140

I love games like this. Short but beautifully designed, with great sound and really impressive, minimalist graphics. As an oldie, who is useless at most games, I appreciate its gentle learning curve. Reminds me of some of the great 8-bit games from my youth, and I can't offer greater praise than that.

This is the *best* rhythmic platformer I have ever played. The music and level design are married beautifully. Checkpoints are spaced just right. It is very short, but what is there is done *so well* that it is more than worth the low price. I want a sequel, darn it!

Platformers that focus on music have to get the music just right and this one absolutely does. There is enough musical variety to stay interesting within single levels and throughout the game. The tunes integrate themselves into the platforming very well. There were a few frustrating moments when I wished the game was just a bit more forgiving of errors but it never felt unfair to lose. The only thing I really didn't like was having to shut down during a boss fight only to come back to discover I had to play through the whole level again. In a game this short, it didn't matter much but I would have preferred to be able to continue from checkpoints. Once you beat the first four levels, four more levels are unlocked. These levels are mirrored copies of the main levels that don't contain any checkpoints. Good for those who want to extend the game time and are up for a challenge. Well worth a try, especially on sale.

This is my third time purchasing 140. I got this one in a Humble bundle back in the day; what a find it was! I ended up purchasing it on Steam, and now, finally, here on GoG. (The Humble version was DRM-free, but was not up-to-date, including the added fourth level.) Well, what can I say? Genre terms like "rhythm game" or "platformer" ill-suit 140. It is both, but somehow neither term, nor their combination, quite capture what 140 is or does. In most rhythm games, you feel like you're playing along on your keyboard, or controller, to the background music. In 140, you inhabit the music. Each level feels like a music track that you get to explore. You progress at your pace, through a gauntlet of platforming hazards, each corresponding to a different musical sound or idea. As you pass through one, you hear a new one, its complex rhythm ominously lurking in the background, waiting for its chance to emerge. The music will loop and adapt to where the player is in the level, rather than pressing onwards unperturbed. Essentially, rather than play along with the music, you dodge it. The rhythm outlines a ruthless schedule of shifting walls, crushing blocks, moving platforms, catapults, and even gravity reversal. The rhythmically-challenged will find themselves crushed underfoot as the level callously follows rhythm's brisk itinerary. Even the level backgrounds will bop along to the beat. 140's minimalist visuals and sparse (though rich) techno soundtrack give the game an atmosphere of oppressive indifference. If you want to exist in its world, you'll have to move to its rhythms, or not at all. All that said, the game is short, even for its tiny price tag. I've played this game many, many times. Now, it's like listening to a music album, but one with more interaction. But, I know that this is not everyone's jam. If you don't like rhythm gameplay, then this won't change your mind. If you do, I wholeheartedly recommend 140 (watch out: the boss fights are catchy!).

140 is a slick game offering an exceptional auditory experience. Its gameplay is impressively simple. The 'normal' levels offer an accessible and brisk adventure in rhythmic timing, and the 'reverse' levels offer a difficult set of trials that lack any checkpoints. While I found the final reverse level to be a bit drawn-out, the entire playthrough was inspiring. The music of 140 is outstanding. Each time the player advances to the next 'stage' within a level, there is a short transition sequence that emphasizes a new level mechanic added to the game. These transitions, especially for the first several encounters, are genuinely euphoric and are very memorable. The 'boss' music is also superb, with a couple of tracks vividly reminding me of nightclubs I have visited. This game remains a great case study on the base principles of platform level design, as well as audio design. I recommend 140 to literally anyone.