After a huge 2010 for XBLA, Playstation Network (heck even WiiWare!) it must now be seen that downloadable titles are getting close to parity with retail. To kick the year off and to simultaneously finish what has been a stellar if short ‘Games for the Holidays’ promotion we have Ilomilo, an adorable little puzzle game, first released in early November for the Windows Phone 7 platform and then first “acquirable” on XBLA in late November. However only this week is it finally getting a public marketplace release. Still with me? You’re probably alone.

Ilo and Milo are excellent friends and must traverse a park daily to meet the other. However through either their own idiocy and forgetfulness, or from some unknown possibly more sinister force, the path to meet up changes on daily basis. That’s the idea anyway, what it really boils down to is a twist on a standard maze game so instead of looking for an exit you’re looking for a way to get to the other person. The controls are simple, just movement and 2 buttons; one to pick up a litany of helpful blocks and the other to switch between Ilo and Milo. Within each level you are controlling both and from the get-go both must be used to solve the various puzzles that will see you safely through to the bounty of friendship.

So the controls are easy, the goal seems achievable, all looks as though it’s going to be straight forward right? Wrong! It can at time break your mind, where difficult skill games like Super Meat Boy are a case of practice makes perfect, getting your head around some of the puzzles in this are a case of practice gets your controller broken off a wall. But thought it’s frustrating at some points, like all good puzzle game it’s deeply rewarding when it all comes together. In the early stages you’re given all the tools you need to get cracking and as problems arise new ways to overcome them are brought forward. In that respect it’s got quite a seamless sense of flow which will allow anyone to pick up the controller and get hooked.

The plot keeps to the same winning formula that makes this whole game quite agreeable. Simplicity is the key, the story is told in one line snippets written on pieces of old photographs that pop up throughout the game, and if given the chance you’ll find it very touching and at time heartbreaking. Technically it reminds me more of what I’d expect of a PSN game, and I mean that in a good way. Soft focusing give it the same plush qualities similar to Little Big Planet. The musical score is pretty infectious and you’ll often find yourself humming along, particularly to the infectious menu music. While the dialogue is all handled by text, there is an adorable simlish-like garble used by the characters that is entertaining in it’s own way.

You’ll spent maybe 4 hours in total getting through the single player experience, but more importantly you’ll have unlocked ‘Ilomilo Shuffle’; a fictional, retro Ilomilo game which is really quite devilish and will have you scrambling to top your friends lists and grab more achievements.

All in all and the only real disappointment is that it’s really not got a huge amount of content. You can play all the levels again in co-op, but there are two problems with that. Once you’ve cracked all the puzzles it’s really not a huge amount of fun and, more importantly, the multiplayer is kind of pointless as only one of Ilo or Milo is being controlled at any given time.

Ilomilo is a game wholeheartedly recommendable to anybody with the time and the 800 Microsoft Points. Certainly Xbox Live Arcade is out of the traps for 2011. This bodes well.

Denis Walsh

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