VVVVVV Message Board

A portion of an ONM review...

It is one of the best games on the 3DS eShop, then, but those who have already played the PC original may baulk at the price, especially considering the 3D adds nothing.

Full review here

A portion of a Eurogamer review...

While not flashy, long, or for the faint of heart, those with an affinity for old-school difficulty and newfangled mollycoddling checkpoints will find Cavanagh's tribute to the past could teach its high-definition contemporaries a thing or two.

Full review here

Increpare, the devilish mind behind English Country Tune and other mind-twisters, has released MMMMMM, a free spike-laden tribute/alternate take/sequel to Terry Cavanagh’s VVVVVV. It’s a puzzle game about trinket collection and spike avoidance, with success being reliant on forward thinking and, of course, gravity manipulation. I was playing for about thirty seconds before diagonal surfaces were introduced and after five minutes I’d become intimate with more spikes than there are atoms in the universe. Sometimes the rules of a game create a sort of synthesis with my mental workings; in this case the two were at war and I was caught in the middle, hoist by Increpare’s pixel petard. Everyone go and beat it then tell me how rubbish I am.

Terry Cavanagh, indie-game maniac behind VVVVVV, Chat Chat and At a Distance, has started a new website with a title to make an SOE enthusiast blush: Free Indie Games. Guess what it offers? Free indie games, as chosen by Cavanagh based on their newness, goodness, freeness, indieness and gameness.

Currently, Free Indie Games "highly recommends" Wither, Game Title: Lost Levels and Dys4ia, but recent titles we find intriguing include Nausea and Socially Awkward Conversationalist. But they're all free, so really, every single one is quite intriguing to begin with.

We hope you weren't planning on getting anything done for the rest of your entire life, because every waking moment of productivity you had in your future will be consumed by Hexagon, a browser-based twitch game by Terry Cavanagh of VVVVVV fame.

You control a small triangle that orbits the hexagon in the middle of the screen. Various shapes and line segments fall toward the hexagon, and it's your job to avoid them in a frantic-yet-calculated, reverse Tempest-style gauntlet of adrenaline and frustration. You must last predetermined amounts of time in order to advance to the next level, at which point the game speeds up and the incoming shapes increase in complexity. The whole experience is set to a phenomenal chiptune track courtesy of Chipzel; it feels like we should be playing it in that rollerblade techno club from Hackers.

The game was created yesterday morning for Pirate Kart V, a two-day event in which hundreds of programmers around the world attempt and create as many games as humanly possible in the short span of 48 hours. It's a wonderful example of game design in its purest form, and we challenge all of you to beat our best time of 35:23 at Level 4.

ChatChat would be an entirely sensible game if not for the second half of its one-sentence description. We were totally on board through "ChatChat is a game about being a cat," but we threw up our hands in incredulity at "and talking to other cats." We'll be a cat, sure, but a talking cat? Too far, Terry Cavanagh. Too far.

Cavanagh is the (mad)man behind VVVVVV and At a Distance, and ChatChat (we assume pronounced "Chat cat," with the second "h" as a soft "whipped" sound) is one of a few smaller projects he's working on this year. It involves running around various forests, "mush rooms," alleyways and secret areas, and figuring out the ways you can interact with the environment and other cats. Yes, you can talk to the other cats in your room, but you can also meow, purr, screech and turn into a dog to play tag with your cat friends.

You can play ChatChat on Kongregate right now and learn why cats seem to find it so amusing to lurk around abandoned alleyways, kill mice and, as the game's instructions suggest, "be a cat."

From the Negative World review:

Another thing I love about this game is this sort of intangible feeling of rebellion against certain standards of the video game industry. This exists in a lot of indie games, although it seems to me like many indie developers are moving more towards trying to meet those standards to make their games more marketable. But VVVVVV feels almost... punk rock? This often comes out in the design, for instance, enemies that are just the word “LIES” that fly across the screen, or a random bus that comes out of nowhere, or a secret room that has a big elephant for reasons I could never quite figure out. And did I mention that every screen has its own name? It's little details like this that I love, and some of these names are things that you would never see in a mainstream video game.

Check out the full review at the source link.

Source: Negative World

A portion of a Game Informer review...

I wouldn’t tell anyone to drop everything and download VVVVVV this instant, but gamers with a taste for indie fare or who value creative ideas over a smooth, high-budget experience should have a great time with it.

Full review here

Note: this is footage of the PC version

Editor's note: Yes, I realize this has been out for a couple weeks already now, but these impressions were from a couple weeks before that; the hectic holidays made coordinating a publishing date with RMC a bit tricky. Bottom line: read below, and then check this game out. --cort

Not too long ago, one of those guilt-trip indie game bundles came along that piqued my interest (as they always do). Unfortunately I passed on it at the time because I frankly don't have enough time for games when I'm at a computer. As it turns out, vvvvvv was either one of the featured titles, or one of the bonus games tossed in free for customers spending a "fair" amount. Honestly, at the time, V6 (as I'll call it) was one of the most appealing parts of that bundle, though it alone couldn't outweigh my logic for passing on the bundle.

Pity that, because it turns out that the game is even better than I had ever expected. Its main idea is something of an explorative platformer, not unlike the original Metroid, though instead of weaponry, you control the direction of gravity either up or down. In fact, that's what every single button (aside from the directional pads) on the 3DS is mapped to do, so for a guy like me with ten ring-fingers, that makes the controls a cinch to use, yet mastering them takes quite a bit of practice.

V6 is in many ways a thorough test of one's virtues, patience, if I had to pick just one. It very effectively throws as many hazards at you as you can imagine, and then some. Often, any miscalculation or slip of the finger will result in merciless death; though the lack of graphical resolution limits any emotional reaction on the players part. I actually found myself carelessly tossing this rag doll of pixels around simply because there was so little to lose if I failed; when (not if) you die, you instantly respawn from the nearest of many, many checkpoints. Some seemingly easy obstacles found me pouring dozens of lives into conquering (i.e. the "purpley bit at 1:20 in the trailer above), but I not once felt cheated or annoyed. This game is about as evil as they come for difficulty, but it's the very best kind of evil man can craft and still be entertainment.

The presentation isn't much, but that is entirely intentional. Described as a kind of homage to the Commodore 64 era (my era), you rarely see more than a couple colors on screen at any given time, and they're usually arranged in clumps of coarse pixels or simple patterns. This simplicity not only adds to the charm factor, but aids in acutely focusing your attention, and trust me, you will need as much focus as you do reflexes. Surprisingly, despite the throwback style, the 3D effect looks amazing with its crisp lines and layering of planes. We're not talking SM3DL depth here, but a very basic yet attractive effect that neither adds nor subtracts from the gameplay, but definitely adds to the overall experience.

I had a blast with this game, and can't wait to giggle at the ridiculous number of lives I exhaust while attempting the most innocuous of tasks, and thanks to Nicalis helping bring this to the eShop, I can hopefully do so very soon. —cortjezter

A portion of a Eurogamer review...

... VVVVVV provides more moment to moment pleasure in its scant two or three hour campaign than most games do at four times the length. While not flashy, long, or for the faint of heart, those with an affinity for old-school difficulty and newfangled mollycoddling checkpoints will find Cavanagh's tribute to the past could teach its high-definition contemporaries a thing or two.

Full review here

A portion of a Modojo review...

What's Hot: Commodore 64 style graphics, catchy music, tough gravity switching gameplay, bonus levels.

What's Not: $7.99 asking price, no level editor, disappointing 3D effects.

Full review here

A portion of a Nintendo Life review...

VVVVVV might not have the usual visual flash we've come to expect from games in recent years, but that doesn't mean it's not every bit as much fun to play.

Full review here

A portion of a Joystiq review...

Though the specifics of the nostalgia element elude me (not being a C64 person), the style of gameplay is absolutely perfect for me: a series of self-contained platforming challenges that require both dexterity and forethought. Oh, and lots and lots of patience with repeated failure.

Full review here

A portion of a Dtoid review...

For now, I can say that this is the best looking, most portable, contact-packed initial download of VVVVVV available today. Both fans of the original game, and those new to the world of this frown flipping, gravity ripping space explorer would do well to check it out.

Full review here

If you are playing VVVVVV today, make sure you don't turn on Flip Mode. If you enable the option, you're only going to get a pair of black screens. Both screens will remain black, but you can hear the game music playing in the background. Looks like a bug that'll have to be fixed via patch. Thanks to Corbie for the heads up!

A portion of an NWR review...

VVVVVV is a spectacular game, and while the 3DS version is a little pricier compared to other available options, it’s well worth it if you’ve never played the game before or want it on the go.

Full review here

#nintendo The Nintendo Download ends the year on a high note with the release of Terry Cavanagh 's indie darling VVVVVV on the 3DS eShop, adding a 3D twist to the game's already twisted gravity platforming. More »

Two games hit the eShop today, and they both seem worthwhile! Terry Cavanagh's devious puzzle platformer, VVVVVV, is now playable on the go, courtesy of Nicalis. Bionic Commando is also made portable, courtesy of ... the Game Boy version Capcom made years ago.

On DSiWare you can get Cake Ninja, though you'd probably hate yourself for buying such an outright Fruit Ninja clone. Get it only if you're lacking a conscience, much like its developers.

Carrie Gouskos has been following Giant Bomb for nearly 23 years. When she's not disagreeing with Jeff's opinion on just about everything, she's working as a producer at BioWare Mythic on the upcoming free-to-play title Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes. She's also recently taken up crocheting during video game cutscenes, and has made to date, one very uneven scarf.

Honorable Mentions

As a game developer, looking after live games in particular, it sometimes takes more than a year to get to the games I want to play. So it's usually about halfway through the next year, I find myself regretting not to have added one title or another to my previous year's Top 10 list. Which is why I want to give an honorable mention to VVVVVV, which would have made my list if I'd actually played it in 2010.

Another Honorable Mention goes to Star Wars: The Old Republic, which I can't in good conscience slot in my Top 10, given that it's made by a number of extremely talented people at my employer. That being said, I can't neglect to mention what a tremendous achievement it is and how proud I am of the team that made it.

10. Gears of War 3

Gears 3 doesn't take any huge steps forward - but in a year jam packed full of sequels to games that did (and then failed to live up to those standards) - Gears is a great example of how not to break a winning formula.

9. Burnout CRASH!

It's the best thing about Burnout plus the best thing about a slot machine plus 10 second clips of the world's catchiest 80's and 90's jingles. There were plenty of other games coming out around the same time... but I just couldn't stop playing Burnout Crash. Doc-doc-doc-doc-doctor beat!

8. To The Moon

Gameplay is not the reason to play To the Moon, in fact, it often feels like a barebones device to push you through the story. But oh man what a story...

Is it me or is it a little misty in here?

7. Battlefield 3

I'm sort of horrified to have Battlefield on this list and not Call of Duty. I have long been a CoD player and never gotten into any of the Battlefield games. But this year's Battlefield is a tour de force - not only does it have all the elements that make it uniquely Battlefield (vehicles, destructible environments, giant maps), but it may have just one-upped The Duty as the game in which I like to be called a newb by 15-year-old boys the most.

6. Dungeon Raid

The only reason Dungeon Raid is not in the top three is that I believe it technically came out late in 2010. But Dungeon Raid feels like a 2011 game, as suddenly, after some critical patches in the beginning of this year, everybody was playing it. And not only is it one of the best games of 2011 (or 2010), but it's probably one of the best games ever released on the iOS. Never has there been so much legitimate gameplay in a Match 3 before.

5. Bastion

Despite having a particular affinity for the crew at SuperGiant Games - I don't feel any display of bias including Bastion on this list. It has wonderful story, art, music, and gameplay. And where many indie games get "forgiven" to fall short in one or more of those departments - Bastion raises the bar in all of them. Not only do the "little guys" have a new standard, but so do the big guys too.

4. Catherine

One of the best things about Atlus's games is how daring they are. Catherine may not be the best testament to healthy relationships - but it certainly is the most interesting combination of story driven morality choices, puzzle solving, and sheep nightmares. This is not a game you've ever played before, or ever will again - and while that might feel like a shame, it's a big part of what makes it so wonderful.

3. Batman: Arkham City

Arkham Asylum was nearly perfect, so it was hard to imagine how Arkham City was going to meet those expectations. In order to do it, however, they gave us what we didn't realize we wanted - the ability to freely roam through Gotham City. Sure, there are more Batman villains, and more Waynetech upgrades, but most of all - you're able to glide as Batman all over Gotham City. Videogame fantasy wish fulfillment at its finest.

2. Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

No game this year had a higher bar to meet than Uncharted 3. And while there were times where it felt like it was meeting that bar in spite of itself (the combat felt particularly frustrating this time around), you still find yourself on this incredible and epic journey that is unmistakenly Uncharted. From the moments of riveting, breath-catching wonder, to the beautiful character interaction and storytelling - Uncharted 3 is wonderful as both a game and an experience.

1. Portal 2

It's hard to imagine a game adding to and then improving upon the original Portal, but Portal 2 does it. In particular, it shines in the co-operative gameplay mode, as nuanced as the single-player in its humor and charm - and one of the finest co-operative gameplay experiences there is. Partners in science!

#bowlin Alright gang, here we go with another wild download code giveaway over Twitter, and this one is extra super special because the codes are for a game that is not even available yet. More »

#humbleindiebundle The new Humble Indie Bundle is terrific. For a price of your own choosing, you can get indie gems Super Meat Boy, Bit. Trip Runner, Jamestown, Shank and Nightsky, as well as Cave Story + and Gratuitous Space Battles for paying more than the average selling price. More »

There's "value" and then there's "you're insane if you don't purchase this." The latest Humble Indie Bundle falls into the latter and is easily the best bundle yet. That's right, we said it.

Humble Indie Bundle 4 has added five new games to its lineup -- a selection of titles from Humble Indie Bundle 3, to be exact. If you pay more than the average now (or already purchased the bundle) you can snag Crayon Physics Deluxe, Cogs, VVVVVVV, And Yet It Moves and Hammerfight on the house. And you know how the fine bundle folks sweetened the deal by adding free soundtracks last week? Yup, you'll also get the soundtracks to these five latest additions.

Agree with us now? Yeah, we thought so.

Nintendo dropped its Q1 lineup on us this morning, offering highlights like the inexplicably GameStop-exclusive Circle Pad Pro and the best news of the year. But there's a lot more in the lineup than those two items -- for example, we now have a specific release date for Masahiro Sakurai's 3DS Kid Icarus: Uprising: March 23.

On the 3DS eShop, Nicalis's ports of indie hits VVVVVV and NightSky are scheduled for eShop sometime in Q1, as is WayForward's Mighty Switch Force, a port of Zen Pinball, and Mutant Mudds. Nintendo will bring Kirby's Block Ball to the Virtual Console in the quarter as well.

Mario Party 9 will launch on Wii March 11, preceded on February 27 by PokePark 2: Wonders Beyond. The only listed WiiWare title is, again, from Nicalis: La-Mulana sometime in the quarter. The DS lineup is ... light, with only the February release of Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 really worth mentioning. But you can see the full list of announced releases on all three platforms, after the break.