Lovish
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Lovish Media
Lovish - Release Date Trailer | Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series XS, PC
Lovish - Announcement Trailer | PC
Critic Reviews for Lovish
Lovish is a cute and sweet 8-Bit retro-inspired action game that parodies the hero-saves-the-princess trope. Each puzzle room is filled with challenging obstacles and enemies that are constantly changing and evolving throughout your playthrough. Though there are some issues, such as the game’s stores stocking useless items, there being no way to pause the game and boring boss fights, Lovish makes up for this by including a lot of secret levels to find and explore, meaning that there is a lot for players to discover and experience after the base game is beaten.
Despite its simplicity and minuteness, Lovish is an 8-bit retro platformer that gets right to the point with its retro charm. Some of its progression feels archaic, but it makes up for it with tongue-in-cheek satire and tight platforming. It's a delight of an indie gem that's best appreciated by 90s kids who are still wearing their rose-colored glasses.
Lovish is a brand new byte-sized platformer that sees players make their way through over 50 stages, spread across 7 worlds
Lovish is a game that clearly had a lot of care poured into it. It offers a strong challenge from the outset and then layers on reasons to keep playing, whether that is hunting down every crown, uncovering secrets, or simply seeing what absurd event might pop up next. There are a few minor frustrations, such as when I unlocked a shop discount late in the game when I only had one item left to buy, which made certain rewards feel slightly wasted. Still, those moments are more amusing than irritating, and they fit the game's offbeat sense of humor. Lovish may be built around small levels and a simple premise, but it feels full in all the right ways, leaving a lasting impression well beyond its modest scope. It's absurd, brilliant, and impossible to put down.
The thing I really enjoyed about Lovish is that it's just very surprising. Many of the cinematics are clever, there's a set of late-game bosses and stages and directly reference many NES games from my childhood including Super Mario Bros. 3 and Bubble Bobble, among others, and you'll occasionally find yourself playing a shockingly long minigame based directly on some old favorites. The cinematics might get old, and some of the Crowns are weirdly hard to find, but overall, I think this Lovish is a fun romp.
Combining ingenious ideas with practical simplicity, Lovish has dozens of short stages that need to be played multiple times to uncover their various secrets. The vibrant music, the cynical comedy of playing as a petty knight, and the many references to the video games universe add extra charm to an adventure that is charismatic, silly, and will appeal to fans of retro action platformers.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
