Walking simulators are not my go-to genre. While they can look pretty, and sometimes have an interesting narrative, they’re ultimately on rails and typically a showcase for Unreal, Unity, or following a dream the dev had. Coincidentally, the last one isn’t a bad example, as it was quite an interesting concept. LAVALAMP is unique for a number of reasons.
First, I would hate to shoehorn this into a genre for labelling sake, as it’s very, very peculiar, and for all the right reasons. From a story perspective, it would do it a disservice to properly explain anything other than you exploring an interactive, psychedelic ‘space’ that loosely refers to the Space Lemmings from Space – coincidentally, the developer here. Again, loosely, it’s based on characters from a TV show and lots of references to cereal and boredom cookies.
I foolishly played LAVALAMP when already tired, which was a recipe for disaster. In reality, it made me play more and slap the ‘no’ option defiantly every time the dialogue window popped up asking if I was bored. It’s a little too needy, though the argument is that once you’ve explored everything in the area, you can move on by clicking on a heart icon. This device also served as reverse psychology. When asked if you wish to end an area when you didn’t intend to, you will purposely explore further in case you missed something.
That’s what I did, and that’s why it felt like a bit of a trip. Visually, one would be compelled to say this is what shrooms induce, though, that not being a world I’ve ever visited, nor implying that with some shoddy anecdote about ‘a friend’, what you see on the screen is what I’d imagine Jerry Garcia to have seen back in the day. It’s weird, melty, vibrant and inviting. Like a lavalamp without the burns.
As you steadily plod through, inspecting absolutely everything, you pick up some lore about the space lemmings, which is told back to you through a bit of a naff narrative at times. With lush, surreal landscapes and interiors, it’s juxtaposed with a not-so-experimental font and is all so plain. Additionally, as it’s a walking simulator void of any challenges, there are some floaty jumping areas where it’s easy to get trapped in biscuity debris. On a handful of times, I thought the game had crashed, when all it was doing was taking its time, doing its own thing.
LAVALAMP is unique through its intriguing display of colours, its message (eating cereal fuels the ship with love – awwww! – just remember da milk), and being able to feel open for exploration when in reality, it’s an on-rails experience that will frequently check on your engagement levels and that reassurance on whether you like it or not. I liked it, and I suggest you look at it if it’s piqued your interest, as I discovered after playing that game that it’s free to play. And there’s me thinking I had a world exclusive…
