VVVVVV might be off-putting for some. Weird title? Check. Chiptune music? Check. 8-bit graphics? Double check. But those who dismiss it simply for its graphics or title will be missing out on one of the greatest platformers of this generation.
VVVVVV has a simple premise: You play as Captain Vermillion, and set out to find the rest of your crew, whose names also all start with the letter V. How this is accomplished; however, is where the game works its magic. The entire game revolves around a gravity shifting mechanic. No jumping, climbing, dashing, or much anything besides walking and shifting gravity for our blue-colored hero. This makes the game fun, but also difficult, sometimes fiendishly so.
In one section of the game, in order to retrieve one of twenty collectible trinkets, you must flip gravity, make your way through rooms with names such as “Veni”, “Vidi”, “Vici” and best of all, “Your bitter tears...delicious”, before landing on a platform at the top. You have to flip gravity quickly again before the platform collapses, and every room you pass through is lined with plenty of spikes, so there’s no room for error. Also, if you land on the wrong side of the wall at the bottom, you have to do it all over again! I succeeded to do this once, I have tried this room over one hundred times, and have not succeeded to obtain the trinket to this day. Fortunately, that section is optional, and is by far the hardest part of the game.
The rest of the game is difficult, but not too much so. You will be required to flip gravity while on moving platforms, collapsing platforms, past spikes and enemies and even moving words, but with practice, you should be able to finish the entire game in 4 or so hours, although the game can be completed in fewer than 15 minutes. The entire entire experience can be trippy at times, with well-titled rooms giving hints or hilarity. There are no puzzles, no doors, no treasure chests to be opened. The game focuses on the basics, and does them all well.
Also, the twenty collectible trinkets to find will be well worth your while. Some require you to go a good bit out of your way, but most are well within reaching distance. If you manage to collect enough of them, you will be treated to various choices of music at your home base.
What is a game without its music? Fortunately, this department is well covered, with some of the best chiptune music I have ever heard in a videogame, or outside of one. Although I am a musician, describing music is not my forte. But what I can say is that this music never grated on me, but kept me entertained throughout my entire experience. And I am not one to listen to chiptune music often.
The graphics are beautiful, but minimalistic. The 8-bit designs are good-looking enough to keep you invested in the game, and your character has a constant smile that is only broken by death, so try not to die (but you will). Nothing is particularly noteworthy, but nothing needs to be. The gameplay is the main focus of the game, and the graphics serve their purpose just fine.
But one of the main reasons the game is worth the money is the level editor/additional content. VVVVVV features a level editor, and also features extra levels built in, including one by Notch of Minecraft fame. They are diverse in their difficulty and function, and serve to pad this already incredible game with more content.
Pros:
Brilliant Level Design
Unique, well-implemented mechanic
Wonderful chiptune music
Level editor/levels by pros
Only $5
Difficult
Cons:
Very short
Difficult
Presentation: 10/10
Graphics: 7.5/10
Sound: 10/10
Gameplay: 10/10
Lasting Appeal: 9/10
Score: 9.5 VVVVVV might be off-putting for some. Weird title? Check. Chiptune music? Check. 8-bit graphics? Double check. But those who dismiss it simply for its graphics or title will be missing out on one of the greatest platformers of this generation.
VVVVVV has a simple premise: You play as Captain Vermillion, and set out to find the rest of your crew, whose names also all start with the letter V. How this is accomplished; however, is where the game works its magic. The entire game revolves around a gravity shifting mechanic. No jumping, climbing, dashing, or much anything besides walking and shifting gravity for our blue-colored hero. This makes the game fun, but also difficult, sometimes fiendishly so.
In one section of the game, in order to retrieve one of twenty collectible trinkets, you must flip gravity, make your way through rooms with names such as “Veni”, “Vidi”, “Vici” and best of all, “Your bitter tears...delicious”, before landing on a platform at the top. You have to flip gravity quickly again before the platform collapses, and every room you pass through is lined with plenty of spikes, so there’s no room for error. Also, if you land on the wrong side of the wall at the bottom, you have to do it all over again! I succeeded to do this once, I have tried this room over one hundred times, and have not succeeded to obtain the trinket to this day. Fortunately, that section is optional, and is by far the hardest part of the game.
The rest of the game is difficult, but not too much so. You will be required to flip gravity while on moving platforms, collapsing platforms, past spikes and enemies and even moving words, but with practice, you should be able to finish the entire game in 4 or so hours, although the game can be completed in fewer than 15 minutes. The entire entire experience can be trippy at times, with well-titled rooms giving hints or hilarity. There are no puzzles, no doors, no treasure chests to be opened. The game focuses on the basics, and does them all well.
Also, the twenty collectible trinkets to find will be well worth your while. Some require you to go a good bit out of your way, but most are well within reaching distance. If you manage to collect enough of them, you will be treated to various choices of music at your home base.
What is a game without its music? Fortunately, this department is well covered, with some of the best chiptune music I have ever heard in a videogame, or outside of one. Although I am a musician, describing music is not my forte. But what I can say is that this music never grated on me, but kept me entertained throughout my entire experience. And I am not one to listen to chiptune music often.
The graphics are beautiful, but minimalistic. The 8-bit designs are good-looking enough to keep you invested in the game, and your character has a constant smile that is only broken by death, so try not to die (but you will). Nothing is particularly noteworthy, but nothing needs to be. The gameplay is the main focus of the game, and the graphics serve their purpose just fine.
But one of the main reasons the game is worth the money is the level editor/additional content. VVVVVV features a level editor, and also features extra levels built in, including one by Notch of Minecraft fame. They are diverse in their difficulty and function, and serve to pad this already incredible game with more content.
Pros:
Brilliant Level Design
Unique, well-implemented mechanic
Wonderful chiptune music
Level editor/levels by pros
Only $5
Difficult
Cons:
Very short
Difficult
Presentation: 10/10
Graphics: 7.5/10
Sound: 10/10
Gameplay: 10/10
Lasting Appeal: 9/10
Score: 9.5 |
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