Sometimes You Die Is The Latest ‘Brilliant, Minimalist Platformer You Must Play’ [Review]

By

Sometimes You Die
Sometimes You Die attempted to strip all the fun out of 2-D platformers. The result was amazingly good fun.

What are you doing?

Sometimes You Die by Philipp Stollenmayer
Category: iOS Games
Works With: iPhone, iPad
Price: $1.99

You would tell yourself, “I am reading a review for Sometimes You Die.” You take it for granted that I am going somewhere with this. My opinion is just a shadow. A number.

Alright, I can’t keep that up, but before you leap into the Internet and punch me in the face, know two things: First, that was a taste of the narration for the oddball minimalist platformer Sometimes You Die. And second, I’m still recovering from my last face punch, so don’t be a jerk.

As for the game, it’s brilliant. You don’t even need to read the rest of this. Just go buy it and get it in your brain-hole.

Alright, well if you insist on continuing to read, I might as well put some content in here. Sometimes You Die is simultaneously a platformer in the tradition of Thomas Was Alone and Super Meat Boy with a touch of Radiohead’s “Fitter, Happier.” Does that sound weird? It is.

While you’re getting your brave little box through its series of ordeals, the game is offering meditations on what it means to be and play a game. It’s all about expectations and rules and buttons, man, and while you’re trying to get through it all, you’re also trying to figure out what the hell is going on here.

Get it in your brain-hole.

The invisible narrator is trying to teach you something. Maybe. But the other twist in Sometimes You Die is that you often have to sacrifice little box guys so that the next one can progress. You will make platforms and bridges and towers from their corpses to keep going.

Or do you?

Yeah. Think about it. This game is amazing.

Sometimes You DieGame Name: : Sometimes You Die
The Good: Clever platforming with an interesting hook and the best in-app purchase joke I’ve ever seen.
The Bad: Computer Voice gets a bit old sometimes, but the music makes up for it.
The Verdict: This is a must-play game, but maybe play it on the iPhone instead of the iPad for reasons that must remain secret.
Buy from: App Store – Sometimes You Die – Philipp Stollenmayer

[rating=game5]

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