Puddle

 Wii U
Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. 3DJuegos
    Dec 11, 2012
    74
    Puddle presents the fascinating journey of several types of fluids through original levels like a garden, laboratory or inside the human body. It's great, for moments, fascinating, but Puddle's difficulty is too unfairly hard and overcoming these difficulties requires trial and error mechanics.
  2. NintendoWorldReport
    Jan 31, 2013
    70
    I was impressed with the sheer amount of variety in the game, but I can't help but wish it were utilized to a greater extent. Puddle looks and plays great, but the difficulty caused by its physics can hamper the experience.
  3. Everyeye.it
    Jan 7, 2013
    70
    Puddle is an interesting title for fans of the genre, thanks to the originality of the level design, constantly looking for never predictable ways.
  5. Nintendo Life
    Dec 7, 2012
    70
    Puddle is another strong contender for your digital money in the beginning days of Wii U's eShop. It falters when it comes to explaining all of its elements, occasionally stumbles with difficulty spikes and its motion control scheme is best left ignored, but look past these flaws and you'll find a creative, smart puzzler that flows pretty well while offering a fair amount of variety and replay value.
  6. IGN
    Feb 22, 2013
    68
    In the burgeoning sub-genre of physics-based, liquid platformers, Puddle is a game that only hits a little more than it misses.
  7. Official Nintendo Magazine UK
    Jan 10, 2013
    68
    The introduction outstays its welcome, but Puddle flows into a more interesting game than you might expect. [Jan 2013, p.111]
  8. Nintendojo
    Feb 11, 2013
    67
    Puddle is both relaxing and frustrating, and it can be immensely satisfying to play. At times I was excited, and other times dreadfully nervous. If you are looking for a game to tide you over in between major Wii U releases, this one is a decent bet provided you have the patience.
  9. Destructoid
    Jan 31, 2013
    65
    It's still a neat little puzzler for sure, but it needs a bit more tweaking for me to wholly recommend it. If you've always been on the edge in terms of buying this game, this release should tip you, as it's the definitive version.
  10. SpazioGames
    Dec 21, 2012
    65
    Puddle confirms the good and less good seen in recent months on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC and PS Vita. Good ideas but the result is just decent.
  11. InsideGamer.nl
    Dec 16, 2012
    65
    Puddle is a decent game with enough variation and challenge, but is too slow to ever really get exciting and uses too much trial and error. This makes the game more frustrating than fun.
  12. Eurogamer Italy
    Jan 30, 2013
    60
    An immediate and extremely usable concept, attractive graphics and an intriguing challenges (albeit sometimes a little too excessive) aren't enough to promote Neko's newborn, still immature in its gameplay in this Wii U edition.
  13. Vandal
    Dec 4, 2012
    60
    A great idea held by its issues. We really hoped there were some improvements on the Wii U version, but it fails to deliver an engaging experience.

Awards & Rankings

33
#33 Best Wii U Game of 2013
43
#43 Most Discussed Wii U Game of 2013

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 15 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 15
  3. Negative: 3 out of 15
  1. TheMitch
    Jul 24, 2013
    9
    If you're looking for a physics-based puzzle game, you can trust Puddle to satisfy that incessant hankering. In my books, this game isIf you're looking for a physics-based puzzle game, you can trust Puddle to satisfy that incessant hankering. In my books, this game is near-perfect. It's very polished and realises concepts of such vivid imaginations. The physics is well utilised, involving situations you wouldn't normally expect, such as anti-gravity. Puddle is difficult, however. And while you may breeze past the first few stages with relative ease, it's the back-end which will make you squirm just a little bit. It's that feeling of being able to complete the course, despite failing over and over again. This is the sort of characteristic it boasts which gives it a sound level of replay-ability. The inclusion of gold, silver and copper (bronze) times to beat, as well as a leader board, adds even more replay-ability. Overall, this a fun little game to play and, if physics-based puzzle games are something you enjoy, your money will not be wasted on this game they call Puddle.… Full Review »
  2. Judson
    Feb 17, 2013
    8
    Basically, what I found Puddle to be was a somewhat puzzle/platforming game. The basic structure of the game is basic where you progressBasically, what I found Puddle to be was a somewhat puzzle/platforming game. The basic structure of the game is basic where you progress through levels that have different obstacles and most times different liquids (anything ranging from water to yellow cake uranium). The game is broken up into 8 different chapters with each chapter focusing on a liquid. When playing a level, you have to keep the amount of liquid you start out with to a specific threshold. So you start out with 100% liquid and if you lose 80%, you lost the level.
    Gameplay wise, Puddle is pretty fun and frustrating. Depending on what your liquid is in the level, you have to avoid its evaporator (waters is hot surfaces while lava is cool surfaces). The entire premise behind the game is to tilt the screen to get your liquid to go the speed you want, keep as much liquid as you can, and finish the level as fast as you can. You do have different control options such as using exclusively the ZL and ZR buttons to tilt, tilting the Gamepad, or using the left stick. I mainly used the ZL/ZR configuration and tilted the Gamepad when I felt that it would be more accurate.
    There isn't too much variation in the sound/music the game plays. It changes based on the chapter you play and I found the music to never be too advanced. It gave the game a lot of ambiance which doesn't take away from your enjoyment. I would have liked something that would play faster and add tension when you are going faster and something mellow when I was taking the level slow.
    The story isn't nothing to really brag about which can be expected. It follows around basically where you start out as cup of spilled coffee and seeing how far it goes from there. At least, thats what I gathered from it.
    The game took me around 5 hours to get to the end. However, I did not rank half of my levels as I was getting frustrated. The game can be punishing if you get too and at points I just wanted to get past the level. You get 4 "Whines" which you can use to skip a level, I just didn't elect to use them. A benefit of going back would be to look at the leaderboards and see how you stack up against people who beat the game also to see if you were quick and also beat all the challenges.    … Full Review »
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