BasketBelle is an experimental 2D basketball-based platformer. Each Chapter of the game uses the mechanics and idea of basketball in a different way. At one point you might be dribbling inside the intestines of a purple blob creature (what?). At others, you're likely to be dunking above the clouds in front of the Parisian moon. It gets a little weird, and I like that. BasketBelle was originally created as an experiment in synchronizing audio with interactive visuals. This has stayed true through its development, as the main character's dribbles create the bass kicks for the music in each Chapter. There was also a desire to try something new with basketball - its mechanics perfect for a videogame; its application mostly being confined to a court. As an additional change of pace, a love story was introduced, but this time dealing with the love of family members and not so much romantic love as has been explored in previous games.
A very well done masterpiece of puzzle-platform gaming. The only problem with this game is that it's short (I beat it in about one hour), but if you think games are too long nowadays, it might not be a bad thing.
Anyway, the idea of having a basketball be the equivalent of a portal gun is novel in and of itself, but this game is also incredible because of the design. The faux cardboard visuals are beautiful, and the chiptune-influenced soundtrack complements the gameplay well. The puzzles themselves are challenging, but not so challenging that you'll ever have to give up and consult a walkthrough.
So, this game may be an hour long, but it's definitely one of the best hours of gaming you'll have all year.