ilomilo

Posted 2 years ago By kingquagmire - David Collins

Before I start, let me just say that I have a love/hate relationship with puzzle games. I truly love them, not just for the interesting puzzles, but also for the platform they provide for developers to showcase a world of wonder and innovation. Some of the my most cherished gameworlds sprouted out of the puzzle genre. However, I also hate it because it highlights my diminishing brain capacity as I age. T4CYM

There, now that I’ve set that out there for you to chew on, let’s look at ilomilo, a puzzler from SouthEnd Interactive and the last piece of Microsoft’s Games for Holidays trifecta. Actually, I can conclude this article right here and just tell you that if you enjoy puzzle games, you owe it to yourself to get it. Review complete. HKJK9

Still here? Oh, ok, I guess I should tell you a bit about it. This is supposed to be a review after all. Ilomilo a 3D platform puzzler. You’ll take control of both the uber cute ilo and his (or is it her?) best buddy, milo. The goal is to bring the two together. You see, they enjoy each other’s company. A lot. They spent all their time with each other until one day, they became separated. It’s up to you to traverse each of the 49 the cubical levels to bring them back together. GYWKP

Each level has different collectibles to pick up in order to add another layer of depth to the experience. Although, getting 100% on a level and just bringing ilo and milo together are two very different things; especially in the later stages. In fact, it’ll be a challenge just to reunite the two cuddly creatures, let alone grabbing all the art work, flowers and other collectible pieces. Plus, the three bonus stages in each chapter can’t be unlocked unless you gather up certain critters on top of everything else. Let me state this now: ilomilo will certainly satisfy the brainiac puzzle solvers (or masochists) out there. QCYKY

By the way, I’m sure you’ve noticed that I’ve not named many specifics about the gameworld. Short of the titular characters, I’ve left out the other nuances such as the character names, locations, story details, etc... This is by design my friends! One of the main centerpieces of the game is the universe itself. From the music, to the characters, to the level design and even the dialog, ilomilo is a unique and sickeningly cute experience that should not be spoiled. Walk in, marvel and enjoy. H7GRZ

That in itself is the crux of ilomilo. Sure, it’s a solid puzzle game with a nice, gradual difficulty curve that will please both the hardcore and the casual gamer. But the selling point - for me at least - is this wonderfully soft and eclectic world that Southend has pieced together for us. A gorgeous art style, lovable characters, fabulous sound design and plenty of content to keep you busy for many hours. And to think, I haven’t even touched on the hidden goodies such as the cross content between ilomilo and the other Games for Holidays titles (World of Keflings and Raskulls) and the nods to other Indie titles (like World of Goo). There’s even an unlockable 8-bit mini-game, Avatar Awards and 2-player local co-op support, if you need more bang for your buck.

Conclusion
So as I said, there’s no reason not to pick up ilomilo unless you just totally detest puzzle games. Between the many different brain-bending puzzles and the fantastic universe that’s equal parts Baron Munchausen (the 1988 Terry Gilliam film) and Grimm Fairy Tales, it’s certainly the best investment you can make in the genre.