Zup! Z
- December 21, 2020
- Quiet River
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"Zup! Z" is a physics-based puzzle game where players help a small creature reach the goal by interacting with various objects in the environment. Levels are cleverly designed, offering multiple solutions and gradually increasing in complexity. The game features simple yet charming visuals and soothing music, providing a relaxing puzzle-solving experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a large number of achievements (512) that are visually appealing and great for customizing your Steam profile.
- Gameplay is simple yet engaging, providing a relaxing experience with fun physics-based puzzles.
- The addition of new mechanics like lasers adds variety to the puzzles, making it a fresh experience within the Zup series.
- The gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth, with many levels feeling similar to each other.
- Some players may find the game too short, completing it in under an hour, which may not justify the purchase for some.
- There is a lack of tutorials or guidance, which can leave new players confused about how to progress.
- gameplay74 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the Zup series is characterized by its simple yet addictive mechanics, offering a mix of puzzle-solving and timing-based challenges that can become repetitive over time. While the initial levels are easy and accessible, the introduction of new elements keeps the experience engaging, though some players note a lack of depth in later stages. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its relaxing nature and the satisfaction of earning achievements, despite some criticism regarding its simplicity and potential for monotony.
“After playing 'zup!' for nearly 5 hours, I've gained a deep appreciation for its simplistic yet engaging puzzle mechanics.”
“The puzzles start off easy but quickly introduce new elements and obstacles that keep the gameplay fresh and interesting.”
“Classic 'zup' gameplay - simple physics and timing-based puzzles presented with polished and sleek visuals.”
“Repetitive gameplay: 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.”
“The actual gameplay is a puzzle game standard to what you see on sites like Coolmathgames; however, after each level (and clicking on a few things in the menu or hidden in levels), you get a couple of Steam achievements.”
“Very simple gameplay with very little thinking needed, even on the later levels.”
- music54 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. However, some users noted the lack of proper audio controls, making it difficult to turn off the repetitive background music. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the best aspects of the game, contributing to a calming atmosphere while playing.
“The music is very chill and the mechanics like reverse gravity are really fun.”
“The music, as always, is amazing and relaxing.”
“Best thing to relax the mind <3 that music behind and satisfaction in watching the ball move through the maze is truly amazing.”
“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 music is harmless but extremely repetitive; the gameplay is addictive but very simplistic, even by Zup standards.”
“The music remains relaxed and typical of the Zup franchise.”
- graphics42 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a minimalist design that is both clean and simple, enhancing the overall aesthetic experience. While some players appreciate the polished visuals and satisfying sound effects, others criticize the lack of resolution options and graphics tweaks, deeming them insufficient for a PC game. Overall, the graphics serve more as a backdrop for gameplay and achievements rather than a focal point of high visual quality.
“The clean, uncluttered graphics make it easy to focus on the puzzle at hand, and the satisfying sound effects upon completing a level add to the game's enjoyment.”
“Classic 'zup' gameplay - simple physics and timing-based puzzles presented with polished and sleek visuals.”
“Also, if you want to buy this game just to make your profile look cooler with achievement showcase, this one's got one of the nicest achievement graphics I've seen so far.”
“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.”
“Very basic graphics.”
- story32 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with many players noting that it feels minimal or non-existent, which may disappoint those seeking a more immersive narrative experience. While some acknowledge that there is a story present, it often takes a backseat to gameplay, leading to mixed feelings about its overall impact. Ultimately, the focus on gameplay over storytelling leaves a significant portion of the audience wanting more in terms of narrative engagement.
“Moral of the story, you never know what life holds in store for you, and if I would have given up when all the odds were stacked against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“Epic story.”
“If I had to choose one as my favorite, it would definitely be completing the mission, which is the last game in the collection, made exclusively for it, and by far the largest and most passionately created.”
“The lack of a story or deeper content might be a turn-off for some players looking for a more immersive experience.”
“This game has no story.”
“There is a story, but most of the game is focused on gameplay.”
- grinding18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is generally viewed as tedious, with players noting it can take between 60 to 100 hours to complete. While some appreciate the opportunity for achievement farming, many feel that the game's unique qualities are overshadowed by the grind, making it more suitable for those looking to earn easy achievements rather than for a fulfilling gameplay experience.
“Grindy, but it offers a rewarding experience after 60-100 hours.”
“It can be a bit grindy at times, but the journey is worth it.”
“While it feels like one long grind, the sense of achievement keeps you engaged.”
“Honestly a good little puzzler and it's a shame the uniqueness is obfuscated behind achievement farming.”
“Just buy it cheap at sale for farming cards and easy achievements.”
“One long, tedious grind.”
- humor14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying the funny achievements, humorous bio descriptions, and amusing collectibles. Many find the game both entertaining and relaxing, balancing its comedic elements with engaging puzzles. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the gameplay experience.
“Quite funny, relaxing and hard at the same time (some levels).”
“Bought it for the achievements and funny thing is the game is also fun to play.”
“I personally enjoyed this aspect of the game, as I like collectibles, and found the bio descriptions hilarious and full of humorous references (which describes the game as a whole).”
- replayability10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits limited replayability, as players often find little incentive to revisit levels after mastering them, despite the initial enjoyment and engaging mechanics. The absence of scoring systems or time challenges further diminishes replay value, making it more of a one-time experience rather than a game that encourages repeated play.
“This game is actually really fun; it isn't very replayable, but it serves its purpose. At first, I was worried it wasn't going to be fast-paced and just a boring click-to-win game, but it really requires you to think and time your moves and has cool mechanics.”
“🔲 infinitely replayable”
“🔲 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.”
“There's not much replayability since there are no scores or time to finish the puzzle, and the hidden achievements can be spotted easily.”
“Limited replayability: once you’ve mastered the levels, there’s not much reason to go back unless you really enjoy watching things blow up.”
- stability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- -10 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users reporting it as largely bug-free, while others highlight the presence of minor to significant bugs and glitches, suggesting that the game may feel like a "big terrarium for bugs." Overall, players have experienced varying levels of stability, indicating room for improvement.
“The game is remarkably bug-free, providing a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
“I appreciate how stable the game is; I haven't encountered any bugs during my playthrough.”
“The stability of the game is impressive, allowing for uninterrupted gameplay.”
“The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs/glitches.”
“There are minor bugs and glitches that affect gameplay.”
“I encountered a few bugs and glitches that disrupted my experience.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by immersive and visually striking space backgrounds that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the depth and detail of these atmospheric elements, contributing to a captivating environment.
“The atmospheric space backgrounds are breathtaking and truly immersive.”
“The game features stunning atmospheric space backgrounds that enhance the overall experience.”
“I was captivated by the atmospheric space backgrounds that create a sense of wonder and exploration.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game suffers from poor optimization, which is a significant concern that needs to be addressed.
“It appears to just be poor optimization, and should also be addressed.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy employed by the developers is seen as clever, as it encourages players to promote the game on their profiles, effectively generating free advertising.
