Gravity Ghost

 
Developer: Ivy Games
Steam Release: Jan 2015
Hours Played: 3.5
Similar To: Beyond Gravity / Glowfish / Jack Lumber / Lowglow / Osmos
Rating: 4/5 Parsnips

GAMEPLAY
This is a strange one. With everyday wild-life creatures such as mice, deer and rabbits given a god-like size and talking with the voice of prepubescent girls in cutesy American accents, plus a head of hair that's long enough to wrap around a huge planet - you've arrived in the wacky and barmy world of Gravity Ghost. Set in a 2D outer space world and greatly helped (or hindered) by the momentum of the gravitational pulls of planets, you control an angelic young girl with super-human powers who spins and twirls around collecting golden stars. Initially, I was quite baffled by Gravity Ghost. You collect flowers while floating to increase the length of your hair and you can collect flying creatures that float around which also get absorbed into your hair - but all for god knows why.

BALANCE & PACE
Throw in bizarre picture-book cut-scenes with cute foxes and old grandmas telling stories and it all seems totally obscure and random. However things gradually take shape as you learn that your hair is a terraforming super-power that can change a planet's elements. You're also gradually given powers to become heavier or lighter, and the like, to help counter some of those gravitational pulls. All is for the sole purpose of reaching a golden star to unlock and open a door to exit the level. There is no time pressure or score and although it may get mildly frustrating at times as a planet's gravitational pull flings you way off your destination - it mainly works as a therapeutic or zen-like experience as a calm and relaxing way to pass the time than anything else. 
 
 

PRESENTATION & DESIGN
The art-style throughout is child-like and geared more towards a younger audience with a kind of picture-book aesthetic. All creatures are child-friendly but I did find the sickly young American voice-overs to be a tad irritatingly cheesy. Of course, there is nothing scary or violent about gently floating planets, pretty flowers or flowing locks swaying in the breeze. The soundtrack likewise mainly consists of dainty tinkles on the keyboard and is pleasant enough to listen to, while some of the sound effects such as some of the planets smashing into tiny shards are rewarding and satisfying. The home-page doubles as the only menu where you're given the choice to continue or exit while the level-select screen is one of those circular and awkward to navigate affairs.
 

PROGRESS SYSTEM
Your level-select screen comes in the form of a galaxy with seven constellations or clusters linked to the seven points of a heptagon. These constellations are linked by a pathway of circles which get filled with a star as and when you complete its corresponding level. Levels with hearts unlock and grant special abilities. A constellation only gets unlocked if you have reached and collected a generously small amount of stars. At the beginning of the game you're zoomed in but as you continue the path and unlock the journey, you'll be able to enter the black hole in the middle which zooms out allowing you to see the full picture. As mentioned, the game leans towards granting a more relaxing experience, with the accumulation of stars being the sole form of progress.   

CONCLUSION

For me, with the baffle-factor being quite high to start with, Gravity Ghost was a bit of an acquired taste. Also, for a game with no attachment to high-scores or best times, some may not warm to its casual nature. Some levels are so whimsical even that they require little to no skill to complete and could probably be done with virtually random jumps and leaps. In fact I did find myself mashing the buttons a little bit occasionally, knowing that I would eventually end up generally going in the right direction I intended. Nevertheless, the quality and variety in the level design is inventive and creative enough to make the player want to uncover its mysteries and certainly plenty enough for us to forgive it its minor shortcomings.