Review | VVVVVV

Format: PC | Genre: Puzzle/platformer | Publisher: Distractionware | Developer: Distractionware | Release date: 11/01/10 | RRP: £9

VVVVVV is instantly charming. Everything about its presentation and premise is simple, harking back to the nostalgic times of the Commodore 64 era with absolute reverence. This is a game that looks, sounds and, mostly, plays exactly like a retro title from back in the 80s – but it also shines with contemporary design to give it relevance and flare. It certainly proves that hi-tech graphics engines aren’t everything.

Those old enough to remember the games of yore on the Commodore will no doubt smile on seeing VVVVVV’s opening. With horizontal, flickering colours surrounding a pale blue loading screen, the nostalgia is instant and warming, putting you in just the right state of mind to experience this challenging and unique game.

WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE
It’s a puzzle platformer that feels like a step back in time, sporting the most basic 2D visuals consisting of crude geometric shapes to represent characters and enemies. But it’s also hugely accessible, the colours and shapes are by no means off putting and instead add to the charm the retro form exudes. The score also adds to the charm – the retro styling is present but still sounds rich and engaging, contributing to its unlikely, stylish atmosphere.

Driving the experience is a superficial narrative about a ship crashing and her crew becoming separated to different sections within multiple dimensions. It’s a simple premise with the occasional hint of something more complex – such as the occasional log found on a monitor that adds some additional information – but ultimately, a lot remains unexplained. All it really does is set the scene for your main goal of finding the missing crew members – of which there are five, not including yourself – so your ship can be repaired and can take off. This consists of traversing the large play area and overcoming the obstacles impeding your search, with your only weapon against these obstacles being the ability to flip gravity, allowing you to either walk upside down or upright. The focus is spot-on, though, because in VVVVVV it’s all about the platforming.

DIGITAL ARCHITECTURE
The design stands out due to its quality and quirks. Each section, which represents a different dimension, has its own set of obstacles to defeat, from dodging vertical moving enemies – often represented by clever plays on words, such as “yes men” being men with the word “yes” instead of a face – to spikes both static and moving. More unique puzzles involve careful navigation of lines that, when touched, cause the gravity to flip automatically, making for fast-paced and challenging mazes.

VVVVVV also has a wonderful habit of shaking things up with the obstacles and their design. Just when you feel things are getting predictable, everything changes, keeping you on your toes and never failing to up the ante when it comes to challenge. The cleverly designed platforming puzzles often look impassable, especially later on in the game. But with perseverance, all can be defeated with minimum frustration, with thoughtfully placed checkpoints meaning there’s never much ground to retread.

And at heart, despite the frequently astonishing difficulty, VVVVVV is a fun and rewarding game. The rewards consist of a multitude of additional game modes. Completing the main story and collecting the 20 trinkets spread out through it unlocks the time trail modes, intermission, flip mode, no death mode, and the secret lab, most of which allow you to replay section of the main game as a separate level and the others adding extra challenge. The secret lab level acts more like a hub, allowing you to speak to the rescued crew members, view trophies for completing game modes, and to play the super gravitron mini-game again, a section of the main game that may prove to be one of the hardest 60 seconds of your life. They all combine to keep VVVVVV accessible despite its difficulty level, allowing you to replay specific areas you enjoyed if playing through the main game again doesn’t take your fancy just yet.

VVVVVV offers something fresh wrapped up in retro dressing. The charmingly basic premise and complex design work together to form a game that stands up for substance over fancy presentation, and the quality of the puzzle-platforming speaks for itself. By Greg Giddens

8/10

What does this score mean?

VVVVVV is available for purchase from its website. It’s also worth mentioning that foolish editor Lewis managed to input the wrong score originally. 8/10 is the actual, amended mark.