Lifeslide
Review

Lifeslide (2019) is an adventure where you fly a paper plane through an ever-changing landscape. It's a metaphorical journey through the stages of life as you learn to use eddies and up-drafts to soar higher and further.

You control your paper plane to gather momentum by using the terrain and the currents it creates to explore the world. It's simple to control with a direction stick, but nuanced to get the most out of every breeze. "Simple input, refined outcome" is the motto behind the flight mechanic which creates a blend of arcade and physics-driven gameplay.

Like classic flight games (Virus and Zarch) there are tilt controls you can use that work well on the AppleTV and iOS versions of the game. You hold the remote like you are holding the paper plane in your hands, and guide it with tiny flicks and rotations of your wrist. Reminiscent of the Wii, but with higher definition visuals and more accuracy.

There is no narration or text. But the game tells a story through the environment. Dive deep to find the meaning through the 28 levels or simply enjoy an atmospheric experience - this is your journey and you decide what to make of it. Along the way, an original score that combines electronic, rock and orchestral elements will keep you company.

In the Story mode, you are racing the clock as you try to maintain the right balance between Time and Matter. Each time you fail, you can use Matter to improve stats such as aerodynamics, steering and lift. Collect pieces to unlock 5 paper planes with different base stats.

In Zen mode, you can revisit your favourite moments in an endless loop. Toggle randomization to get new experiences unseen in Story. There are also weekly challenges to buzz mountains and architecture to earn points and climb leaderboards.

The Nintendo Switch version is planned for next year. PlayStation and Xbox could be possible.

Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Lifeslide 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 6 weeks ago.