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Tupsu for Android review: An attractive, addicting, and free puzzler

Looking for a new puzzle game to try on Android? Tupsu's unique look and addicting gameplay may be right for you.

Jaymar Cabebe Former Associate Editor
Jaymar Cabebe covers mobile apps and Windows software for CNET. While he may be a former host of the Android Atlas Weekly podcast, he doesn't hate iOS or Mac. Jaymar has worked in online media since 2007.
Jaymar Cabebe
3 min read

Compared with other physics puzzlers I've played, Tupsu has a unique look and feel. Its levels are mostly on the darker side, and its eerie music creates a Tim-Burton-in-outer-space sort of vibe. The animation is clean, the detailing on the background and objects is sharp, and the physics just feel right. Altogether, these elements create a visually attractive playing environment that feels more like an actual world than other physics-based games like Cut the Rope.

8.5

Tupsu for Android

The Good

<b>Tupsu</b> is a unique puzzler with attractive graphics and addictive game play.

The Bad

Because Tupsu's eyeball is so tiny, it can be difficult to grab, and therefore difficult to control. No pinch-to-zoom in Camera view mode.

The Bottom Line

Tupsu is a free downoad with realistic physics, attractive animation, and addicting gameplay. If you're into puzzlers, it's worth a download.

The idea of the game is simple: get the furry little Tupsu monster to the black hole at the end of each level and collect as many stars as you can along the way. There can be any number of stars on each level, the more you get, the more points you score. The challenge, of course, lies in Tupsu's unique anatomy. See, Tupsu doesn't exactly cover ground the way other monsters might because Tupsu doesn't have any limbs. He does, however, have elastic eyeballs that can be used like rubbery grappling hooks to stick to surfaces and pull himself around. It may sound like it doesn't make any sense, but believe me, it does when you get behind the wheel and play.

Tupsu brings the weird to Android (pictures)

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To control Tupsu, simply tap his eyeball and drag it onto a surface that you want to stick it to. From there, the elastic tension created will automatically pull him toward that surface. Tap his eyeball again to release it and repeat the process. Since Tupsu's eyeball is so small, it can be difficult to grab and quickly maneuver around. Still, with the controls as is, the game is fun to play. And once you get the hang of the controls, you'll be able to pull off some nifty grab-release-grab sequences in order to "jump" from one surface to another. Getting this down will be key as you get farther in the game.

Each level is littered with floating islands. Some of them can be used as grabbing surfaces, while others are unstickable. The configuration of different surfaces will determine the difficulty of the level. Also, because Tupsu's eyeball has a very limited reach, you are forced to get creative in order to reach places high and far. Tupsu starts the game with a single eyeball, but as you progress, he gets more. As you can imagine, the multiple eyeballs enable you to propel Tupsu in more directions.

One nice feature is the Camera view. At any time during the game, you can hit the Camera view button to pause play and swipe around the level. Unfortunately, you can't pinch to zoom in and out the way you can with Angry Birds, but the swiping around is still helpful for larger, more-complex levels.

The first few levels of the game are quite easy and are meant to show you exactly what Tupsu is capable of and what his world has in store. After that, the game get surprisingly difficult, very quickly. Some levels have boxes that can be used as sticking surfaces, while others have blocks that reverse gravity. In Tupsu's world, there are a number of strange possibilities.

Tupsu's cutesy animation and silly-looking characters may draw you in, but its challenging levels and addicting gameplay should keep you coming back for more. Overall, this free puzzler is a worthwhile download.

8.5

Tupsu for Android

Score Breakdown

Setup 10Features 8Interface 8Performance 10