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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.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…

…well, at least that’s what some might say. Today we have the latest product that falls into the category of ‘tricking the old folk into thinking they’re treating the young to something awesome’. “Oh I heard about these Nintari Wee Computers, our Bobby would love one of these. He is always playing those games on the Television”

At least once in our lives, we’ve been in that situation with a gift that had the best intentions behind it, something someone was so sure was the right gift for you. It’s the thought that counts. So why not prepare for that gift arriving this year?

What I am about to bring to light is the latest kids will have to endure this year, as the Grandparents with the best intentions treat them.

Wireless Game Console my play

A high street deal…

When the Nintendo Wii knock-offs first hit the scene, they were known as the Vii. A somewhat a blatant and slightly obvious attempt to cash in on the Wii craze that is sweeping the casual gaming nation. As much as we would point and laugh, they were somewhat a curiosity to our gaming world. Surely the games couldn’t be like the Wii games? Its only £20, it can’t be as responsive as a Wii remote? Surely?!
Luckily, YouTube’s favourite consumer product reviewer came to the rescue to reassure us that these were in fact just cheap imitations.

As time went on, the Vii was becoming more commonly seen online, a few hit eBay occasionally and a few more YouTube videos surfaced. But where were these coming from? It reminded me of the time the MegaJoy/SuperJoy Famiclone’s started popping up in Toy Shops around the country. All gamers knew they were pirate NES consoles, however they were selling rather well to non gamers wanting a cheap games system.

What does Nintendo think…

At first, I’m sure Nintendo didn’t really care. After all, the Vii was not readily available, nor would it even put a scratch into the Wii’s reputation, nor the tidy profit they were making (or should I say, still are).
But what’s your opinion now, Nintendo? After all, I can now walk into a shop in the centre of town and easily acquire a ‘Wireless Game Console’, for half the price of one of your triple A titles.
At least this is what I learnt walking through Leeds the other day. Passing the all famous ‘Home and Bargain’, a Nintendo’y product caught the corner of my eye, tempting me to go look.

Was I tempted to buy? Unfortunately not. If there were no videos on YouTube covering this little curiosity, I would have. So instead, you can make your mind up about these consoles (or similar ones), here, here and here.
And if you’re tempted to buy (and live near Leeds), you’ll the stash of goods here.

Okay, maybe I was tempted a little…

Why? Well, I am beginning to believe that this console might hold a Famiclone within. Or something similar at least.

Wireless Game Console my play Features

What might this 69 Classic Games Cartridge you offer hold? After all, there is a Classic Control pad included, might there be a NES hiding within? Or are there 69 new games specially created for this piece of hardware?
Only the manager of Leeds’s ‘Home and Bargain’ knows for sure.

Be sure to leave a message with your thoughts if you’re a (proud?) owner of one of these consoles.

A Dizzy History…

The Excellent Dizzy Collection was the last Dizzy game ever to see release. As the Oliver Twins left Codemasters in November 1993, the rights to Dizzy were owned by both parties meaning no further Dizzy games would be made from here on.

Within this bundle are 3 different Dizzy games. The main game included is ‘Dizzy The Adventurer’. This is an enhanced version of the original Dizzy adventure game, ‘Prince of the Yolkfolk’. The other two games bundled in are spins off from the main adventure series. ‘Go! Dizzy Go!’ being a Pac-Man style game and ‘Panic Dizzy’ being a Dizzy themed Puzzle game.

Prior to this release, Codemasters most recent failure ‘The Aladdin Deck Enhancer’ for the NES (US Only) had another 3 Dizzy games in development for it. The Oliver Twins didn’t want these games going to waste and began porting them over to the Sega Game Gear & Sega Master System as standalone titles. Codemasters didn’t feel too comfortable about them being released individually and made them squeeze as much as they could onto one cartridge, three games. They were all set to package up

‘Dizzy The Adventurer’, ‘Go! Dizzy Go!’ and ‘Wonderland Dizzy’, onto the cartridge however further problems arrived with Codemasters saying they didn’t want two Adventure games (Wonderland & Adventurer) on one compilation. Wonderland was replaced with Dizzy Panic.

The game was eventually released in November 1993, but only for the Sega Game Gear. The game only ever saw release in the UK and Australia, making it very desirable to Dizzy fans worldwide.

Rolling on…

Upon booting up The Excellent Dizzy Collection and getting beyond the usual Copyright screens, the first thing you notice on the title screen is the awful female digitized voice saying “The Excellent Dizzy Collection”. At the time of its release and given the hardware its on, its rather impressive but it hasn’t aged well at all. The main menu as you expect, sends you straight through to each game, also offering language selection for the main game too.

Dizzy The Adventure/Prince Of The Yolkfolk has often been referred to as the most accessible Dizzy Adventure game in the series. The main criticism of Dizzy games is usually regarding the vast array of screens to adventure through. At first this may not sound like a criticism, however taking into consideration how unforgiving Dizzy can be at times, the length of the game can become quite an obstacle. Undoubtedly, the most obvious struggle in Dizzy is controlling the jumps. With Dizzy being egg shaped, he is programed to act like an egg after jumping, by rolling uncontrollably. There are many times you find yourself cursing Dizzy for rolling into obstacles such as water, fire or enemies, due to his unlucky egg shape, making the game a real challenge at times.

To advance in Dizzy The Adventurer, you much collect items around the map and use them in their correct places to activate events. At the start of the game you find yourself stuck in a underground room with a locked door. As there are no keys around, you must find another way out. Inside this room lies some Matches, some Dry Grass and a Bucket of Water (How convenient!). Place the Grass by the door, set fire to it with the matches and put the fire out with the Water to advance. The puzzles at times are relatively straight forward at times, but the problem lies with transporting items from A to B.

Screenshots:

Excellent Dizzy Collection Gameplay Screenshots

Collectors information:

Final thoughts:

You can’t fault The Excellent Dizzy Collection; they’ve packed in three solid games for the Game Gear with great replay value. Although the game will make you tear your hair out at times, it’s fairly short and very accessible.

With the added history behind this game, its a great conversation piece for any Retro Gaming collection.

A fishy puzzle…

Magic Bubble is an unlicensed puzzle game for the Sega Megadrive/Genesis. It was made by a small Taiwanese company by the name of ‘C&E’ in 1993, the same company who made the well known NES game ‘Mermaids of Atlantis’ and the more recent release ‘Beggar Prince‘. This game could also be linked to the famous Bubble Bath Babes, for having identical gameplay, but Magic Bubble is definitely a much ‘cleaner version of this game‘.

Without a doubt, Magic Bubble is a 16-bit version of Mermaids of Atlantis (NES) with updated and new visuals. For those not familiar with Mermaids of Atlantis, Magic Bubble plays like a Puzzle Bobble/Tetris hybrid. As different bubble combinations are given to you and slowly pushed up the screen, its up to you to carefully align them. Match up at least four bubbles and they’ll pop, making way for the rest of the incoming bubbles. If your screen fills up with bubbles, with no room for anymore… Game Over!

What makes this game different from Tetris and other puzzle games, is the lack of lenience that it offers you when you make a mistake. As we all know, one mix up of blocks in Tetris leaves you with a gaping hole you have to work your way down to clear, no problem. Magic Bubble on the other hand has a much more sinister approach, it floods those empty spaces with clear bubbles. These new additions to your bubble area can only be cleared if adjacent bubbles are popped.
However, there is another solution… Similar to the memorable Streets Of Rage’s panic button (calling an assisted Police attack), the player can call upon one of the fish in the background to consume the clear bubbles a number of times.

Screenshots:

Magic Bubble Box, Instructions and Cartridge & Gameplay Screenshots

Collectors information:

Final thoughts:

Magic Bubble has its charms, a grumpy deformed fish greeting you when you pause the game, an unusual introduction that doesn’t flow too well with the fishy theme and some interesting digitised speech. But to a regular gamer, there isn’t enough gameplay to make it worth tracking down. Magic Bubble will remain as one of those retro rarities for the die hard collectors.

Further Reading: Magic Bubble on Guardiana.net

There is currently no ROM available for this game (so please dont ask for it).