Upfall

A really simple, yet really fun game. The gameplay loop doesn't change that much but it somehow doesn't get boring. The sound design and ambience are really good and you can unlock more sounds/music and other things as you progress.

Just one more try, and I'll beat it. Okay, one more. So close, surely I'll get it next time.

Look, this is my second favourite game by Amicable Animal, but that's whatever the opposite of backhanded compliment is. Or maybe it is a backhanded compliment. Anyway, the premise is simple: bounce on air bubbles in some sort of underwater cave. Don't hit the spikes. KEEP GOING. Change the colour scheme. LEVEL UP. BOUNCE. KEEP GOING. Don't get hit by the falling spikes. SURVIVE. KEEP GOING. Fantastic sound design, as you'd expect from the dev of SOLAS 128. At free, this is a steal. Download it. Give it an install. Play a few rounds. Let it get its hooks into you. KEEP GOING. SURVIVE.

Upfall is one of those tiny arcade games that I found much more addictive than I expected. The basic idea is that I have to bounce upward through a dangerous environment by bursting bubbles while avoiding hazards. I liked how immediately understandable it is, because I can start playing without a tutorial filled with complicated instructions and still feel like I know what I am trying to accomplish. The movement is where the game really shines for me. I need to control my position carefully while using bubbles to gain height, and small mistakes can send me straight into danger. I enjoyed the precision because the controls are simple but getting a clean run requires concentration. It has that satisfying feeling of a game that is easy to start but much harder to master. The procedural generation also helps keep each run interesting. The hazards change as I move deeper, and new sections can force me to react differently from the previous attempt. I liked that because it prevents the game from becoming something I can completely memorize. Every restart gives me another chance to improve while still presenting some uncertainty. The presentation is surprisingly atmospheric for such a …

Real fun to kill time.

Fantastic arcade game with great sound design.