VVVVVV

It's true that the central mechanic of VVVVVV (V^6) isn't new to video games. What makes V^6 special is how throughly the mechanic is explored through Terry's fantastic level design. If you've played his previous game Don't Look Back, then you will already be familiar with his fiendish obsession with challenge. Many points throughout the game I found myself cursing his name for expecting me to land Captain Viridian on a platform 5 pixels wide surrounded by spikes on all sides multiple times in succession. Thankfully, Terry provided plentiful save points to make the repeated suicides seem a learning process rather than pure frustration. 
 
Beyond the cruel platforming puzzles, there are also twenty shiny trinkets to find and collect. They can be found in tough to reach places in the levels and in the over-world that connects them. You don't even have to be looking for a challenge to enjoy the game, either! There is an optional invincibility mode available from the start that caters to players purely interested in exploring the wonderfully pixelated world. 
 
There is something to be said for the lack of scrolling in the game. With very few exceptions, the game is made up of individual rooms, each the size of the screen. Additionally, each room has a title displayed at the bottom of the screen to either provide a hint or taunt the player as they die on rows of spikes. These titles are occasionally used in clever ways to provide longer messages as the player progresses from one room to another. 
 
Terry has employed Magnus Pålsson to provide music for the game which really sets the mood. His clever chiptune melodies still play through my head hours after finishing the game. Luckily for all of us, Magnus is selling his tunes as a downloadable soundtrack album to V^6. 
 
My suggestion to you: go play the demo on Kongregate. You'll know whether this game is for you. If you like the demo I can tell you that the full game is definitely worth its asking price and you are likely to also enjoy Spelunky and La-Mulana.