Upstream

Holy cow. What a beautiful little game. I just finished it (quicksave mode, obviously) and I can't get over how well polished and enticing this is for a first release from a studio, First of all, the idea is such a good one. A "Getting Over It" style game focused on the journey upstream at the end of a salmon's life. It's frustrating and difficult gameplay, but I didn't find that it induced the same rage level as other games because there's this underlying current (pun intended) of the finality of the salmon's journey. It's difficult because it is supposed to be, if that makes any sense. Sometimes in other rage games, you get the impression that they're making things difficult purely for the sake of being annoying. Upstream feels different, somehow. It feels wholesome in its complexity. I'm honestly surprised no one has thought to combine this genre with this premise. Super well thought out. Additionally, the creativity with this project is so impressive. I've been following along with the production of this game for a while, and it's absolutely crazy to me that this is the first time the developers have made pixel art and music for a game. It's truly a beautiful piece of work, especially in the mountain spring area. The combination of the hopeful yet melancholy soundtrack with the beautiful visuals just render an environment that is hugely compelling. Each area has a distinct "vibe" and it doesn't feel like it goes on forever, which is super refreshing. This brings me to my next point, which is that the pacing of the game feels extremely polished. Sometimes with games like these, it can feel a little like banging your head against concrete because you're just doing the same thing over and over again. Granted, I've only finished the game in quicksave mode - I'm not brave enough to attempt otherwise - but each of the challenges encountered in the game feel temporary. Part of this is the glimpses you get throughout the game of the next zones; you're almost to something different, even if you have to attempt this jump half a dozen times before you get there. There's a lot more I could say about this game, but TL;DR, this game is a labour of love, and it shows. Bravo devs, can't wait to see what you do next.

It is very rare that I feel compelled to review anything. Upstream though is truly something special. If you want a TLDR of my thoughts I will place that at the end, but for now I will speak my unfiltered thoughts. Every single aspect of this game is unbelievably excellent. From the largest details such as fluid controls that are both easy to learn but entertainingly challenging to master, to a narrator that carries you though the game like a loving grandmother teaching her grandchildren a life lesson in story form, to the soundtrack that never overwhelms but is always welcome to hear, everything is done with care and attentiveness. The smaller details stand out too. The wonderous layering of pixel art backgrounds that are filled with small sparks of life and motion throughout, the UI brimming with personality, and the perfectly laid of teasers of new exciting challenges to overcome leave me wanting more endlessly. I played the demo for this game more than some games that have sat in my library for years. It is hard. You will face difficulties, but it has never been more worth it to overcome them than when playing Upstream. TL;DR: -Fish game good -fish game very good -good challenge -good fun -good everything -glub glub

Everything about this game is entirely amazing. The Artwork, soundtrack, and game play is great. It has a similar concept to getting over it except this game has a more impactful story and meaning behind it. This is one of my top favorite Indie games already!

I found the demo for this game during the last Next Fest & have been eagerly awaiting the release since then. This title alone made hours of scrolling through the list of Next Fest games entirely worth it, what a hidden gem! The fact that Upstream is the first game that this studio has released makes it all the more impressive. The music is perfect and never becomes grating to listen to when playing for long periods of time. The pixel art is absolutely beautiful. The controls feel fantastic are both perfectly simple and yet very unique. The game provides you with a true purpose for completion, as opposed to a hollow end goal of conquering random arbitrary obstacles like most other popular games of it's genre. Unlike most foddian games, the entire narrative is actually very encouraging and doesn't endlessly rejoice in the player's setbacks at their constant expense. As opposed to the narrator being a cause for ragequitting she is generally a catalyst for making you want to give it another go. After all, I cannot let my precious salmon's journey go uncompleted! She is far too strong and stalwart to give up and dammit, so am I! This may sound wildly off-topic, but bear with me. My husband and I both love the anime/manga One Piece, and quite literally any time either one of us hears the words "one piece" said in any context we cannot help but give each other a side glance & a grin because of course One Piece comes to mind immediately. Similarly, since playing the demo for Upstream weeks ago, anytime I see or hear anything about salmon, from a photo to a fillet at the grocery store, the game immediately crosses my mind. It shocked me that a demo of all things had already left this kind of lasting impression on me immediately. TL;DR, Upstream is a beautifully crafted title that is an unquestionable stand out among others in it's genre. It's a must play for any fan of foddian games and a wonderful place to start for anyone interested in getting into the genre for the first time. A truly enjoyable experience!

I fell in love with this game when I saw it recommended as a demo during Steam's Indie NextFest. I feel that is is the most fun way to play a fish in a video game, and I have played a few fish video games. The soundtrack is fantastic, the development team is extremely kind and receptive to comments and concerns, and all of it wrapped up in an educational foidian about a spawning salmon. Triple A titles wish they had this raw aura.

I'm 8 Hours in and have made it only 50% up the stream... It's glorious! The Salmon takes some skill to control and the falls are very punishing. There is mid-air rotational control that's important to master, it allows you to glide and aim your landings, but it also allows you to save some falls. There are many optional items and secret passages to find, some of them are actually shortcuts and I recommend looking for them if you're going up with no checkpoints. There is a quick-save/load-mode which makes the climb to the top trivial. It's a solid game, but it's not for everyone. It's a bit of a niche game, but if you like the idea of climbing a mountain as a salmon, then this is the game for you.

[b]Review:[/b] UPSTREAM is a fantastic well rounded game. from the controls, to the level design, to the art. it is all very intuitive. 5 mins learning the controls and it already feels natural! (aside from the carpal tunnel from spamming the keys like a madman) the narrator has a very captivating story and i felt very engaged playing when i failed or discovered a secret. however the voice it a little monotone so it pulled me back out a bit but that's just me looking for problems. as it stands it is great! also the backgrounds are really beautiful. seriously impressive. music is really great in the later levels too. definitely keep an eye on this studio. really really good stuff. [i]Intuitive Controls - Easy to use.[/i] ☐ Very Difficult (+1) ☐ Difficult (+2) ☐ Moderate (+3) ☑ Easy (+4) ☐ Very Easy (+5) [i]Balanced Gameplay - Fair and equal.[/i] ☐ Poorly Balanced (+1) ☐ Somewhat Balanced (+2) ☐ Moderately Balanced (+3) ☑ Well Balanced (+4) ☐ Perfectly Balanced (+5) [i]Player Engagement - Involving and captivating.[/i] ☐ Not at all (+1) ☐ Slightly (+2) ☐ Moderately (+3) ☐ Very (+4) ☑ Extremely (+5) [i]Decision Relevance - Meaningful choices.[/i] ☐ Meaningless (+1) ☐ Not Meaningful (+2) ☑ Somewhat Meaningful (+3) ☐ Quite Meaningful (+4) ☐ Highly Meaningful (+5) [i]Rewarding Progression - Satisfying advancement.[/i] ☐ Very Unsatisfying (+1) ☐ Unsatisfying (+2) ☐ Neutral (+3) ☐ Satisfying (+4) ☑ Very Satisfying (+5) [b]Presentation & Immersion (21/25)[/b] [i]Compelling Storyline - Engaging narrative.[/i] ☐ Not Interesting (+1) ☐ Slightly Interesting (+2) ☐ Moderately Interesting (+3) ☑ Very Interesting (+4) ☐ Extremely Interesting (+5) [i]Immersive Atmosphere - Captivating environment.[/i] ☐ Not Immersive (+1) ☐ Slightly Immersive(+2) ☐ Moderately Immersive (+3) ☑ Very Immersive (+4) ☐ Completely Immersive (+5) [i]Visual Aesthetics - Stunning graphics.[/i] ☐ Not Appealing (+1) ☐ Slightly Appealing (+2) ☐ Moderately Appealing (+3) ☐ Very Appealing (+4) ☑ Extremely Appealing (+5) [i]Audio Quality - High-quality sound.[/i] ☐ Not Engaging (+1) ☐ Slightly Engaging (+2) ☑ Moderately Engaging (+3) ☐ Very Engaging (+4) ☐ Extremely Engaging (+5) [i]Polished HUD - Clean and functional interface.[/i] ☐ Very Unfriendly (+1) ☐ Unfriendly (+2) ☐ Neutral (+3) ☐ Friendly (+4) ☑ Very Friendly (+5) [b]Design & Technical Aspects (18/25)[/b] [i]Game Design - Well-crafted mechanics.[/i] ☐ Poorly Designed (+1) ☐ Somewhat Designed (+2) ☐ Moderately Designed (+3) ☐ Well Designed (+4) ☑ Excellently Designed (+5) [i]Content Quality - Rich and diverse.[/i] ☐ Poor Content (+1) ☐ Limited Content (+2) ☑ Moderate Content (+3) ☐ Extensive Content (+4) ☐ Abundant Content (+5) [i]Settings - Flexible and customizable.[/i] ☐ Very Limited (+1) ☐ Limited (+2) ☑ Moderate (+3) ☐ Flexible (+4) ☐ Highly Flexible (+5) [i]Technical Issues - Minimal or no problems.[/i] ☐ Numerous (+1) ☐ Moderate (+2) ☐ Limited (+3) ☑ Minor (+4) ☐ None (+5) [b]Final Considerations (23/25)[/b] [i]Overall Satisfaction - General enjoyment level.[/i] ☐ Very Dissatisfied (+1) ☐ Dissatisfied (+2) ☐ Neutral (+3) ☐ Satisfied (+4) ☑ Very Satisfied (+5) [i]Microtransactions - In-game purchases.[/i] ☐ Extensive (+1) ☐ Substantial (+2) ☐ Moderate (+3) ☐ Minimal (+4) ☑ None (+5) [i]Replay Value - Longevity and replayability.[/i] ☐ Very Low (+1) ☐ Low (+2) ☑ Moderate (+3) ☐ High (+4) ☐ Very High (+5) [i]Cost-to-Play Ratio - Money spent vs hours played.[/i] ☐ Overpriced (+1) ☐ Poor Value (+2) ☐ Fair Value (+3) ☐ Good Value (+4) ☑ Excellent Value (+5) [i]Recommendation.[/i] ☐ No (+0) ☑ Yes (+5)

牛的 真让我当鱼啊

[h1]That which is falling should also be pushed. — [i]Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra[/i][/h1] If your heart still knows how to swim — play this game. It’s not just upstream. It’s upstream into yourself. No words - just the primal urge to swim against fate. I came as a player. I left as a salmon. 10 out of 10, on the tips of my fins. Special thanks for the amazing narrator and unforgettable soundtrack. They gave me the strength and desire to get up after another fall.

The art is satisfying and pleasing to look at, also the different features in each biome/level make it exciting since it provides new gameplay. Very fun!