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. Gaming Nexus
    Feb 12, 2013
    80
    The Wii U version has a couple advantages, letting you play with some novel motion controls, and of course enabling the entire game on the GamePad. For $7.99, it’s not a bad little entry in the Wii U’s burgeoning digital catalog.
  2. GamingTrend
    Feb 8, 2013
    80
    Puddle is relatively brief and can be tackled within a lazy afternoon or two. There’s not much to the game once you’ve gotten through it – other than going back through to unlock in-game achievements and trying to get gold on each of the levels – but it’s fun while it lasts. It won’t set the world on fire, and it can be crushingly difficult at times, but it’s got a ton of nifty ideas and wrings every single drop out of them – and in that, Puddle greatly succeeds.
  3. XGN
    Jan 14, 2013
    80
    Playing with water was never so fun in this original puzzle game. Frustration might scare off some players, but those who push through will find a collection of interesting with plenty of variation.
  5. Cubed3
    Dec 19, 2012
    80
    Puddle lacks a tiny bit of personality and features some initially annoying gameplay limitations but manages to hold its own in the long run, past the initial learning period.
  6. 4P.de
    Dec 8, 2012
    78
    Even though the capabilities of the new system are underutilized, this is still a well executed physics puzzler that relies too often on trial & error.
  7. Digital Chumps
    Feb 11, 2013
    76
    Puddle on the Wii U looks and plays great. It's too bad there is no new content here from previously released versions, but it's still a challenging and likeable physics puzzler.
  8. Worth Playing
    Apr 5, 2013
    75
    Puddle is a mechanically sound game that's good for fans of physics puzzles. The presentation is solid, and even though the controls aren't the most optimal, they get the job done and provide enough options.

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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