Blippo+ is one of the most unique gaming experiences of this year. There’s no character creator or tutorial. Instead players can expect a pixelated screen as the game scans for channels. This is definitely an experience unique to older generations, a TV scanning for channels, which automatically gives a retro feeling to the game. I use the term “game” here loosely as there is no actual playing in the traditional sense.
You, as the viewer, are essentially a self-inserted main character. You interact with an alien world called Blip through intergalactic television signals. The citizens of Blip look mostly human, but with fashion that is as antiquated as the initial “scanning for channels” segue into the game. One of the main interfaces of the game is a TV Guide style channel. For those who have lived most of their lives in the streaming era, this may be a foreign sight. However, if you’ve ever had cable, it’s likely that you’ve scrolled a similar screen that designates what channel and time each program is on. The TV programs of Blip aren’t incredibly long, but all are live and running concurrently. Tuning into one also means you are missing out on another. The television content rotates weekly and through these broadcasts, the story of the game is told.
The music, styling, and core components of the game feel very 90’s-coded. Depending on your generation, Blippo+ can provide nostalgia for a “simpler” time or provide a look into how life was several decades ago. As far as I’ve played, there is actually no game-play in the usual sense. Instead, your only interaction is choosing a channel and watching life on planet Blip. Because of this, while classified as a game, Blippo+ is more of an art piece to be experienced. It’s unique styling may not be for typical gamers. There is no loot, no levels, and no bosses to fight. It’s simply a slice-of-life look into another world where the more you watch, the more content is available.
Blippo+ stretches the idea of what a video game can be. I applaud the creativity that went into Blippo+. In a world where so often games emulate whatever genre is popular or netting the most money, Blippo+ dares to tell its story in a completely unique way. I enjoyed simply watching and playing on a handheld meant lounging in bed while doing so. However, having to log in at varying intervals to catch new programming to piece the story together meant missing the content change could be punishing. You’d then simply have to wait until that programming rotated back around. It’s also very nostalgia-driven and as a 90’s baby, it worked for me. Though it may not land well with newer generations who have not experienced the core mechanics of this game in their everyday lives.
Score: 6/10
