VVVVVV

The Short


Pros
- Simple in concept platformer involving switching the direction of gravity
- Puzzles/platforming range from very simple to extremely difficult
- Metroid-esque map system and non-linear gameplay
- Presented in a charming, 8-bit style
- Music is incredible

Cons
- Only about two to three hours long
- Part of the game where you "escort" a crew member is extremely frustrating
- Getting all the collectibles can be a near-impossible task
- Movement is a bit slippery; it takes some getting used to

Get ready to VVVVVV. Whatever that means. 

The Long

Something I love about indie games is the fact that they don't have to be massive. Where games like Castlevania: Lords of Shadow pad their gameplay in attempts to add "value," indie games can focus on a single mechanic and then make a short but well crafted game around it (like Braid, or from a professional standpoint Portal). VVVVVV is the perfect example of this. Using a simple mechanic paired with difficult, NES style gameplay, it delivers a short but sweet experience. And at $5 on Steam (or $7 on the 3DS e-shop) it shouldn't be missed.

Each area has a unique mechanic, not unlike Braid

VVVVVV's gameplay is extremely simple. The only control you have is to "flip" your character, reversing gravity and sending them flying up or down until they hit a stable ledge. You can't stop them from flipping until they are on a solid platform (so no flipping in mid-air), but you can direct their falling/flying direction. From that basic concept comes one of the hardest platformers you'll ever experience. The game starts easy and quickly gets difficult, every area employing a unique strategy that mixes up what you are doing. And just when you think you are about done with it, the game ends.

This is not an easy game. 

Puzzles and rooms are clever, with checkpoints being given extremely liberally to prevent frustration. I'm reminded a lot of Super Meat Boy in that regard: it isn't trying to punish you for failing, rather it wants you to pick yourself back up and try over and over. I was stuck in some rooms for upwards of 5-10 minutes until finally beating them, and there's one trinket I'm certain I'll never get.

Controls can take a bit getting used to. Your character moves a bit like he's on ice, sliding a little more than he should with his momentum. It can be difficult at first, but after a few rooms you'll get the hang of it. Considering every room was designed around this control scheme, it never feels unfair, but it is different from other platformers so you'll need to keep that in mind. 

This game is surprisingly big. 

You explore the world via a Metroid style grid/map system, with each area their own "dungeon." While the exploration is nice, it only really serves as a means to the next area. You can also tackle any area in any order, with the game sometimes forcing you into a hidden level after beating a world (or on the last world). Since you never get any power-ups or upgrades, the entire game is beatable from the start, so it really boils do to either which one you find first or which one you pick to do first.

Despite the tight controls and excellent level design, there are a few down points. One "bonus" area requires you to escort another character. When you are on the floor he'll run blindly towards your position, and on the ceiling he'll stop. Unfortunately, having to gauge the momentum of your teammate can be tricky, and if either of you die it's back to the checkpoint. This is probably the single most frustrating part in the entire game, and the one I do not look forward to when replaying (while I love the rest of the game). 

The game is also very short, which might turn a few people off, but it's also only $5 and feels the right length for not adding any new mechanics. It also has tons of bonus levels to attempt (most of which are harder than the main game), so content-wise you are still getting a decent chunk for your cash.

This game has some great music. Bonus that it's also on Rock Band!

Graphics look good, employing a retro-esque 8-bit style. It's simple but all fits together nicely, with rooms being different colors to show progression. The music is a real stand-out, with almost every track being a mix of retro-sounds with a modern beat to it. They sound fantastic, and some areas I wanted to stay in longer just because the music was so excellent. 

This room isn't as bad as it looks. 

For $5 on Steam, you really can't go wrong. I've heard the 3DS e-shop version (at $7) is actually a little better because the game plays better on a controller than a keyboard, but I can't attest to it as I don't have a 3DS. As it stands, if you have any affinity for difficult-yet-fair platformers or just like old-school NES platformers, VVVVVV is a must buy. There's a demo for it on Steam but...come on. It's $5. This game is really something excellent.

Five out of five stars. 

Plus, you know. The soundtrack is so good.