Ovivo Review

With platformer games making such a massive comeback, it can sometimes be hard to predict what the next Super Meatboy or Braid is going to be. OVIVO is an artistic puzzle-platformer that fits the question of whether video games can be considered art and should they try to be. It brings into question whether artistry should take over content and gameplay itself and can such a thing even be fun?

OVIVO has absolutely no storyline to speak of, the player is given control over a sphere that navigates a series of strange levels composed of black and white shapes. The little sphere’s only task is to navigate the variety of levels and collects little symbols that help tell a story, unfortunately the story doesn’t actually have a solid meaning, rather the player is left to interpret it for themselves.

Gameplay in OVIVO is fairly straightforward as you can not jump or move around very quickly, however you can switch between black and white planes on the map which essentially turns gravity upside down. You start out as a black orb that can move across white space and at the press of space bar you flip gravity upside down and can now move across black platforms instead of the white ones.

While most platforming games have standout objects you can jump on, OVIVO uses its artwork and environments to create its platforms so the art is the map. The level design itself is actually quite impressive, the graphics are simplistic but very clean. You’ll find yourself navigating through black and white vines, wolves, dragons, and mandala looking shapes. To go with the relaxing visuals, the soundtrack is just as calming in itself. Using chill beats and mellow tones helps to create a platforming world free of stress. While each element would not stand out on its own, together they create a very calming experience.

The game's lack of difficulty is one of its biggest shortcomings. While some levels left me a bit perplexed for a minute or so, I was never truly stumped which left me feeling a bit disappointed. The levels are actually fairly linear meaning that you won’t get lost, however it also means that there is little to no replayability. Due to the lack of difficulty, the game doesn’t take very long to complete, which for close to ten dollars doesn’t seem like a fair price when comparing it to the likes of Meatboy and other platformers.

While some people may be looking for a similar experience to Super Meatboy, full of stressful levels that require some serious reflexes and problem solving, OVIVO offers the exact opposite. It’s a relaxing experience that doesn’t really challenge the mind or reflexes, instead it's more like weaving your way through a maze of fantastic artwork. Overall the game has nice simple mechanics and some lovely visuals and audio, however it falls short when it comes to difficulty, replayability, and price.