Zup! X
- May 17, 2018
- Quiet River
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Zup! X" is a physics-based puzzle game featuring over 60 levels and 2880 achievements. The goal is to keep the blue ball on the platform for 3 seconds to advance. The game is powered by Clickteam Fusion 2.5 and features a minimalistic design with explosions and a soundtrack by Ann Sharova.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Fun and relaxing puzzle game with a lot of achievements for profile customization.
- Great for achievement hunters, offering a large number of easy-to-obtain achievements.
- Simple mechanics that provide a satisfying experience, making it enjoyable despite its short length.
- Repetitive gameplay that can become boring after a while.
- Many achievements can spam the screen, causing distractions during gameplay.
- Overall, the game lacks depth and complexity, making it feel more like an achievement generator than a robust puzzle experience.
- gameplay52 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the reviewed games is characterized by a mix of simplicity and addictive mechanics, with many players finding it relaxing and enjoyable, particularly in puzzle formats. However, some users criticize the repetitive nature of the gameplay, which can lead to a feeling of monotony over time. Overall, while the games offer good value for their price and a decent challenge, they may not provide long-lasting engagement for all players.
“✅ Damnably addictive, simple and relaxing gameplay.”
“The mechanics of the game are simple yet really beautiful to admire, with every move carefully planned out and executed.”
“Incredible how smart this game is using its simple mechanics and how addictive it becomes.”
“After a while, it feels like you’re stuck in a loop of 'place block, watch explosion, repeat.' It’s like Groundhog Day, but with more cubes and fewer groundhogs.”
“Yes, I get that it is a 99 cent game, but the gameplay is boring.”
“Not only is the gameplay boring, as I try to play the game, thousands of achievements are spamming my screen.”
- story29 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 24 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game largely lacks a significant story, with many users noting there is either no story at all or that it is minimal and overshadowed by gameplay. A few comments suggest a decent or forgettable narrative exists, but overall, the focus remains on gameplay rather than storytelling.
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“Epic story.”
“Story had me in tears.”
“There is no story.”
“This game has no story.”
“Forgettable story.”
- music28 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as calming and relaxing, enhancing the overall experience, especially in puzzle-solving scenarios. However, some users noted the lack of audio controls, which can be frustrating, and the repetitive nature of the soundtrack. While many found the music enjoyable and fitting for the game's atmosphere, a few felt it was bland or forgettable.
“I missed playing them, though, as I found the game's physics-based puzzle approach attractive, especially with its accompanying, relaxing music.”
“It's nice to get some rest, and just delve into the old puzzle-like games and sit back, relax, and enjoy the soundtrack.”
“What I do like most of all about this game is the relaxing background music and the minimalistic approach to this physics-based game.”
“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.”
“Game itself just feels bland, uninspired, and boring with the same music on loop.”
“I honestly don't remember the soundtrack, so it probably wasn't a banger like one of the others I've mentioned in a prior review.”
- graphics27 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist design that some players find refreshing, though others criticize them as basic and lacking in options for customization. While the simple visuals may appeal to those seeking a calming experience, many reviewers note that the graphics do not meet the expectations typically associated with PC games, often feeling underdeveloped and secondary to the game's primary focus on achievements. Overall, the aesthetic is seen as functional but not impressive, with some players suggesting that graphics are not a significant factor in the game's appeal.
“The clean, simple graphics are a breath of fresh air.”
“Simple but fun: don't be fooled by the cute graphics!”
“Nice minimalistic graphics, calm music will help you relax after a hard day.”
“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...)”
- grinding17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 59 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in these games is often viewed as excessive and tedious, with many players feeling it detracts from the overall experience. The focus on achievement farming is particularly criticized, with some describing it as a grind that requires an unrealistic time commitment. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a major drawback, leading to frustration among players.
“A bit grindy... sometimes.”
“Branching storyline and gear grinding.”
“ARPG/MMORPG reputation grinding.”
“I felt that Zup X was the most tedious one of them all; it felt dragged out, too much going on, and the achievements are a little overkill.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Basically just for grinding achievements, nothing else.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it both funny and enjoyable, often highlighting its ability to provide a relaxing yet challenging experience. Many reviews emphasize the game's amusing achievements and overall lighthearted tone, making it a delightful choice for players looking for a good laugh.
“This game is so funny and enjoyable.”
“Very funny game and this game can make you happy!”
“Funny little game that gives you a lot of cool achievements to customize your Steam profile 11/10.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The reviews on replayability present a mixed perspective: while some players find the game infinitely replayable, others feel that once the levels are mastered, there is little incentive to return unless for the enjoyment of destruction. Overall, the game's replayability may vary significantly based on individual player preferences.
“🔲 infinitely replayable”
“🔲 infinitely replayable (or almost)”
“🔲 infinitely replayable”
“Limited replayability: once you’ve mastered the levels, there’s not much reason to go back unless you really enjoy watching things blow up.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Users report that the game's optimization suffers from performance issues due to an excessive number of duplicate achievements, particularly when using the latest Steam client overlay. However, the overall performance is commendable given the game's low price and the inclusion of numerous stages and levels, despite some puzzles being challenging to solve.
“Although this game is cheap, the performance is impressive with more stages and levels, though it can be a bit difficult to solve the puzzles to reach the next level.”
“The sheer number of duplicate achievements for performing each little action causes significant performance issues and slowdown with the newest Steam client overlay. Fortunately, it seems Quiet River has taken the hint and included fewer achievements in subsequent titles.”
“The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering, even on high-end hardware.”
“Despite the interesting gameplay, the lack of proper optimization makes it nearly unplayable at times, as loading times are excessively long and the game crashes frequently.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express that the game can evoke feelings of frustration and inadequacy, particularly when struggling to complete certain levels, which may lead to a sense of emotional distress.
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the fair balance between free and paid content, while others criticize the presence of aggressive microtransactions that can hinder gameplay. Overall, the approach to monetization appears to impact player experience significantly, with calls for more transparency and value in purchasable items.
“The monetization system feels overly aggressive, pushing players to spend money just to enjoy basic features.”
“I find the in-game purchases to be excessively priced, making it hard to progress without shelling out real cash.”
“The constant prompts to buy premium currency disrupt the gameplay experience and make it feel more like a cash grab than a game.”
