Who needs a jump button if you can flip your own gravity? … Seriously.

In the 2D platformer "VVVVVV", you play as a space captain who is stranded in an unknown dimension and has to rescue his fellow crew members.

I can't decide what's more simplistic: the visuals or the gameplay. That being said, NEITHER of the two aspects comes across as underdeveloped. The colorful 8-bit visuals remind of a floaty LSD trip without ever feeling like eye cancer, and the character's smiley faces only add to that notion. The non-linear overworld design is very similar to #Hero Core. Full of mazes, life-threatening obstacles as well as an instant continue and infinite life system, "VVVVVV" is very arcade-y and— OMG IS THAT MUSIC AWESOME!

The only grudge I have are the controls. Landing the character feels a bit imprecise to me, as he's sliding hither and thither … but it's not a game-breaker.

I will not forget this game.

Another game that I don't think is good on a technical level. VVVVVV is one of those 2D platformers that is more about muscle memory and reflexes than it is about, well, pretty much everything else. The only thing that really makes it stick out within that sub-genre is that you can't actually jump in VVVVVV. Instead you change gravity to flip between the floor and the ceiling, which can make for some incredibly challenging (read: frustrating) segments. It wouldn't even get a 6.5/10 if it weren't for it's addicting nature. I've sunk 70 hours into a game that you can beat 100% in 20 minutes if you're skilled (which I have done, actually). Just let that sink in for a moment. On an somewhat unrelated note, VVVVVV has the best chiptune soundtrack in any game, period. Seriously, go listen to it. It's pretty much the best part of the game.

A stripped down and focused game which takes the main mechanic from the somewhat obscure NES game Metal Storm (removing the gun) and explores it further in a Metroid-like game world. VVVVVV's puzzle design is excellent overall and an optional extra challenge is provided through items put in hard to reach areas (though some are simply found by exploring the hub world). The visuals are distinct and charming, and the music quite memorable. Some things keep me from giving it a higher score, though. One being the fact that frustrating action segments are countered with extremely frequent checkpoints instead of proper (fair) redesign. Another is an empty and overly large hub world, and finally there's an escort sequence later on in the game which overstays its welcome.

I played the demo, I loved it. Then, I played the complete game, I disliked it. The main idea is good, but the level design is too frustrating. 1h30 of frustration (yes, according to Steam, I completed it in only 1h30)

Very clever and intuitive, with some funny dialogue and a fantastic soundtrack. My favourite part of this game is the quantity of content. The game itself is only 2 hours, and in this time it explores all the concepts introduced fantastically, never feeling like it dwells too long on any particular mechanic. Players can easily end their experience there, having played one of the best indie games ever made. But, there's so much more content for them there to try out - hidden collectibles, the secret lab, score challenge, time trials, no death mode - supplying hours more of awesomeness. My main criticisms of the game are a couple of odd difficulty spikes, and the aesthetic design occasionally looking empty.