Lovish Reviews
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.
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.
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.
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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
When all is said and done, Lovish is a spectacular game. It’s colorful, creative, funny and easy to play in short bursts. Not only is this one of the best games I’ve played from DANGEN Entertainment and LABS Works, but it’s just engaging and very easy to recommend. Any fan of retro or platformers absolutely needs to own this crazy love letter to the genre.
Lovish is a fun return to platform games from the past. The game made by LABS Works and DANGEN Entertainment feels both familiar and strangely new at the same time. The idea behind the story—saving Princess Tsuna while dealing with Sir Solomon’s crippling insecurities—is silly, funny, and utterly charming.
Lovish is a true love letter to old-school gamers, made by someone who clearly understands and respects the golden age of video games.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I could talk at length about everything this game developed by DANGEN Entertainment and LABS Work has to offer, but it's better if you discover it for yourselves.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Lovish is a pleasant retro-style experience built around simple controls, brisk levels, and light humor, delivering a competent 2D adventure with a fair number of secrets for players who enjoy exploring off the beaten path. However, it is also a limited and occasionally repetitive game, with many sections failing to leave a lasting impression and rarely pushing beyond the basics. Optional challenges and hidden content help soften these issues but don’t fundamentally elevate the experience. Ultimately, Lovish is a fun and well-executed journey that succeeds at what it sets out to do, even if it never truly stands out.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Lovish is a chaotic homage to 8-bit action platformers, blending tight single-screen challenges with tongue-in-cheek storytelling and a surprising amount of depth. Players control Sir Solomon, a lovestruck knight tackling absurd scenarios and brutal stages, all while chasing a princess who may not be worth the trouble. With its irreverent tone, punishing one-hit deaths, and rewarding progression system, Lovish balances skill, humor, and nostalgia to deliver a distinctly indie experience that’s both challenging and memorable.
Lovish has some tight, punishing and unrelenting gameplay firmly packed into an aesthetically pleasing and insane narrative that never tries to justify itself beyond “why not?” The game has as much replay value as you want to put into it, and I personally found it to be a delight and a treasure.
Lovish is a quirky, 8-bit indie game where you rescue the princess – if you can survive! With one-hit kills, random hilarious events, and hidden collectibles, this retro-flavored adventure is as fiendish as it is fun. Go forth and rescue your love!