VVVVVV

This game is everything I wanted. It has a graphical style very similar to BBC Micro and Acorn Electron games of days gone by but with increased speed an responsiveness that you could not achieve on those old systems. The game is all about fast moving platforming spread over many static screens and requires split second timing to advance past many of the screens. The main game mechanic of switching gravity rather than jumping is highly original and creates many thoughtful puzzles to overcome. Overall the game is not huge but it is challenging enough to take some time to complete in its entirety. If you have a special place in your heart for Acorn computers in particular do not hesitiate to try this game.

The thing that originally stopped me from trying VVVVVV was the fear, that it's going to be stupidly hard to the point of not being fun. It really isn't, and if that's the thing that stopped you from playing the game before - you can safely buy it, because it's forgiving enough to make the game non-frustrating, but challenging enough to make the game fun. The entire concept with using just the directional buttons and the "flip" button, which "flips" gravity is used in so many imaginative ways in this game, you'd sometimes forget that you're using just one action button. But that simplicity is what makes this game work and be so fun. With the difficulty levels being available for thos who want more challenge. Game also features an unforgivable soundtrack, which seems to be sadly missing from GOG release, but should absolutely be bought seperately, your ears will thank you for that.

I died 879 times. But I won! Prepare for the spaceship meat grinder of your life! Reverse gravity to jump on a spaceship where everything kills you: walls, ghosts, spikes. But not the psychedelic elephant. With infinite lives, and only a split second before you restart after each death, you'll have the time of your life (lives?) trying to save the crew. VVVVVV is old school action at its best: tantalizing, hard, colorful, simple, quirky, and FUN. The chiptune puts it over the top.

I will wholeheartedly admit I am not a fan of this storm of cartoony platformers coming from indie developers. Just as I was getting ready to scream "Uncle!" and "Enough already!" this one comes along. It is both wildly original and retro at the same time. The graphics really make this look like the Colecovision (very old console) port of an arcade game that was hugely popular in an alternate reality version of Earth. The level design and the gravity twist are innovative despite this having graphics more out of 1986 than 2013 (which, in this game, is not meant to be a criticism.) Again, I admit I am one of those who has been cringing at the string of cartoony platformers, but if more are like this, I will stop cringing. At this price, it's literally a steal.

This is a great game in a VERY unassuming package. Don't judge it by it's looks. And don't be turned off by the fact that this is a platformer where you can't jump. It takes some getting used to, but it's really a fantastic mechanic and Terry Cavanagh has milked it for every ounce of fun and challenge.