VVVVVV Review
VVVVVV has a simple and elegant structure. You play as Captain Viridian (the adorable little sprite depicted below), captain of a spaceship that is transported through an alternate dimension. In doing so, the crew is separated, and your job is to locate and rescue the other five members of the crew. Each character’s name begins with the letter V, of course.
The game has an open-world structure conducive to exploration. In fact, VVVVVV has a Metroid vibe, as you explore and chart a large map. The dual screens work well, since the bottom screen constantly reveals your map, updating in real time as you explore your surroundings.
I especially enjoyed navigating the unique location since it wasn’t too large (a problem that plagued the Metroid: Prime series, in my opinion). You know the other crew members are hidden somewhere on the map, and color-coded clues point you in the right direction.
VVVVVV revolve around the idea of inverted gravity. You cannot jump in this game. Instead, you press a button (any of the face buttons work, in fact) and your character will float to the opposite side of the level. What starts as a simple gimmick is quickly realized in some truly ingenious puzzles. The developers slowly crank up the difficult, so as not to overwhelm.
But on the notion of difficulty, know this going in: this is one challenging game. I died just under one thousand times (yes, one thousand) in the two-and-a-half hours it took me to complete the game. But that’s the main appeal of VVVVVV. The developers generously provide checkpoints, and it’s often a manner of just getting to that next platform without hitting a spike. Doing so may take thirty or forty tries, but once you pass the checkpoint you never have to worry about doing it again. You just take a breath and move on.
This structure makes VVVVVV one addicting game. It’s hard to stop playing, and you’ll constantly tell yourself, ‘one more checkpoint.’ And when you finally find a missing crew member, it feels like you’ve run a marathon to get there. The fast reloads are especially important to the game’s low frustration/high difficulty balance. Unlike Mario games where you have to reload the level and see your life count, VVVVVV simply makes your sprite reappear instantly so that you can try again.
After beating the game - a truly enjoyable experience - there are several unlockable modes that work to extend replay value, including new levels and additional ways to play the original game.
I should also mention VVVVVV’s distinct art style. The subtle 3D effect is nice and the old-school neon colors and catchy classic music complete an already great game. A few of the tunes will likely remain stuck in your head after you close the system.
VVVVVV is a unique and wonderful experience on the 3DS, and it comes with my full recommendation. If you’ve already played this one, please share your thoughts in the comments.
-MP