If you fall into the 18-25 core gaming demographic and, I'd be lying if I said I still did, you may find yourself constantly bombarded by an ongoing media assault by grey and gritty shooters that spew hot lead and testosterone from every orifice and batter you with endless smack-talking dialogue. Developers have it in their head that this is what gamers within that age bracket want, but really what I want is a freaking headache pill and a break from the noise and violence once and a while. The only company I could reliably turn to for a guaranteed splash of colour in the past was Nintendo, but even Wii developers seem hell-bent on releasing safe shovelware for toddlers to play along with mother boasting little in the way of polish or substance. However, it's always incredibly refreshing when a game transcends the stereotype such as Okami, Punch Out!! and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Don't get me wrong here, I love my FPS titles and violent beat-em-ups as much as the next person, but I first cut my gaming calluses on systems like the ZX Spectrum and Mega Drive, so imagine how happy I was when the reimagining of Activision-founder David Crane's 1989 NES classic A Boy and His Blob arrived on my doorstep. This is a true platform puzzler the way Nintendo used to make and makes you feel a little disheartened at how diluted the old Miyamoto magic has become in recent years. Regardless, this is a charming and highly-accomplished title that will satisfy any almost thirty-something gamer with fond memories of the original, as well as newcomers to the series.

The game opens with a flourish of beautifully hand-drawn visuals as we see the unnamed boy of the story asleep in his tree house. Suddenly awoken by a huge explosion, a brief movement tutorial leads you to a crater housing a smashed-up spaceship and a cheerful little alien blob that instantly starts following the boy. So begins a heart-warming friendship and a race across 40 superbly crafted stages to help the blob reach its home planet of Blobolonia and defeat the evil Emperor.

Unfortunately, being small, the boy can't jump very far, can't swim and gets knocked out after just one hit which, in itself retains some of the hallmarks of retro gaming, but also enforces the notion of teamwork. By feeding the blob jellybeans it can transform into 15 different objects that can be used to overcome obstacles and defeat the emperor's minions. There are many moments throughout the game where you may sit and stare at the screen, pondering your solution to a puzzle for a good 15 minutes, but the game is so relaxed and inviting that you never feel soured or pressured by these sticking points.

An early stage sees the duo travel through a murky swamp which amazingly still manages to bleed colour off the screen. The area is full of enemy blobs that charge at you like a rampaging bull. These enemies can be defeated by transforming the blob into a pothole and coaxing the enemy to run into the gap, falling into the marsh below. Another area tasks you with navigating to the bottom of a perilous chasm. Simply feed the blob a Pear-flavoured jelly bean and watch as it flops to the ground as a giant parachute that the boy stuffs into his backpack. Simply take a leap and glide effortlessly to the bottom while dodging floating enemies. Simple.

The blob can also transform into a Liquorice Ladder, Tangerine Trampoline, Berry Balloon and so on. But when you have about six or more different beans at your disposal, solutions become multi-faceted and require you to really plan your next move. It's entirely comparable to Xbox Live Arcade classic Braid, without the air of pretention about the plot. Similar to Braid are the stunningly beautiful visuals that will see the friends travel through lush forests full of dancing fireflies, moon-lit cities that render the sprites as silhouettes and even the saccharine-sweet world of Blobolonia itself. Backed up by a calming orchestral score, this really is a game you can immerse yourself in for hours at your leisure. That something so carefree and undemanding can hold your attention for so long is an achievement in itself.

The team at Wayforward Technologies have worked wonders to ensure that the game isn't just fancy window dressing, as there is substance to all of the visual flair. For starters, the control system is simple but seems to fit the game perfectly. The classic controller is the preferred method of play as it gives the game a more authentic retro feel, although the Wiimote-Nunchuck combination is perfectly functional as well. One neat trick that is executed by holding A on the classic controller or B on the Wiimote lets you throw your bean strategically, which can open up new possibilities in each stage. Some puzzles do require near-pinpoint accuracy with bean placement, but generous restart points that drop you almost on the same spot as when you died mean that failure never feels unfair or off-putting.

Each stage contains three hidden treasure chests that, when collected, unlock a bonus challenge level. If you manage to finish the challenge stage you will unlock concept art, new game modes and extra snippets of the back story. To say that this is a generous game would be an understatement, but beneath the cutesy veneer is an engrossing experience that will appeal to retro enthusiasts and children alike, if not for how easy it is to become accustomed with how it works, but for how little you are punished for repeat failure. However, unlike New Super Mario Bros. Wii with its 'self-completion' mode for those who get hopelessly stuck, you never feel coddled here or led by hand. The challenge remains but the stumbling block of poor checkpoint placement and difficulty spikes become non-existent as a result, which is a lesson of good game design other developers could learn from.

This is a fitting tribute that removes all of the negatives from the original game and builds upon its positives, but the only downfall of A Boy and Is Blob is that it has simply arrived at the wrong time, as it is sure to be smothered by the triple-A barrage of the pre-Christmas season. If you are a platform fan, retro nut, or if you want something that won't insult your child's intelligence, then you will be hard-pushed to find a title that exudes the same level of charm and finesse.

Reviewed by Dave Cook for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).