appeal to everyone, making the overall experience feel shallow.
- gameplay34 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the Zup series is characterized by straightforward mechanics that emphasize puzzle-solving without overwhelming distractions, making it both addictive and relaxing. While it starts off easy, players can expect increasing difficulty with the introduction of new mechanics like gravity inversion, which are generally well-implemented. Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable and offers a fair challenge, though some players feel the focus on achievements detracts from the experience.
“The mechanics are straightforward—one click, and an explosion sets the physics in motion.”
“This approach keeps the emphasis squarely on gameplay, without overwhelming players with unnecessary visual distractions.”
“The zup series offers good puzzle games with a decent scope of difficulty, a generous amount of achievements, and fair gameplay for its price.”
“Gameplay - 3/10”
“Good for achievements, gameplay is just garbage.”
“The zup games' gameplay is all trial-and-error.”
- music16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as calming and pleasant, providing a relaxing backdrop for gameplay. However, players have expressed frustration over the lack of proper audio controls, particularly the inability to mute jarring sound effects without also turning off the music. While the single track of stock music is appreciated for its soothing qualities, it is criticized for being too mellow and repetitive, leading to a mixed reception overall.
“The music and sound effects are subtle and pleasant, never intrusive.”
“The music was calming and it was a ton of fun.”
“Such a nice calming time waster, love the calm music!”
“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.”
“To top it all off, the relaxing stock music (there's only one track) gets a dedicated toggle off button, but not the jarringly loud and distorted explosion sound effects that get played over it all the time (you can only toggle either the music or all sound, not both).”
“You know what to expect by now; very light puzzling, with mostly 'click the mouse to win' style problems, a chill soundtrack (that is a little too mellow and bland for its own good) and the occasional head-scratcher of a puzzle that will take half a dozen or more attempts due to split second timing and/or RNG.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as simple and minimalistic, which suits the puzzle genre and allows players to focus on gameplay. However, there are limitations such as a lack of resolution options and basic visuals that may not meet the expectations of PC gamers. Overall, while the aesthetic is calming and functional, it lacks the visual depth and quality typically desired in PC games.
“The simple aesthetic fits the puzzle genre perfectly, allowing players to concentrate fully on the challenges at hand.”
“Nice minimalistic graphics, calm music will help you relax after a hard day, 770 easy achievements and 3 trading cards.”
“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.”
“Graphics: pretty basic graphics, but probably a 7-8/10 (not much to see though besides explosions...)”
- story10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game is primarily a puzzle experience with no defined narrative, leaving players to create their own interpretations or stories in their minds. Overall, it is characterized by a complete absence of a traditional storyline.
“This game is a pure puzzle game that has no story.”
“You could think the story is the one you make in your head.”
“This game has no story.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it both funny and relaxing, though some levels can be challenging. Many reviews highlight the enjoyable and amusing gameplay, contributing to an overall positive experience. However, there is a hint of fatigue among some reviewers who feel they've encountered similar humor in many games.
“Quite funny, relaxing, and hard at the same time (some levels).”
“I love this game because it makes your time enjoyable.”
“Funny gameplay, achievements!”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally view grinding for achievements positively, as it provides a rewarding way to showcase accomplishments on their profiles. However, some question the overall purpose of achievement farming, suggesting it may lack meaningful impact beyond personal satisfaction.
“What's the point in farming achievements anyway?”
“Achievement farming is tedious.”
“Great for farming achievements which you can display on your profile!”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users highlight that the game offers high replayability, with many considering it infinitely replayable or nearly so, suggesting a strong incentive to revisit the game multiple times.
“The game offers an incredible amount of content and replay value.”
“It's infinitely replayable, providing a fresh experience every time.”
“The replayability factor is off the charts, making it a game you can enjoy repeatedly.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
“The limited variety in gameplay mechanics means that replaying the game feels more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized as relaxing and familiar, effectively complementing its simple yet challenging physics puzzles, which fans of the series appreciate.
“9 doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it stays true to its formula, offering exactly what fans of the series love: simple yet challenging physics puzzles and a relaxing atmosphere.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy primarily revolves around in-game purchases, allowing players to buy various items or enhancements to enhance their gaming experience.
“The in-game purchases are way too expensive and feel like a cash grab.”
“I feel pressured to spend money to keep up with other players, which ruins the experience.”
“The monetization model is frustrating; it seems like everything is locked behind a paywall.”
