Heart Star

[i]Originally reviewed on [url=https://www.dragon-quill.net/christmas-steam-games-2023/]Dragon Quill.[/url] Comments are enabled there.[/i] A cutesy dual-character puzzle platformer where certain parts of the level are only tangible to one character. This applies to both useful objects, like platforms that let you jump across gaps safely, as well as hazards like spikes or platforms that block you in. The two characters can touch each other, allowing them to use each other as impromptu platforms or carry each other across hazards. You can freely switch between each character, but the difficulty lies in positioning them such that the other character can reach their objective while also getting both characters to the goal point. The puzzles were fairly simple but still enjoyable, and I liked the cutesy pastel aesthetic. Maybe this is reading too much into it, but it struck me the game could be viewed as a metaphor for supporting people through challenges they can’t face alone, as well as challenges being easier for different people (as in many cases, areas that are full of hazards to one character are smooth sailing for the other). The fact the characters are clearly coded as a male/female romantic relationship supports this reading, I think.