Customer Reviews (500)

The Minsters • 2025-03-26T18:20:49-07:00

Puzzles are fun, but at some point it seems like they would let you get past certain levels you go on one level and you're stuck and it's getting to where I'm about ready to delete it. I know they're trying to make money, but you can't save up enough to get past the level if you're having trouble.

Ben Shuyler • 2025-03-26T11:39:58-07:00

Ampersand&

Sammy Bambino • 2025-03-25T22:10:38-07:00

Can you seriously create more new levels there’s no creativity at all with this game. Every other level is the same. I’m already at a level 100 and I have not seen nothing new. That’s one of the worst games I’ve ever seen.

Summary of Key Insights

Brick Out - Shoot the Ball is a generally well-received game with a classic arcade feel. Users appreciate its engaging gameplay, strategic elements, and the fact that it can be played offline. However, the overwhelming consensus is that the app suffers from excessive advertising, inaccurate aiming mechanics, and occasional freezing/glitches, which significantly detract from the overall user experience. Many users feel the game is designed to push them towards in-app purchases to overcome difficulty spikes and ad interruptions.

  • Overall Sentiment: Mixed. While many enjoy the core gameplay, frustration with ads and other issues tempers enthusiasm.
  • Key Strengths: Addictive gameplay, strategic elements, offline playability.
  • Key Weaknesses: Excessive ads, inaccurate aiming, freezing/glitches, perceived pay-to-win elements.
  • Overall Rating (estimated based on distribution): Approximately 4.0 stars (weighted average).
  • Score Distribution:
    • 5-star: 60%
    • 4-star: 15.2%
    • 3-star: 5.8%
    • 2-star: 7.4%
    • 1-star: 11.6%

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but assumed to be a recent snapshot of reviews given the version number.
  • Analysis Methods: Manual review and categorization of user comments to identify recurring themes, sentiment, and feature requests. Keyword extraction was used to pinpoint frequently mentioned issues.

Key User Pain Points

  • Excessive Advertising: This is the most prominent complaint. Users report ads after every level, long ad durations, and difficulty closing ads. Some ads are deemed inappropriate. The high frequency of ads significantly disrupts gameplay and leads to frustration.
  • Inaccurate Aiming: Many users report that the aiming line is inaccurate, causing shots to miss their intended targets. This makes the game feel less skill-based and more luck-based, especially at higher levels.
  • Freezing/Glitches: Several users experience the game freezing, particularly when using power-ups or nearing the end of a level. This leads to lost progress and frustration.
  • Pay-to-Win Elements: Some users feel that the game becomes increasingly difficult, requiring power-ups that are difficult to obtain without spending real money. This creates a perceived pay-to-win dynamic.
  • Bugs and Technical Issues: App not opening, sound issues, and the inability to restore purchases across multiple devices are mentioned.
  • Misleading Advertising: Some users downloaded the game based on ads that showed a different style of gameplay (rescuing people) and were disappointed that the actual game was a standard brick breaker.

Frequently Requested Features

  • More Accurate Aiming: Improving the aiming mechanics is a top priority.
  • Unlimited Mode: Some users requested the return of an unlimited mode.
  • Explanation of Power-Ups: Users want clear explanations of what each power-up does.
  • Saving/Rescuing People Gameplay: Users who saw ads featuring saving people wanted that gameplay to be included.
  • Game Controller Support: One user requested game controller support.
  • More New Levels Some users are experiencing repeat levels.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Addictive Gameplay: Many users find the game engaging and difficult to stop playing.
  • Strategic Elements: Users appreciate the strategic thinking required to clear levels.
  • Offline Playability: The ability to play offline is a significant advantage.
  • Relaxing/Mindless Entertainment: Some users find the game relaxing and a good way to unwind.
  • Good Graphics: Some users praise the graphics, describing them as retro or enjoyable.
  • Challenging Levels: Many users enjoy the challenging nature of the game, although this is often coupled with concerns about pay-to-win elements.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Reduce Ad Frequency and Length: Drastically reduce the number of ads displayed and shorten their duration. Consider offering a less intrusive ad experience, such as rewarded video ads that players can choose to watch for bonuses.
  • Improve Aiming Accuracy: Investigate and fix the inaccurate aiming mechanics. This is crucial for maintaining user engagement and preventing frustration.
  • Address Freezing/Glitches: Identify and resolve the freezing and glitching issues, particularly those occurring during power-up usage or near the end of levels. Thoroughly test updates before release.

Medium Priority:

  • Rebalance Difficulty Progression: Re-evaluate the difficulty curve to ensure it doesn't feel artificially inflated to encourage in-app purchases. Provide more opportunities to earn power-ups through gameplay.
  • Improve Ad Quality: Ensure that the ads displayed are appropriate for all audiences and that they function correctly (i.e., can be closed without issues).
  • Enhance Customer Support: Respond to user inquiries and address reported issues promptly.
  • Provide Clearer Power-Up Explanations: Add in-game tutorials or descriptions explaining the function of each power-up.

Low Priority:

  • Consider Adding "Save People" Gameplay: Explore the feasibility of adding the "save people" gameplay that was featured in some of the game's advertisements.
  • Explore Game Controller Support: Assess the demand for game controller support and consider adding it if there is sufficient interest.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Ad-Free Mobile Games Subscription Service: A subscription service that offers ad-free versions of popular mobile games, addressing the common complaint of excessive advertising.
  • AI-Powered Aiming Assistance: An SDK or tool that game developers can integrate into their games to provide AI-powered aiming assistance, ensuring accurate and intuitive aiming mechanics.
  • Mobile Game Testing and QA Service: A service that specializes in testing mobile games for bugs, glitches, and other issues, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable user experience.

Trends and Observations

  • Ad Complaints are Increasing: Many recent reviews focus heavily on the excessive number of ads, suggesting that this issue has become more prevalent over time.
  • "Pay-to-Win" Perception: A growing number of users feel that the game is designed to encourage in-app purchases, which could lead to negative reviews and user attrition.
  • Technical Issues Persist: Reports of freezing and glitching continue to surface, indicating that these issues have not been fully resolved.
  • Positive Feedback is Generic: Many 5-star reviews are short and lack specific details, suggesting that they may be less genuine or incentivized.

Conclusion

Brick Out - Shoot the Ball has the potential to be a highly successful mobile game, but it is currently being held back by excessive advertising, inaccurate aiming, and technical issues. Addressing these pain points should be the top priority for the development team. By reducing ad frequency, improving aiming accuracy, and resolving technical glitches, the developers can significantly enhance the user experience and improve the game's overall rating and retention. The perception of "pay-to-win" should also be addressed to ensure a fair and enjoyable experience for all players.

Overall Recommendation: The developers should prioritize addressing the negative feedback related to ads and gameplay mechanics to improve user satisfaction and retention.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/brick-out-shoot-the-ball/id1489900957?uo=2