Flippin’ hell…
It’s not often we see many games released today that beat you to the ground every time you play them. Since the days of the Playstation 1 memory card, we have been given save points after every breath we take, removing the challenges from games bit by bit.
Although it is a fantastic and deserving feature at times (especially in RPGs), it’s also graced so many games where it’s not required, really making the challenges pointless. I guess it spans back to the arcades, where that extra bit of play required another credit, games today are left on freeplay. VVVVVV however is another story, hopefully this VVVVVV review will explain…
Keyboard breaker…
Released earlier today by Terry Cavanagh (aka distractionware) , VVVVVV is ready to shake up modern gamers into what retro gamers more commonly refer to as ‘controller breakers’. Ask any of them if they broke a control pad in their time and you can guarantee a story will follow (no doubt with Battletoads on the NES included somewhere in the story).
VVVVVV is a platforming game with a twist. Naturally a quick press of an action button, you’d expect a jump into return however the games protagonist is then sent up to the ceiling in a gravity shift and vice-versa with the next press. Within seconds of the first level you are presented with a challenge to overcome which naturally explains the controls of the game. A pit of spikes with a ceiling above, easy, switch upside down and walk on the safe roof, then flip back. Shortly after you’re introduced to another nice feature, a strip of pixels which shifts gravity the opposite way. Think of it as a gravity trampoline. So far so good! Cakewalk…
Then comes the rest of the game, the part where you will smash keyboards and gamepads while screaming at that tiny pixel that stood in your way. But don’t get me wrong, this is a good thing. Cavanagh has managed to create a game so interestingly hard that you keep coming back for more beatings from it. With every perfectly timed movement, gravity switch and bounce from gravity switches comes a great feeling of accomplishment, something which is really lacking in today’s games.
VVVVVV Gameplay
Luckily there are some continue points within the game, but not like the ones mentioned earlier. This time round you’re really on your own until you reach safe ground which is a lot easier said than done. Some continue points can be reached with a few precise movements, where others require multiple screens to be passed in a well timed manner.
Maybe the description above talking about patience, frustration, broken keyboards and being beaten up by a game doesn’t sound very appealing. But this is one of those games you really need to experience to understand why it’s worthy of such praise.
On a similar note, you might be familiar with other indie games such as ‘I Wanna Be The Guy‘ where brutality = addictive gameplay, VVVVVV definitely falls into this category.
A lot of the sparkle VVVVVV has to offer, comes down to the challenge we haven’t had in a long time. The levels are so perfectly designed with many secrets hiding behind tiny gaps and without a doubt it has one of the best gaming soundtracks I’ve heard in a long time. (Magnus Pålsson aka Souleye is the mastermind behind the tunes).
And as for the visuals, any pixelphile like myself will tell you that the simplicity and style of Cavanagh’s artwork is spot on. It holds such a crisp nostalgic feel, reminding us of those days curved over the ZX Spectrum.
So to wrap this up, all I have to say is buy this game! It’s ready for download at the cheap price of £9 ($15) and worth every penny. And if we don’t support the indies, we don’t get treated to games as enjoyable as this one.
Where to get VVVVVV
Here is the link to buy the game:
http://thelettervsixtim.es/
But if you’re still not convinced, go play the Flash demo here and see what you are missing:
http://www.kongregate.com/games/TerryCavanagh/vvvvvv-demo
UPDATE
After spending the most enjoyable, yet painful, 3 hours of my life, I can now proudly join the club of gamers who have beaten VVVVVV. With all twenty trinkets (VVVVVV collectables) aquired, I’m feeling rather proud.
Cavanagh really needs to be given an award for the most fiendish level design in years. I won’t spoil it for you readers, but lets say further into his devilish course, there are a few trinkets that require patience of steel and thinking outside the box.
So, how do I rate the game after completing it?
Graphics: Stylish simplicity with vibrant colours. Cavanagh knows what works well, a lovely pallet of bright colours that dont over complicate what’s on screen.
Sound: As mentioned, the soundtrack is brilliant. A great selection of chiptunes that will get you very nostalgic.
EDIT: SoulEye’s masterpiece of chiptunes can be bought here for the tiny price of $4 (http://souleye.madtracker.net/)
Gameplay: Devilishly addictive. If you have the patience and can appreciate the well thought out levels, then you’ll get on with VVVVVV very well.
Summary
Well, you could argue that 3 hours is short… But I’d argue against you saying that the length of a game is irrelevant.
The puzzles and level design within this game are nothing short of genious. After 5 minutes of gameplay, you will have fallen in love with gaming again at the expence of your hair. VVVVVV is a breath of fresh air and the gaming experience alot of us have desired in a long time.