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"[GAME] VVVVVV"

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This thread has been linked to the game 'VVVVVV'.
Sat 12/05/12 at 16:31
Regular
Posts: 15,681
>30 years ago, Sinclair and Commodore both sought to bring the arcade to our homes with affordable value. This led to 8-bit gaming (similar in power to the NES and Master System…er….sortof) with interchangeable media in the form of cassettes. These contained program data that would become, after anything from 3 minutes to 30 minutes of stripey colours on your screen, a fully playable computer game. VVVVVV pays homage to these games in more ways than you can think, whilst providing an authentic gaming experience that, whilst crisper and smoother than most Commodore and ZX Spectrum games, you can really imagine playing this on one of those systems.<

>So what’s it about? You play as space-faring Captain Veridian. Your ship has had an accident and your crew have been teleported to strange and unusual places. It is up to you, as Captain Veridian, to locate your crew and get them back to the ship so that it may be repaired.<

>The gameplay area involves travelling from screen to screen, either left, right up or down. You can’t fly or jump but you do have the power to invert gravity at a press of a button. So down is up and up is, well down. In certain screens you will encounter teleporters which will both save your game and allow you to switch to any previous teleporter that you have encountered for quick navigation.<

>This sounds simple enough, and as a concept it is brilliant! So where is the challenge? Well that’s where the name of the game comes in. VVVVVV isn’t representing roman numerals, nor is it a play on words, but is simply a row of spikes that are deadly to the touch. These are the reason you will be swearing at your 3DS like a wailing banshee or a Cardiff City fan after plans to have their colours and emblem changed. As you can’t jump over these, you need to plan your routes very carefully as you negotiate the screens in your search. One mistimed tap of a direction or a misfire of the gravitational invertor and your’s likely to get your head or groin punctured by a V. <

>Thankfully, this doesn’t mean game over. Unlike traditional games, VVVVVV has an unlimited life system which lets you respawn at the last continuation point you encountered on your travels. These are simply pods with a letter (C) in them, which are highlighted as you touch them. Losing a life does get recorded though and will set you a score to beat if you replay VVVVVV.<

>Completing the game isn’t the end for Captain Veridian though. There is a series of challenges included in the 3DS version for you to play and extend your spikey experience. It’s more of the same, but it is a brilliant experience and well worth attempting.<

>Graphically, this looks like it wouldn’t be out of place on a thirty year old system. It does use the 3D, but it doesn’t feel like its been used just for the sake of using it and the subtlety of its use makes for visual enhancement rather than visual impairment. It’s this mix of old and new which makes this a unique visual experience. It’s got a great retro soundtrack too.<

>This is a simple yet challenging game that brings gaming back to its roots magnificently. Easy to control yet difficult to master. Certainly a frustration generator but an amazingly satisfying journey to play through.<

>9/10<
There have been no replies to this thread yet.
Sat 12/05/12 at 16:31
Regular
Posts: 15,681
>30 years ago, Sinclair and Commodore both sought to bring the arcade to our homes with affordable value. This led to 8-bit gaming (similar in power to the NES and Master System…er….sortof) with interchangeable media in the form of cassettes. These contained program data that would become, after anything from 3 minutes to 30 minutes of stripey colours on your screen, a fully playable computer game. VVVVVV pays homage to these games in more ways than you can think, whilst providing an authentic gaming experience that, whilst crisper and smoother than most Commodore and ZX Spectrum games, you can really imagine playing this on one of those systems.<

>So what’s it about? You play as space-faring Captain Veridian. Your ship has had an accident and your crew have been teleported to strange and unusual places. It is up to you, as Captain Veridian, to locate your crew and get them back to the ship so that it may be repaired.<

>The gameplay area involves travelling from screen to screen, either left, right up or down. You can’t fly or jump but you do have the power to invert gravity at a press of a button. So down is up and up is, well down. In certain screens you will encounter teleporters which will both save your game and allow you to switch to any previous teleporter that you have encountered for quick navigation.<

>This sounds simple enough, and as a concept it is brilliant! So where is the challenge? Well that’s where the name of the game comes in. VVVVVV isn’t representing roman numerals, nor is it a play on words, but is simply a row of spikes that are deadly to the touch. These are the reason you will be swearing at your 3DS like a wailing banshee or a Cardiff City fan after plans to have their colours and emblem changed. As you can’t jump over these, you need to plan your routes very carefully as you negotiate the screens in your search. One mistimed tap of a direction or a misfire of the gravitational invertor and your’s likely to get your head or groin punctured by a V. <

>Thankfully, this doesn’t mean game over. Unlike traditional games, VVVVVV has an unlimited life system which lets you respawn at the last continuation point you encountered on your travels. These are simply pods with a letter (C) in them, which are highlighted as you touch them. Losing a life does get recorded though and will set you a score to beat if you replay VVVVVV.<

>Completing the game isn’t the end for Captain Veridian though. There is a series of challenges included in the 3DS version for you to play and extend your spikey experience. It’s more of the same, but it is a brilliant experience and well worth attempting.<

>Graphically, this looks like it wouldn’t be out of place on a thirty year old system. It does use the 3D, but it doesn’t feel like its been used just for the sake of using it and the subtlety of its use makes for visual enhancement rather than visual impairment. It’s this mix of old and new which makes this a unique visual experience. It’s got a great retro soundtrack too.<

>This is a simple yet challenging game that brings gaming back to its roots magnificently. Easy to control yet difficult to master. Certainly a frustration generator but an amazingly satisfying journey to play through.<

>9/10<

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