But what is it? I’ll give a brief idea and send you on your way – you’ll either like it or you won’t.
By Alexander Ocias and described as a ‘confrontational’ platformer, Loved is that: as with traditional platformers, it’s 2D and all you need are the arrow keys to move and jump, and avoid certain obstacles which, of course, kill you on contact. However, this world is watched over by a domineering voice, giving you choices and instructions, which you can choose to obey or disobey; the black and white world will become more defined, or dissolves into brightly coloured squares, depending on how you play. Again, like Company of Myself, it has a grim sort of humour to it, which always appeals to me. It attempts to force the player to consider what they’re doing, as a player, as a character in the game, as a person to a certain extent – it’s... interesting, to say the least.
After first play through, choosing a ‘middle’ route – neither obeying nor disobeying all the time, the ending was... abrupt. It’s not a long game, but parts of it are quite challenging – requiring consideration as well as good hand eye-coordination. I think the abrupt ending was probably a penalty for my lack of commitment to a path... The endings seem to differ depending on various things.
Like Company of Myself, Loved is a game that encourages self-reflection – if you just try to blast though it, you won’t get as much out of it as if you actually try to soak up the atmosphere and think about what the game is trying to show you.
As I say, I’m not sure how to review this; it’s not a perfect game, but certainly worth a go. I’m going to try again, choosing consistently either the path of rebellion or obedience – see where it leads me.
