While browsing previous editions of the Indie Nation feature (And spending half that time hovering over images to see what hidden messages Anthony left that week), there was really only one game which caught my eye that I hadn't played. I ended up downloading the 5 level demo of Love, and barely scraped through alive. Then I splashed out the extravagant price of 60p for the game, and away I went.

Let's get one thing out in the open; I really like this game. It's a fun timewasted that takes barely any time to learn but a long time to master. For those that haven't read Anthony's article about it, you have 100 lives to reach the end of 20 levels. It sounds like a simple task, but it would never be that easy. Virtually everything white in the game will kill you, although this is relaxed a little by unlimited save states.

Pretty much anywhere in a level you can drop a save state, and when you die, you'll end up where you last saved. Sometimes this can be a blessing, sometimes it can be torture. See if you're like me and don't think about where you're saving, you will lose unecessary lives. Putting a save state on the edge of a ledge, and then making it halfway through the level and dying is one thing. Holding the right/left key after you die and falling off where you saved before you realize what you've done, that's another. The game flows well because of this though, and you do have to think about where you save.

On the other hand, you can very easily spam save points to cheat through levels. Level 4 involves circular saws spinning through the level, and while learning the pattern is the most obvious option, saving every few steps you make incase you die just to make that little bit of progress ruins it slightly. Spamming gets almost mandatory on later levels, but for the most part, it just makes seemingly difficult parts of a level that much easier.

Overall I can't say I'm not happy with the purchase. It is very challenging later on, and even the game over screen after you beat all 20 levels critisizes you for losing so many lives. I shudder to think if anyone has made it through with all 100 lives in tact. Considering the game is a dollar, it's hardly splashing out on something huge. Plus it's fun to try and better how many lives you have by the end (Assuming you make it there, that is). At the very least try out the demo. If you are a fan of challenging platformers, you will likely enjoy Love.

Website
5 Level demo