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 simple puzzle game with a minimalist design.
- Offers a large number of achievements, making it great for profile customization.
- Challenging enough to keep players engaged while being relaxing.
- Gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth.
- Many achievements can overwhelm players and detract from the core experience.
- Short playtime, with some levels being too easy or reliant on luck.
- gameplay104 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as simple, addictive, and relaxing, with many players appreciating the easy achievements and puzzle mechanics. However, some reviews highlight a repetitive nature that can lead to boredom over time, and while the game offers a decent challenge, it is often criticized for its short length and lack of depth. Overall, it is seen as a good value for its price, particularly for those interested in achievements and casual gameplay.
“The zup series offers good puzzle games with a decent scope of difficulty, a generous amount of achievements, and fair gameplay for its price.”
“Incredible how smart this game is using its simple mechanics and how addictive it becomes.”
“The mechanics of the game are simple yet really beautiful to admire, with every move carefully planned out and executed.”
“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.”
- story58 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 24 % negative mentions
The reviews overwhelmingly indicate that the game lacks a significant story, with many users stating there is "no story" or that the narrative is minimal and forgettable. A few comments suggest that while there is a story, it is overshadowed by gameplay, and one user noted a moral lesson within the narrative. Overall, the focus remains primarily 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.”
“Story had me in tears.”
“Epic story.”
“There is no story.”
“This game has no story.”
“Only gameplay, doesn't include a story.”
- music56 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as calming and relaxing, enhancing the overall experience, especially in the context of physics-based puzzles. However, some users noted the lack of proper audio controls, making it difficult to turn off the repetitive background music. While many found the soundtrack enjoyable and comparable to other games like Hexcells, others felt it was bland and uninspired, with some even forgetting the music entirely.
“I personally felt pretty relaxed and had a lot of fun playing this game; nothing is too stressful or hard in this little puzzle game, all you really have to do is click on things at the right time as relaxing music plays.”
“The music is very relaxing and sets up a nice mood.”
“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.”
- graphics54 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist design that some players find refreshing, though many criticize them as basic and lacking in options for customization. While the simple visuals may appeal to some, they are often deemed insufficient for a PC game, leading to a perception that the graphics are not a priority. Overall, the aesthetic is seen as secondary to the game's primary function of providing easy achievements for players' profiles.
“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...)”
- grinding34 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 59 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in these games is often seen as excessive and tedious, with many players feeling it requires an unrealistic time commitment, likening it to needing "a second life." The focus on achievement farming is criticized for being overly repetitive and lacking depth, leading to a perception of the games as primarily designed for grinding rather than offering engaging content.
“A bit grindy... sometimes.”
“Branching storyline/gear 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.”
- humor24 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with many players finding it both funny and enjoyable, often highlighting its ability to provide a relaxing yet challenging experience. The game features amusing achievements that add to its charm, making it a delightful choice for players looking for a lighthearted gaming experience. Overall, it is described as a funny game that brings joy and laughter to its audience.
“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.”
- replayability14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The reviews on replayability are mixed; while some players find the game infinitely replayable, others note that once the levels are mastered, there is limited incentive to return unless one enjoys the visual spectacle.
“🔲 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.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is hindered by a high number of duplicate achievements, which lead to performance issues and slowdowns, particularly with the latest Steam client overlay. However, the overall performance is commendable given the game's extensive content, and the developers have responded by reducing the number of achievements in their subsequent titles.
“Although this game is cheap, the performance is impressive with more stages and levels, although it can be a bit difficult to solve these 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.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express that the game can evoke feelings of frustration and inadequacy, particularly when struggling to complete certain levels, leading to a sense of emotional distress.
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % 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, leading to divided opinions.
