In an homage to classic platform games, developer Pasta Games and publisher Sanuk Games have teamed up to bring Pix'n Love Rush to the PlayStation Store as a PSP/PS3 compatible Mini. Retailing for a mere $2.50 (and previously released for free for PlayStation Plus members,) Pix'n Love Rush is a fast-paced platformer in the classic sense. Like the games it pays respect to, this Mini does a good job of taking a simple gameplay design element and turning it into a creative game that is quite addicting despite its simplicity. In my honest opinion, I think that is one of the most impressive forms of game design. Though I was really curious to see how this popular iOS game would fare with a physical controller.
Playing as a pixelated character who is trying to earn enough money to buy some cake, players get the chance to try their hand at three fun and challenging game types, which all utilize very classic platforming gameplay tropes throughout 125 unique levels. These game types include:
- Classic Rush: This is the first game type, which can be played with a five minute limit or in unlimited rush mode - the difference being that unlimited ends when your health runs out and not at a predetermined time. Your task is simple, requiring you to move along through each random level (of varying unique design,) trying to collect as many plus symbols as possible. Each one you earn adds to your score and your potential multiplier (which can be activated at intervals of 2, 5 and 10.) Pink bats and minus signs are also spread throughout the levels - reducing your score, eliminating your multiplier and/or taking your life force if you touch them (though bats can be shot with projectiles that can also damage you if you're not careful.) Yellow angels also appear and can be jumped through - just be careful not to hit them with projectiles or you'll lose points. It's a very simple design, but it's extremely fun and addicting.
- Cursed Rush: Taking a cue from some of the popular iPhone games which see you playing as a character who is in a rush, this mode makes you try to stay above-ground for as long as possible. Only the jump button is required as your character runs from left to right, attempting to land on a myriad of platforms of varying sizes and types (some will crumble if you're on them for too long.) If you fall, it's game over and your score is judged based on the length of the level that you have covered. It's challenging, but you feel like you've done a good job if you make it far, especially on the hardest difficulties. The comical difficulty lists starts at hard and ends at harderest, with varying degrees of hard in-between. This means that, as you up the difficulty, the platforms become less stable and much smaller.
- On-Off Rush: In this day/night cycled mode, you're tasked with picking up the correct icons at the right time of day. Instead of having plus/minus icons, Puzzle Rush features sun and mood icons that you must pick up. Each stage starts at daytime and you get a chance to pick up as many suns as you can as you rush from right to left. Once you hit the wall on the other side, it toggles to nighttime where you must avoid the suns and try to collect the moon icons. It sounds easy, but it can get pretty challenging. The basic version of this game mode only gives you one chance at both daytime and nighttime before it progresses to the next level, whereas the secondary mode doesn't change levels until you've collected everything, but adds a timer to the mix.
Only two buttons and a joystick are used throughout the experience (one for each required task: jumping, shooting and moving,) making it very easy to just jump into without a tutorial or any previous gaming experience. What impressed me the most about this basic control scheme was how well it worked. The game requires precision jumping (especially during Cursed Rush mode) and the controls allow for that. When I fell, I knew it was something I did wrong, as opposed to the game not being as intuitive as it needed to be. This really reminded me of the precision required in the Super Mario Bros. games, which is good company for a game to be linked to. The shooting mechanic takes a little while to get used to, but it also works well. You just need to make sure to watch out for falling projectiles because you're not invincible against your own ammunition.
In keeping with the retro gameplay, Pasta Games decided to create a very retro-inspired aesthetic for the game. Every inch of its presentation screams retro gaming, which I liked. Every level, character and icon in the game is made up of visible pixels, with skins that alter based on your multiplier. For example, a times two multiplier will change the background skin to a haunted house, whereas the times five multiplier will change the design to black and white (in some ways resembling the look of a Game 'n Watch system.) A times ten multiplier is the best of all because it makes it look like you're playing on a green radar screen in an air traffic control office, or within an on-going game of Battleship. There are a total of seven different visual skins. This isn't to mention the fact that each game type has its own unique visual aesthetic, in keeping with the same pixelated theme. I played it on the PS3 and was blown away by how great it looked on a larger screen in high-definition. Colour me impressed.
One of the things that retro games are most revered for are their 'chip tunes' soundtracks. Fans of those simplistic yet incredible musical scores will love the music in Pix'n Love Rush, as it follows the same style. Its sound design is great, featuring interesting music (that didn't get annoying,) which ramps its tempo up based on your multiplier, since hitting one enemy or minus sign will take it away from you. I was especially impressed with the classical music chip tunes rendition that accompanies the times ten multiplier and its visual overlay. The audio alterations feel like a reward, as I thought that the music improved when I did well. Wanting to hear the great music that accompanied high multipliers made me want to do better.
Overall, Pix'n Love Rush is an excellent game that does a great job of paying homage to classic platforming games. It's a very simple, but well-designed and engaging experience, which can easily become addicting. I had high expectations going into the game and I must say that my expectations were exceeded by its quality, charm and fun. The only negative is that it doesn't seem to feature online leaderboard stat tracking on PSN. For two dollars and fifty cents, you really cannot go wrong. Even though your attempts at each mode will only last up to several minutes each (if you're lucky,) it's a game that will keep you coming back for more. I highly recommend this game to any fans of retro gaming, classic platformers and/or good video games. It's a game that pays homage to classic gaming, that has become a classic in my eyes.
Rating: 9/10
Pix'n Love Rush is now available on the PlayStation Network Store, for both the PS3 and PSP. It costs two dollars and fifty cents. This game is also available on Apple's iOS operating system.
