Ball laB

Really good game. Enjoyed this a lot. Nice little platformer type game, a bit challenging though.

balls torture

A poor implementation of a half baked design.
Derivative, bland, shovelware.

very precise platformer with very imprecise control

I got this game through a badge coupon, and even though I probably paid around 40 cents for the game I still wouldn't tell someone it's worth it. I know it's supposed to be a tough as nails platformer, but there's some serious jank in this game. So many times I would clip to walls and underneath platforms which led to my death. Some levels (specifically around the 30's) were absolute hell to beat with the platforms moving so fast. I don't get why these were in the middle of the game, especially when there are similar obstacles in later levels that move at a slower pace. Overall, the game is fine for what I assume is a developer's first go around in the platform genre. And even though I did complete the game and get all the achievements (not hard besides finishing the game) I will not be returning to the Ball laB series anytime soon.

Bouncing into a Puzzle Playground: Exploring the Curious World of Ball laB

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Ball laB presents a unique and imaginative take on the puzzle genre, offering players a chance to navigate intricate mazes by manipulating gravity and utilizing physics in creative ways. With its gravity-defying mechanics, mind-bending puzzles, and charming visuals, the game invites players to dive into a world where logic and experimentation collide.

The game's visual design boasts a playful and colorful aesthetic that adds to its charm. The minimalist art style focuses attention on the puzzles themselves, creating a clean and uncluttered environment that keeps the focus on the task at hand.

At its core, Ball laB challenges players to control a bouncing ball through increasingly complex and challenging levels. The game's defining feature is its manipulation of gravity, allowing players to rotate the environment and change the direction of the ball's movement. This unique mechanic adds a refreshing twist to traditional puzzle-solving, requiring you to think creatively and strategically.

The puzzles in Ball laB offer a diverse range of challenges that require logical thinking and precision. As you progress, the levels become more intricate, demanding a deeper understanding of the gravity mechanics. The game's learning curve is well-balanced, gradually introducing new concepts without overwhelming the player.

The gravity-based gameplay can be both the game's strength and its limitation. While the mechanic is engaging and original, it can also lead to moments of frustration as you try to execute precise movements. The controls might take some time to master, and the physics interactions might occasionally result in unexpected outcomes.

The absence of a narrative or thematic context might leave players looking for more depth or context for the puzzles. While the focus on gameplay is commendable, some players might find themselves wishing for a stronger narrative motivation.

In conclusion, Ball laB offers a refreshing and challenging puzzle experience that's built on gravity-defying mechanics and creative problem-solving. Its charming visuals, diverse puzzles, and unique gameplay mechanics make it an engaging choice for players seeking a different kind of puzzle adventure. While the learning curve and occasional frustrations with controls might pose obstacles, those who appreciate innovative puzzle mechanics and enjoy experimenting with physics will find themselves bouncing through the intricate mazes of Ball laB with a sense of curiosity and determination.

A fun game but at the same time not as easy as one might think, you really have to have patience when it comes to some levels.

Played the second edition of the game more, at the end of the day, would recommend to anyone that has not tried it yet to give it a go, you will not regret it.

This game man... I had some good fun with it at first and gave it some good benefit of the doubt in knowing that it was a "rage" game and made to be a good challenge. I got all the achievements and now honestly I feel pretty empty. The last 5 levels of this game were just hard in a not fun way, the trial and error making small progress while backtracking is just so boring. As for the other features: yes there are input delays and they suck ass, I have a big problem with the dash button not "carrying over" after you die while you are still holding it and the jump button at time just chooses not to work. I couldn't stand the sound design for the length I was playing it, not to say it was "bad" but just could have used something more to it.

To anyone looking to get this game, I would say only completionists would get a kick from this one. If you are more casual and looking for a fun experience? it aint here...

Ball laB is a mobile app that's been dumped on Steam as if it was a real PC game (it's not)... it's a cash grab from greedy mobile devs. The game is an extremely mediocre 2D retro pixel platformer that uses the "minimalist" label as an attempt to excuse even an attempt at putting any effort into the graphics, and it shows, too. That aside the game is also supposed to be "hardcore", which of course is great for amateur devs because it means they don't have to do as much level design. So we have a pretty garbage mobile app experience here, does it get any better? Nope.

From a technical perspective, as a mobile app, this doesn't meet basic minimum requirements that most PC gamers expect as standard.

A choice was made to use obsolete, decades old retro pixel "art" as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics. It's unclear if this is due to lack of budget or talent, regardless, the overall visual quality of the game is extremely low as a result.

There's no options to change the resolution for the mobile app or customise the graphics settings. There's no way for gamers to ensure this mobile app is running at the native resolution of their displays... there's no guarantee this mobile app will look right on any PC as a result of this hamfisted design decision. There's no way for gamers to try improve the low quality mobile phone graphics.

The controls and game handling are notably very clunky and unsmooth here. It's janky and unsatisfying to play... and any experienced gamer will tell you, the handling, responsiveness and general gameplay feel of the control scheme must be well polished for this kind of game to succeed. Unfortunately, this is something the developer seems to have phoned in, with little to no apparent gameplay testing. They dropped the ball on this one.

The controls can't be customised, which will be an annoyance for many, but it can also render the mobile app unplayable for differently-abled gamers.

Because this is a mobile app, it carries a number of deliberate design deficiencies. Compromises were made to cater to the iPhones that the mobile app was designed for. These are unfortunate handicaps and limitations that PC gamers shouldn't be forced to accept, but it's evident that PC was an afterthought for the iPhone developers who are to blame for this. The mobile app is deficient as a result of these choices, and would have been so much better without the handicaps that designing games for mobile phones forces upon a game. Once more, mobile devs have made gaming worse for everyone. I didn't spend thousands on building a gaming rig just so I could pretend it's an iPhone.

These technical defects push this mobile app below acceptable standards for any modern PC game.

Once more we see greedy mobile devs trying to scam PC gamers. On Steam, this is $1 USD, on app stores, it's free. Mobile devs must learn PC gamers are not here to be gouged, and can't be expected to pay a premium for a free mobile game just because it's been lazily dumped on Steam. This is unacceptable disrespect for PC gamers. Because this can be played free elsewhere, and because of the other defects, it's impossible to recommend. Who do they think we are?

Not laggy for me, but missions get increasingly too long and tedious as you progress, which hinders fun significantly.

Well, at least is cheap, especially on sale.

If difficulty and precision is what you want, then this could be a good game, otherwise I would stay clear of it.

Rating: 6/10

Pretty fun if you like these impossible ball challenge types, which i do. jump inputs do get eaten fairly often and there really should be a way to practice sections of levels

Fun little 2D platformer that has quite a bit of difficulty, it reminds me of old flash games like super meat boy.
Tho I would say the controls felt pretty slippery when I first started playing the game but I got used to them quickly.

you know a game is hard when you die on main menu

seriously i just reccomend this game to anyone who gives him a challange this platforming game is HARD

Good game, but gets way too challenging after 17th level, SAM was used.
Recommended if you like a challenge, not recommended if you don't have patience.

Very good actually, suprisingly great soundtrack. Yes its frustrating but thats part of the fun innit?
controls could be better tho

Good game for a good price. If I had a choice between candy or this game. I would pick this game. 11/10 would recommend and play again.

honestly a great game but it gets way too hard way too fast, couldnt make it past level 11.

I don't recommend this game because it's not logically adjusted in terms of physics mechanisms.

I have debated writing this review until I completed the game, but I now realize that won't happen. I have looked through alot of the previous review and saw that the most common complaint is issues with the controls either being unresponsive, late, or etc. This has only happened to me around 5 of my 600 deaths. This can be attributed to an odd moment that need fine tuning, controls so fine that minor difference in button presses result in wildly different movement, and the fact that held buttons don't hold through death. I only have 2 issues with Ball laB, they are that there is no visual cue to gauge your movements and the size of the level is too small compared to monitor size, which forces me to lean into my monitor to see the level properly. Overall it is a nice rage platform for anyone who wants to challenge themselves. I am currently on level 11 with near 600 deaths and I know I won't make it much further. If you enjoy rage games then you will likely enjoy Ball laB, other wise you will end up very, VERY angry.

I was all set to give this a positive review, as a competent if unspectacular budget title. Then, two levels in a row killed me for not correctly guessing the location of the end zone, revealing that this is a troll game. I have no patience for things that waste my time. The fact that the level goal was not signposted was one of the criticisms I would have made in that positive review, but I understand now that this was not an example of amateur design but a deliberate choice. And this game is already lacking in reasons to play it; the monochrome graphics are visually unappealing, there is not even the flimsiest of excuse plots, and it's not like the world is lacking in hardcore platformers to challenge the masochistic. Keep your money in your wallet and look elsewhere.

This game is made for difficulty only. There is no SFX and the player model is a purple ball. Graphics and physics are reminiscent of early 2000s flash games.

BUT

If you want to play a precision platformer where you carefully bounce a rolling ball between spikes, you'll probably enjoy it.
It won't blow your mind, but it's a working platformer that costs 50 cents on sale.