Overview – developed and published by independent developer Jaklub, Vividlope is an arcade style puzzle game all about coloring tiles and avoiding enemies. As one of three anthropomorphic and cute characters, go on a wild adventure to clear all the stages and escape the Vividscape. This title is available on Steam and Nintendo Switch, with a link to each version of the game available at the bottom of this review.
Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank the representative who provided the copy of Vividlope for this piece, via the Keymailer service. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.
Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. The story for Vividlope is a mix of surreal comedy and abstract humor, so I will be skipping that segment and going straight into covering the gameplay.
Gameplay – Vividlope is an arcade style puzzle action title, where the objective of each stage is to change the tiles that make up the level to the target color. This is done by simply walking over them, which will change their color when contact is made. Each of the stages has a target percentage to hit, which will vary for each of the stages. This game loop is reminiscent of older games like the arcade game Amidar and the PC-Engine/Game Gear title Skweek, with a look that is straight from the Dreamcast era.
The game itself has two main game modes, with the Story and Endless mode which are selectable from the main menu. Story mode consists of a collection of worlds for players to challenge, each with their own set of stages. At the start of the mode, the player will be shown a story cutscene, being sent to the hub world shortly after. While in the hub world, the player can interact with characters that appear and enter the different worlds called levels.
When the player starts a level, they will be greeted with a surreal cutscene for the character they have chosen. Then players are given a target number of stages to clear before they can progress. There is a non-linear approach to this, letting players chose to challenge stages in any order they want. When enough stages have been cleared, the player can move onto the next level. But if players want to, they can go for maximum completion of the world.
The core gameplay loop is to color the stage by walking over tiles, avoiding hazards, enemies and collecting bonus fruits. As the player makes their way through the stage, enemies and items will spawn into the stage. These enemies will wander around and attempt to attack the player if they notice them, dealing damage if contact is made. There is a chance for time to slow down for a split second, allowing players a brief window to dodge the enemy.
Players aren’t defenseless when they are trying to clear tiles, as they can jump over enemies and hazards, but they can also collect weapons that appear. When these items are collected, players will be given a limited number of uses, giving them more options for fighting enemies and coloring tiles. The items include a hammer and balloons that splash ink when they are used, adding more of a strategic style of play to the game.
As soon as the target percentage is hit, players will enter the bonus phase. During this time, the player can attempt to clear the remaining spaces and reach 100%. During this bonus phase, the player will lose energy if they make contact with spaces that have already been colored, with the bonus ending when it runs out. However, if the player can clear all of the remaining spaces, they will keep all of their remaining energy for a bonus.
After the stage has been cleared, players will earn ranks, with the lowest possible ranking being E and the highest being S+ on the Normal difficulty and V on Hard. There is no failure rating that can be reached with the only way to stall progress being death. This means that players of any skill level have a chance to make it through the story mode. If the player wishes to, they will be able to replay any of the stages, trying to go for the maximum ranking.
Players will also earn gems by clearing stages, which can be used in the shop by talking to the vendor. These items include items that can help the player during stages, including weapons, extra lives and power boosts. Then players are able to get attires, allowing players to change the look of their character, giving them different colors that they can equip. this gives players more flexibility and is a nice touch, letting players earn something for their play.
There are three playable characters in this release, with each of them having their own unique strengths and weaknesses. Here is a brief breakdown of the characters that can be used in Vividlope;
- Cerise – The cute bunny with the beret is the most balanced of the three characters, offering players a high level of power, while providing the ability to with stand one hit before death. The best character for new players
- Ecru – The companion of Cerise who wears a paper sailor hat and is more difficult to use. They have the ability to move faster for each uncolored space they touch, but the speed will be lost when touching other spaces and they cannot take a hit like Cerise.
- Miss Noir – Exclusive to this release, the fire fox Miss Noir who is likely the easiest character for players to use. While she doesn’t have the abilities of the others, Miss Noir has the ability to throw fire at the cost of power and item uses, changing tile color by rolling flames.
Alongside the main story mode is the Endless mode, which pits players into a survival style challenge. Clear as many stages as possible and get the highest score possible, with the best score being added to a local leaderboard. The stages will increase in difficulty the further a player progresses, introducing more challenging enemies, tile patterns and hazards for players to overcome. When all lives have been lost, it is game over and players will need to try again.
There is also an Extras menu where players are able to view gallery content, like backgrounds, tutorials and more. In the Extras menu, players can also find the bestiary which can be used as a practice mode. In the bestiary, the player is invincible and can use the stamp hammer, using it to learn how to deal with enemies and the best way to get around enemies. There are additional secrets that players can unlock, but I will not be revealing them here.
Now with the gameplay covered, it is time to discuss the other aspects of Vividlope, starting with the controls.
Controls – Vividlope is relatively simple in terms of control, with the player being able to move with the thumbstick and D-Pad to move around the stages. The functions and actions are covered by the face and triggers, which feel responsive and reactive, especially during the more challenging moments of play. The game plays comfortably with both Joy-Con and a pro controller, with the best way to play the game is with a controller with a solid D-Pad, for additional precision.
Difficulty – there is an escalating difficulty curve, offering players a challenge that will increase along with their skill level. There are two selectable difficulty options, with players choosing between Normal and Hard. The Normal option is balanced well enough for all players to get to the end of the game, with the Hard option for players who want to put their skills to the test. This release is approachable by all players, regardless of skill level and ability.
Presentation – there is a distinct look to this release, giving Vividlope a spacey and retro feel. The character models, grid layouts and backgrounds all come together to create the desired surreal effect. The performance is flawless, optimized perfectly for the Nintendo Switch, with zero issues in terms of lag when played in docked or handheld mode. The sound further builds the atmosphere, with music and effects that tie the entire experience together. The look of the game also reminded me of games from Sega like Monkey Ball.
Final Thoughts – I decided to apply for this game after seeing a few images, with the overall look being what pulled me in. I will say that I was not disappointed with this decision. Vividlope is a fun and challenging arcade style puzzler, which reminded me of the PC-Engine title Skweek. There is a spacey feel to the overall look of the game, with the different environments and the way the stage floats in the air, adding to the experience and making me think of classic SEGA titles.
I had a great time playing Vividlope, with the challenge being firm but fair and the rating system pushing me to do better. I really enjoyed playing through the stages of story mode as the different characters, then going back to them for the S/S+ rankings on Normal. I even plan to go back to get the V ranks on Hard in the future. I have no issue recommending this game to everyone, there were no issues with my experience. I feel this is a well-polished and fun time for all.
In the end, I give Vividlope a final score of 5/5. This is an excellent retro styled arcade puzzler, offering a tremendous amount of replay value and challenging gameplay, with a unique yet surreal charm that is present through the visuals and cinematic scenes. If you want to check this title out for yourself, a link to each version of the game will be below.
Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)
Link to Steam version (HERE)
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