Zup! XS
- April 17, 2019
- Quiet River
Get on Steam"Zup! XS" is an experimental physics puzzle game with 60 levels and explosive elements. Players must construct levels to keep a blue ball on a platform for three seconds to progress. The game features achievements, trading cards, and emoticons, and is built on the Clickteam Fusion 2.5 engine with music by Ann Sharova and emoticons by icons8.com.
Reviews
- The game introduces a unique mechanic where players must build their own puzzles, adding a layer of creativity and challenge.
- It offers a large number of achievements, making it appealing for achievement hunters and those looking to customize their profiles.
- The game is inexpensive and provides a decent amount of gameplay time, making it a good value for casual puzzle enthusiasts.
- The requirement to rebuild the entire level after each failure is tedious and frustrating, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- Compared to other entries in the Zup! series, this game has fewer achievements and feels less rewarding.
- The gameplay can become repetitive as many levels require similar strategies, leading to a lack of variety and excitement.
- gameplay35 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the Zup series is characterized by its addictive yet simplistic puzzle mechanics, appealing to fans of trial-and-error challenges. While some players appreciate the gradual increase in difficulty and the introduction of new mechanics, others find the gameplay tedious and frustrating, particularly with the implementation of block placement. Overall, the series serves as a decent time-killer with a focus on achievements, though opinions on its enjoyment and execution vary significantly.
“✅ Damnably addictive, simple and relaxing 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.”
“In terms of gameplay, the zup series starts off relatively easy, but there's a twist.”
“The new mechanics of placing your own blocks sounds interesting on paper, but due to the way it's implemented, it's just tedious and unfun.”
“A series established on gameplay prone to trial and error is unfairly punishing its players all of a sudden.”
“The gameplay shift isn't pleasant and having to re-do everything every time you hit 'play' is very inconvenient.”
- grinding15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- -13 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, particularly due to the need to manually reset levels after each failure. While some players may find enjoyment in the mechanics, many feel that the repetitive nature of the gameplay detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a chore than fun.
“The grinding can feel a bit repetitive at times, but it also provides a sense of accomplishment.”
“While the game has its grindy moments, they are balanced by rewarding experiences and progression.”
“Grinding in this game is a necessary part of the journey, and it often leads to satisfying rewards.”
“Some may find this fun, but to me, it is too tedious.”
“The new mechanics of placing your own blocks sound interesting on paper, but due to the way it's implemented, it's just tedious and unfun.”
“This makes restarts very tedious as you must rebuild the level from scratch and then run it again.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally considered basic and lacking in options for customization, which is disappointing for a PC title. While some users rate the visuals as decent, they note that there isn't much variety beyond explosions, leading to an overall impression of simplicity and underwhelming quality. Additionally, many players feel that graphics are not a significant focus of the game.
“The graphics are good looking but very simple.”
“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.”
“The graphics are poor too; the only plus is the game's achievements looking good on your profile.”
- music14 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's music is generally described as calming and enjoyable, enhancing the relaxing experience of the puzzle gameplay. However, some users expressed frustration over the lack of audio controls, making it difficult to turn off the background music if desired. Overall, while the music is appreciated for its soothing qualities, it can also be distracting for some players.
“You come to this game series for achievements paired with a relatively easy and relaxing puzzle game with soothing music so you can enjoy your time getting some achievements.”
“The music was calming and it was a ton of fun.”
“I love to listen to music while playing this game, it just calms me down so I'm more focused.”
“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.”
“Music irritates.”
“I missed playing them, though, as I found the game's physics-based puzzle approach attractive, especially with its accompanying, relaxing music.”
- story12 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game primarily focuses on gameplay rather than a narrative, with many users noting the absence of a significant story. While some mention that there is a storyline, it is largely overshadowed by the gameplay elements, leading to a consensus that the game is more about the experience of completing missions than engaging with a plot.
“I can totally recommend this game as much as the other Zup games, because of their stunning mission designs and the 'chill factor' while doing some brain work.”
“Only gameplay, doesn't include a story.”
“There is a story, but most of the game is focused on gameplay.”
“What can I say about the storyline that has not already been said?”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it both amusing and relaxing, despite some challenging levels. It maintains a lighthearted tone, similar to other titles in the genre, while introducing unique elements that enhance its comedic appeal.
“Quite funny, relaxing, and hard at the same time (some levels).”
“One more funny zup game with some differences.”
“Funny”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed, with some users reporting only minor bugs and glitches, while others describe it as being plagued by numerous issues. While a few players have experienced minimal disruptions, the presence of significant bugs suggests that stability remains a concern for many.
“The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs and glitches.”
“There are a few bugs and glitches that disrupt the experience.”
“I encountered minor bugs and glitches throughout my playthrough.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The reviews on replayability are polarized, with some users stating there is no value in replaying the game, or even playing it for the first time, while others find it infinitely replayable.
“The game is infinitely replayable, offering new experiences with each playthrough.”
“Every time I dive back in, I discover something new, making it a game I can enjoy over and over.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
“There is no replay value, and to be fair, also no value in playing it for the first time.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the game's atmosphere as being enhanced by vibrant neon backgrounds, creating a visually striking and immersive environment that contributes to the overall experience.
“The atmospheric neon backgrounds create an immersive experience that pulls you into the game world.”
“The vibrant neon lights and shadows enhance the overall atmosphere, making every moment feel alive.”
“The combination of atmospheric neon visuals and sound design truly sets the mood for an unforgettable adventure.”
