Upon first glance, it is not hard to see the Japanese influence in Xpec’s Do Not Fall, but it suits this game very well. The vibrant colors and cartoony visual style are the backbone of this title. Typical to platforming games of all types, Do Not Fall offers theme-based levels as well, which is very evident with the use of warm and cool colors to help sell the stage. Characters have typical simple animations for this style of game, completing the visual package to the fullest.

Along with looking the part, influences from the East are also heard loud and clear. Again, typical to the style, Do Not Fall’s audio and sound fx truly reminded me of old Sega games from the Dreamcast era straight out of the box. There are a lot of barely-audible words and cutesy sound effects.

This game’s title does not lie. There is only one way to navigate each stage, and only one way to move on to the next level… just Do Not Fall. Why? Take one look at the screenshots to the side and you will see that levels basically consist of a number of floating platforms hovering over an open abyss that is nothing more than a large background image.

At first glance, Do Not Fall may not look like much. I mean, how difficult can it be to move on a tile-based floor? In fact, upon entering some of the initial levels, you may wonder why you dropped money on this title as well. But it doesn’t take long before you’ll realize these platforms aren’t always solid, and tend to slide, disappear, and sometimes never re-appear right under your feet.

Okay, Do Not Fall really does fall – flat – in one area. While I don’t necessarily expect a puzzle game’s storyline to be deep, Do Not Fall’s is nothing less than lackluster at best. It is your goal to reach the end of the level so that you can unlock the next drink from the vending machine. Okay, I guess this helps explain why you have water, milk (cows), soda, and other themes in the game, but really? Is this the storyline?

Do Not Fall does also contain six multiplayer modes that can be played both online and offline. As always, they involve the ground falling from below your feet so it is imperative to keep a move on. These multiplayer levels are somewhat enjoyable for a little bit, but this isn’t going to replace some of the better party games out there. It should be noted here that I was unable to test the online modes due to lack of players out there at the time of this review.

That aside, Do Not Fall is very easy to pick up and play initially. The number of controls is very limited and easy to implement. Some of the initial levels of each stage will introduce new mechanics, and the levels will transition from quite easy to more difficult in a way that will allow the player to keep their interest.

However, it doesn’t take long to be a few levels into each stage for the tables to turn and have you on the verge of frustration. In fact, while it’s true that the player will likely have some falls due to the platform dynamics, it is actually the clock counting down that plays the biggest role in most later falls.

One thing that Do Not Fall does well in the later stages of each level is to balance the amount you have to accomplish with the countdown of the timer. At some point, this can cause falls that otherwise wouldn’t happen (potentially leading to more frustration).

Do Not Fall is a very simple game on its surface and that translates into basic controls for the user. You’ll be able to quickly control your avatar and navigate the levels with relative ease, at least in the beginning. Unfortunately, the control you have over your character is also very, very loose and this probably adds to more frustration than anything else in later stages. The loose controls aren’t exactly like sliding on ice by any means, but for whatever reason, they feel a bit unresponsive, for lack of a better word.

Still, Do Not Fall is one of those games that can walk a fine line between frustration, enjoyment, and addiction. Due to its low price point, it may be something you want to check out for a few hours of enjoyment. Clearing early stages feels pretty rudimentary and unsatisfying, but getting past a particularly troublesome stage has a great sense of accomplishment (and relief) associated with it.