I and Me Vita/PS4 Review

I and Me is a side-scrolling puzzle platformer available for download from the PlayStation Store for the PS4 and PS Vita. I and Me was originally created by Wish Fang before Ratalaika Games developed and published a port to Vita, PS4 and more platforms besides. Can I and Me deliver a challenging side-scrolling puzzle platformer?

I and Me features four chapters worth of levels totalling to 92 levels including hidden level that are unlocked by finding 20 letters situated throughout levels, although they are mostly positioned away from the normal path of progression in some levels. Prior to the start of every level there are stylistically presented intriguing words of wisdom that forms the premise of the story.

I and Me’s premise is to guide two pleasant animals to a particular area of each level, although the interesting part is that they both need to be a certain quantity of space from each other that is designated by a picture frame culminating in a photograph being taken. Gameplay elements are gradually introduced in order to increase the complexity of each level’s puzzle. Early levels within the first chapter showcase the basics of the gameplay, while shortly afterwards implementing focus on utilising an object or wall that the player would otherwise have to make both creatures jump over to precisely position them both at an accurate distance. In the later stages of the first chapter; spikes have to be jumped over and numerous hedgehogs are introduced to provide constantly moving objects that the player must guide both animals around without ever touching the hedgehogs as that would result in having to restart the level, while the fourth chapter places emphasis on lighting with the need of oil lanterns.

I and Me supports cross-buy between the PS4 and Vita, although it unfortunately does not support cross-save, so you will not be able to continue from your previous progression on the Vita version when playing the PS4 version and vice versa. Cross-buy presents a superb amount of value as it means that you will be purchasing the PS4 and Vita versions of the game with just a single purchase.

The controls are appropriately mapped to the Vita and DualShock 4 controller as the Vita version has a comfortable control scheme consisting of pressing X to jump; pressing triangle, L or R to preview how to progress through part of the level; moving left or right on the left analogue stick or pressing left or right on the d-pad; and pressing start to display the pause menu. However, the DualShock 4 controller does not include any touch pad alternative controls such as swiping left or right to control the two animals, while there is no light bar support that could have produced a colour representing each level or chapter, alongside no vibration that could have reflected hitting spikes, hedgehogs or water.

Graphically, I and Me has a visual flair with picturesque environments such as stylistic paint brush strokes depicting nearby to distant luscious mountains and dandelions moving in tandem with the clouds in compliments to the excellent character animations and level design. I and Me on Vita and PS4 has the same impressive quality of graphical fidelity, animations and performance.

I and Me’s presentation is solid with a great user interface across various menus such as the main menu, level selection menus, options menu and gameplay menus with support for navigation via the left analogue stick, directional pad and face buttons on Vita and DualShock 4, while there is also touch screen functionality on Vita, although it does not include support for navigation via the right analogue stick on Vita and DualShock 4, while there is no touch pad support on DualShock 4. Menu backgrounds focus on swaying foliage and moving dandelions.

Sound effects include walking, jumping, either of the two animals stumbling into obstacles and splashing water when either animal falls into water, finding a letter and the sound of a photograph being taken at the end of each level, alongside ambience such as birds tweeting and tranquil orchestral music. There is no DualShock 4 speaker implementation that could have produced sound effects, ambience or music.

The trophy list includes 13 trophies with 1 silver trophy, 11 gold trophies and 1 platinum trophy with the PS4 and Vita versions having individual trophy lists. Easier trophies include The Wind of Spring silver trophy for starting the first level and a gold trophy for jumping a total of 2,000 times. Harder trophies include The Hedgehog Legion gold trophy for surviving for 15 seconds among the Hedgehog Legion during level 14 of the first chapter; the No Lighting gold trophy for completing level 4 of the fourth chapter without using oil lanterns; and The Dream Monologue gold trophy for reading all scattered letters in order to unlock the hidden levels. It is estimated that depending upon skill and a good trophy guide to provide some helpful tips that it would take between 2 to 5 hours to platinum the trophy list.

There are no difficulty levels, although there is a noticeable upward trajectory of a difficulty curve as gameplay elements are introduced or combined in different ways in almost every level such as having to jump over spikes and hedgehogs.

I and Me would have been a perfect puzzle platformer for local co-operative multiplayer as each player would control an animal on PS4 with two separate controllers or two players using half of the controller per player, while the Vita version could utilise the same approach as a player could use L, the d-pad and left analogue to control their animal with the second player using R, face buttons and the right analogue stick to control the second animal. Meanwhile, pass the controller or pass the Vita gameplay would have provided local competitive gameplay by tasking both players to complete a single level, an entire chapter or a customised group of levels in the fastest possible time in comparison to the other player.

I and Me’s replayability stems from puzzles that gradually increase in their complexity per level for each of the 92 levels throughout the four chapters that will collectively keep players returning for quite some time, alongside the ability to play on Vita or PS4 via cross-buy.

Analysis
• Title: I and Me
• Developer: Wish Fang (Original Developers)/IndieNova and Ratalaika Games (PS4/Vita Port)
• Publisher: Ratalaika Games
• System: PS4/PS Vita
• Format: PSN Download
• Cross-Buy: Yes
• Cross-Play: No
• Players: 1
• PS4 Hard Drive Space Required: 208.1MB
• PS Vita Memory Card Space Required: 322MB