VVVVVV (Game)

VVVVVV

GAME » on January 11, 2010

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Retro 2D puzzle platformer in which players, rather than jumping, invert their own gravity to cover gaps and avoid obstacles.

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Overview

VVVVVV (pronounced "vee vee vee vee vee vee") is an indie 2D puzzle-platformer developed and published by distractionware (Company) for the PC (Platform) and Mac (Platform) on January 10, 2010.

The game is deliberately retro, using simplistic graphics and chiptune audio (both reminiscent of old Commodore 64 (Platform) games). Players control Captain Viridian, leader of the D.S.S. Souleye, who has the ability to invert his personal gravity while on the ground or ceiling (at the cost of not being able to jump). As the spaceship becomes affected by interference from another dimension, the crew escapes through a teleporter in the ship, only to be scattered randomly around the ship. It's up to Viridian to explore the dimension (in a nonlinear fashion) and rescue each of his crew members. (Doctor Violet, Doctor Victoria, Officer Vermilion, Professor Vitellary, and Chief Verdigris).

The original game was developed in Adobe Flash and was distributed (with a Flash projector application) through [http:/thelettervsixtim.es the developer's website]. A trial version of this version was made playable online (via Kongregate) and offline (from the developer's website). The game was later ported into native C++, released as version 2.0 (alongside a level editor) for the PC, Mac, and Linux (Platform) on July 2011 (coinciding with Humble Indie Bundle 3). This version was later distributed to various digital distribution services (such as Steam (Concept), GamersGate (Concept), and Impulse (Concept)). Later ports include the Nintendo 3DS (Platform) (published by Nicalis for the eShop on December 29, 2011), the Ouya (Platform) (on June 11, 2014), most iOS and Android (Platform) devices (on June 12, 2014), and both the PlayStation 4 (Platform) and PlayStation Vita (Platform) (both published by Nicalis via PlayStation Network (Concept) on August 25, 2015). The game's bonus mini-game, Super Gravitron, was also released separately as a free download for iOS and Android devices (at the same time as their main releases).

Gameplay

All six members of the D.S.S. Souleye.

In VVVVVV, the player only has access to three distinct buttons: move left, move right, and flip (which inverses the player's personal gravity). There are (standard in most platformers) present. In order for the player to progress through the game, he must complete puzzles by moving around and using the flip button at the right time while avoiding obstacles (primarily spikes). The game's increasing difficulty, made slightly easier by numerous checkpoints scattered around the levels, remains a consistent challenge, but never to the level of the deliberately unfair games in the so-called "masocore" sub-genre.

The game includes several main areas, four of which can be accessed in any order. These main areas are separated by vast space, which must be explored in a Metroidvania style. (Though teleporters scattered around the dimension can make progression faster) The cameras in most screens are static, only changing when the player enters a new area from any direction. This can increase difficulty, as the player leaps blindly into another screen, only to get hit by spikes. (As an example, a screen titled "What Lies Below?" is above a screen titled "Spikes Do!")

Extras and Unlocks

While the player progresses through the game, he encounters special "shiny trinkets" (20 in all), which can be collected to unlock music and game modes. Game modes can also be unlocked by completing the game or doing well in other game modes.

Time Trials (Concept) Mode (unlocked by progressing through the game and finding trinkets) - Players start at the beginning of the chosen level and must beat the level as fast as they can while collecting trinkets and trying not to die. The player is judged based on the following: they beat the level's par time, if they collect all the level's trinkets, and if they didn't die. Failing all objectives earns a B-rank, completing one objective earns an A-rank, completing two objectives in one run earns a S-rank, and completing all three objectives in one run earns a V-rank.

Space Station 1 (rescue Violet and find 3 trinkets)
The Laboratory (rescue Victoria and find 6 trinkets)
The Tower (rescue Vermilion and find 9 trinkets)
Space Station 2 (rescue Vitellary and find 12 trinkets)
The Warp Zone (rescue Verdigris and find 15 trinkets)
The Final Level (complete the game and find 18 trinkets)

Intermission Mode (unlocked by completing both intermission levels) - Play through the two intermission levels (when the player finds the first and third crew member) with any of the characters.
No Death Mode (unlocked by achieving a S-rank or above in four of the six time trial levels) - Go through the entire game (with or without cutscenes) with no checkpoints. One death means game over.
Flip Mode (unlocked by completing the game) - Enabling this option flips the dimension vertically, making it feel like a brand new dimension! Can be enabled alongside the other extra game modes.
Ship Jukebox (unlocked by finding trinkets) - Find trinkets to unlock music to play at the ship.

Secret Lab

After collecting all trinkets and then talking to Victoria, a humorous cutscene plays. The trinket room is blown apart and, in place of the trinkets, a huge teleporter stands in the middle of the room leading to a secret laboratory. (Which can be accessed through the mode selection menu). Inside is a trophy room (that shows off the player's achievements) and Super Gravitron, a special mini-game similar to the one found in the second intermission level (only endless and much more difficult).

There are 19 trophies to collect, including beating the game with Flip Mode or No Death Mode enabled, clearing the game under a certain number of deaths, surviving a certain amount of time in Super Gravitron, and earning V-ranks on each time trial levels.

Soundtracks

PPPPPP Cover Art

Released in January 2010, the VVVVVV soundtrack, entitled PPPPPP, was composed by Magnus "SoulEye" Pålsson. The quasi-retro soundtrack is a mix of fast and slower tempo melodic chiptunes to accompany the game's pacing. All but one track included in PPPPPP start with the letter "P".

In mid-2011 "Pressure Cooker" and "Positive Force" were made available for download for the Rock Band Network.

Track #	Song Title	Duration
1.	"Powerup"	0:03
2.	"Presenting VVVVVV"	2:40
3.	"Pause"	0:08
4.	"Pushing Onwards"	3:40
5.	"Path Complete"	0:09
6.	"Passion for Exploring"	2:52
7.	"Positive Force"	2:49
8.	"Predestined Fate"	2:18
9.	"Phear"	0:17
10.	"Potential for Anything"	3:43
11.	"Pressure Cooker"	3:27
12.	"Plenary (Game Complete Jingle)"	0:22
13.	"Pipe Dream"	2:22
14.	"Popular Potpourri"	6:09
15.	"Positive Force Reversed"	2:49
16.	"Waiting for VVVVVV"	0:56

Remixed soundtrack

On March 2011 [http:/www.souleye.se SoulEye] released a Remixed version of VVVVVV soundtrack called: PPPPPPowerup!

System Requirements

PC

Minimum

OS: Windows XP
Processor: 2 GHz
Memory: 256MB
Graphics: Direct X9.0c Compatible Card
DirectX®: DirectX® 9.0c
Hard Drive: 42MB
Sound: Standard audio

Mac

Minimum

OS: OS X version Leopard 10.5.8, Snow Leopard 10.6.3, or later
Processor: Intel Mac 2 GHz
Memory: 256MB
Hard Drive: 42MB
Sound: Standard audio

Linux

OS: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Processor: 2 GHz
Memory: 256MB
Graphics:
Hard Drive: 42MB
Sound: Standard audio

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