There are games you love, games you hate, games you love to hate, and games you love to love. Why aren't there any games you love to hate to love or hate to love to hate? Or, is that where the Build-a-lot series goes? *rimshot*
Love+ (Mac/Win, 40MB, free) - Love is tough, right? Some platformers can be tough, too. Love+ happens to be a little bit of both worlds, meaning it's... tough and tough! Similar to VVVVVV in both looks and general design, Love+ puts you in control of a simple little character that can jump and place spawn points anywhere he can stand. Your next task is to thread your way across a dozen or so levels, all without running out of your stock of 100 lives. It's not as easy as it sounds, which is exactly why you're downloading it now!
Keylugger (Mac/Win, 2MB, free) - A puzzle platform game where your goal is to carry a heavy key to the keyhole by jumping and tossing it across the stage. Thrown keys travel in a horizontal line until hitting a solid object, then they fall straight down. Unburdened by the key, you can jump a little higher, allowing you to work your way through each stage using a combination of platforming and careful key tossing. A very well-designed game with some great levels to complete! (Note: You need to click the link marked 'Keylugger' after visiting the link above to download the game.)
Game Title (Mac/Win, 1MB, free) - A minimalist action adventure sort of game that technically doesn't have a title, Game Title can be loosely compared to a dungeon crawler without all that complicated stuff like hit points or an inventory. March through the caverns one step at a time, picking up weapons like cats and bombs to deal with the enemies you encounter. It's a very simple and short kind of experience, but charming in an old school kind of way.
Note: All games have been confirmed to run under Windows 7 and are virus-free. Mac users should try Boot Camp, Parallels, or CrossOver Games to play Windows titles, Linux users can use Wine. If you know of a great game we should feature, use the Submit link above to send it in!
Keylugger is absolutely excellent. Every level has its own unique challenges, and it adds new elements and forces you to use them in different ways as the game progresses.
Love+ was fun too. Barely made it through with 8 lives left... not a great performance. Don't really agree with the comparison to VVVVVV though. Aside from them both using pixel art and technically being within the same genre they aren't very much alike at all. The gameplay is not even remotely similar and VVVVVV is much more polished overall.
Brilliant level design in Keylugger. Reminds me a bit of Fishbane in how it takes just a couple gameplay elements but explores their implications in so many interesting ways. Too often it feels like game design starts and ends with the premise, but the follow-through here is perfect.
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