Pretentious Game Review

“In this part of the story I am the one who Dies, the only one, and I will die of love because I love you, Because I love you, Love, in fire and blood.” - Pablo Neruda

"Short but bittersweet" is the best way to describe Pretentious Game. This recent addition to the iOS market is a truly remarkable experience - one that conveys its message through words and uncluttered yet peculiar aesthetics.

Love is such a fickle thing. It’s also a feeling we can all relate to, and this is something Pretentious Game manages to truly pinpoint.

Presented as an interactive poem, it is the player's job to take control of a little blue square and relive his perilous journey of devotion and heartache to be reunited with his pink sweetheart. Though first and foremost a platformer, words have a huge impact. And because of the minimalistic visuals and comfortable typeface the message is deeply effective in a way that is also left to the players own interpretation.

As mentioned before, the concept of Pretentious Game is to reunite the blue block with the pink block; but it’s not all as simple as that. Various obstacles in love’s path include fire, mid-air platforms, cliffs, hidden passages, and more. When the going gets tough, the game introduces new ways to surprise and keep things fresh.

Pretentious Game offers three further level packs (the first available is free), but to unlock them requires an in-app purchase. Fortunately it doesn’t set players back a whole lot, and is definitely worth it if just for the heartfelt messages.

Sadly what the game truly lacks is replay value. Although it’s possible to play the levels as many times as is desired, the lack of a scoring system can make it seem awfully short.

Personally though, paying an extra $4.99 to receive the full game, wallpapers, and a copy of the soundtrack does bode worthwhile - especially for fans of platform games. It’s a no-brainer, really.