TUAW's Daily App: Pix'n Love Rush

I first heard about Pix'n Love Rush about a month ago from my colleague, JC.Fletcher, who described it as "a short, nervous, ristretto version of a platformer ... a sort of crossover between Mario and WarioWare, with a pinch of Galaxian and a hint of Game & Watch." And now that it's out on the App Store to play, I can say that's exactly what it is; it's a weird little mini platform game, with an art aesthetic that might turn off those not versed in gaming history.

The basic idea is that you play as a cat-like creature, and you bounce around a randomized series of 125 various 2D platforming stages, collecting good icons and staying away from bad ones. The gameplay is frenetic but forgiving. There are big bonuses to be had if you can pull things off perfectly (the colors and graphics flip through various designs), but even if you miss a few icons, the game will let you run through some quick platforming pleasures in a few modes.

If your taste in games begins and ends with FarmVille, this one's probably not for you. But if you're interested in experimental and art games, or if you just want to spend a quick 99 cents to see what this crazy, original gaming experience is like, give Pix'n Love Rush a try. It's definitely not a traditional title, but if you want to take a few steps off the beaten path in terms of gaming, there's a lot of fun to find.