Idle Spiral | a Review
originally published on 23/04/2024;
Hello everyone, I am the achiever of perpetual motion, G.E.M.Simov, a spinning doodad kinda dude, here to tell you about the game “Idle Spiral”.
Simple review details - I rank games on an out of 10 basis, granting up to 3 points in 3 categories, as well as a last, single point from my own self, depending on my experience with it.
A disclaimer - the terms 'movie' and 'film' will be used interchangeably in this review.
Gameplay
There is a number. That number is achieved through a calculation in which three other numbers take part. One of those three other numbers is the result of a third calculation, in which five more numbers take part. The game’s goal is to increase the number, and, due to the fact that all the numbers are connected, any number’s increase increases the total number.
The higher the number, the faster the number grows. That number is “r”, and then there’s triangulated “r”. Triangulated “r” determines how quickly “r” increases, and “r” is the number that’s used for everything.
It is a currency and it is also the means of progression. The higher “r” is, the more things are unlocked and available for purchase through the expenditure of “r”. As previously stated, the goal in IdleSpiral is to make “r” as big as possible.
There are also two other formulas that get unlocked later on in the game, which provide increases to “r”.
And there is no gameplay component to this game, at all. There literally is nothing. There is a button that says “x5” which can be pressed, and it makes the line representing “r” quintuple, but it actually has no effect on the number itself or the growth of the number.
The way the number’s growth is increased is by spending “r” to purchase upgrades from the menus. That’s almost all the game has to offer, but there are a few additional things. As with any idle game, there are means of automating purchases of upgrades and increasing the rates at which purchased upgrades increase their corresponding numbers. That’s done through the use of a special currency obtained via achievements, which are earned upon reaching milestones in number increases.
Lastly (not quite), there are resets, as every Idle Game needs resets. There are resets of type 1, resets of type 2 and resets of type 3. Resets of type 1 reset any upgrades gotten with relation to the number and provide a special improvement to that number. Resets of type 2 reset what reset 1 resets, but also the special bonus from reset 1, in exchange for a funky currency. Resets of type 3 reset what resets of type 2 reset, but also the boons from reset 2’s currency, in exchange for a bonus to a lot of things.
Now, truly lastly, there is some weird “fighting” mechanic in the game, which just features a number - the health of the Player’s spiral - and another number - the damage of the Player’s spiral - getting put up against an infinite number of other spirals with their own health and damage, which… Which, upon being beaten, provide bonuses to the numbers relating to “r”.
Reminder - this is an idle game, so everything takes obscene amounts of time to do. And there is no gameplay to be had… Unfortunately, this means the game is very lackluster in that department and barely qualifies as a game, so much so that I can’t, in good conscience, award it even a single point. 0/3
Presentation
IdleSpiral is, visually, very unimpressive. It features a black screen with a colored line going around in a spiral, with a number of uninspired menus. The color of the line going in a spiral can be changed, and many more colors can be unlocked, but it never becomes truly pleasant to look at, even if it has the ability to be neat - due to the fact that a spiral is, inherently, enchanting.
What IdleSpiral does have is a very tranquil soundtrack, which might be limited to a single musical performance, but it is, still, a very pleasant and calming one, which does not totally drain one’s sanity with its looping.
This game fails to properly inform the Player of far too many things. There is no tutorial, and while there is a “Help” menu which features some information, it does not convey anything particular. There are values that are presented to the Player, and there is a formula that is shown to the Player, but then there are more things that make less sense.
There is a cost to upgrading things, but what it is that the Player needs to pay, there is no indication, nor is there an indication of how many of that thing that the Player needs to pay with is available. Only through spending might one figure out what it is that is being spent, which is not a very good thing, for it keeps the Player in the dark on information that should be accessible and, more importantly, clear.
With all that said, I can’t really give this game a high score in the Presentation department, because idle games NEED to be clear and accessible with their information, and this one does not really like helping the Player understand it. On top of that, the visuals are merely satisfactory, without providing any engaging sight to behold. 2/3
Story
The Player (Character?) awakens in a brand new world and gets booty called. In this world, everything happens by moving in a spiral, and increasing one’s “r”. Regardless, the Player Character hears a beautiful voice and rushes to increase his “r” so that he can meet this beautiful voice’s holder (some woman, probably).
Unfortunately, the story is there for the sake of being there. It is not anything, and it only exists as a means of being there, as a means of giving the game some flavor. It is so unimpressive and uninteresting that I can’t, in good conscience, give it even one point. 0/3
Legendary Point
Does this game get the legendary point, so craved and wanted by all and none at the same time? No, this game does not get the Legendary Point. 0/1
Conclusion
3/10. For only the most violent idle game addicts. For anyone else? No.
On the wall of shame it goes, forgettable and wack.