Ibb & Obb Review

Ibb & Obb is an obscure title for a game and fittingly, it's also an obscure game in and of itself. Admittedly, the 2D platformer puzzler is far from a new concept, but small indie developers Sparpweed (in conjunction with Codeglue) have managed to create something brilliantly original. Ibb & Obb is a tough game with a lot of innovative ideas that's built for co-op.

So yes, this is a 2D platformer, the like of which you've seen a thousand times. The key difference here is that you've essentially got two consistently opposite platforms to work with, each with their own opposing gravitational pulls. The two platforms are joined throughout the game; one is your standard collection of jumps, enemies and points, the other is the same, only upside down. The only way to access the lower section (and subsequently the upper section) is through cleverly placed portals. The key element to this is that there are always two player characters, the wonderfully named Ibb & Obb, and it's through their connection with the world that the game comes alive.

The only way to pass any of the puzzles found in the 21 levels is through pre-planned teamwork. Each time a problem is presented, Ibb & Obb must both play crucial roles in solving it. It's this sense of necessary co-operation that makes Ibb & Obb so engrossing. With a mate next to you, or failing that on the net with a headset, it's a truly encapsulating experience that'll have you planning, failing and laughing throughout. At times, particularly later in the game, the difficulty can get a touch towards the annoying end of the scale, but it never becomes overwhelming (except perhaps in the few hidden levels). A mostly excellent checkpoint system also prevents true annoyance, and like all the best puzzle titles it's hugely satisfying to crack a big problem.

Another element that Sparpweed have nailed is the sense of development. Each puzzle presents a new challenge while still relying on concepts and mechanics learned from previous puzzles. New mechanics are added throughout the game and are always interesting and inventive. Some really neat ideas make puzzles a joy to play; being able to trampoline your teammate from the opposite platform is a fun early toy. Bubbles that gracefully carry you over obstacles are another pleasing addition. By the end of the game there are a veritable bounty of gizmos incorporated into the levels, stiffening the difficulty but also developing that great sense of achievement.

The mechanics are excellent and highly original while maintaining a sense of familiarity that'll keep platforming fans invested. But that's not the only appeal of Ibb & Obb. The game has a vibrant, stimulating and generally friendly art style that ensures you'll never become too frustrated with the trickier levels. The two opposing platforms are coloured differently so you never lose track of which one is which and the overall level design is fantastic. Every little detail is well drawn and the scenery looks great in motion. It's simple stuff, no doubt, but the soft cartoon art direction only adds to the feel of the game and takes Ibb & Obb beyond standard platforming from the very start. In many ways, the visuals are reminiscent of thatgamecompany continuing the tradition of visually stimulating indie titles on PS3.

On top of this, Ibb & Obb is a wonderfully smooth game that doesn't waste your time with unnecessary menus or confusing details, focusing instead on an enjoyable experience. To start a level from the selection screen you can simply run to the right of the screen to begin from where you left off, death is actually an often amusing experience as everything on screen explodes into little colourful pieces, and you can use the right stick to draw a flowery line on the screen. It's often pointless, but it's just a neat little detail that develops this cute feeling.

The one important thing you should know about Ibb & Obb, however, is the fact that playing the game alone is practically impossible. Single player requires the individual to control both Ibb & Obb at the same time with the analogue sticks. It's doable in the early stages of the game, but by the time you need to move Ibb & Obb in completely different directions at the same time, it becomes desperately difficult. Even the developers have shown a small sign of admittance at the severe difficulty of the single player campaign; the reward for completing it is a trophy titled Brain Damage. In some ways it feels like a sneaky attempt to not develop appropriate AI for the game, but in reality there's no real reason Ibb & Obb actually needs single player. It's a co-op game built for two players, the single player is just a bonus for those who like a challenge.

Ibb & Obb is a excellent display of original thinking from a tight knit team of skilled developers and artists. It is a brilliantly presented and very well-formed and structured game that pushes the player's brains. It requires good cooperation and fair amount of patience, but it's all rewarded with satisfying puzzles. What's more, the visual and audio design is on point and only adds to the well-rounded feel of the whole experience. Ultimately, it's only as good as the relationship you have with your fellow player, but it's the way it feeds off that same relationship that Ibb & Obb works on so many levels.