The interesting title of SouthEnd Interactive's ilomilo comes from a combination of the names of its two title characters, Ilo and Milo. And the construction of the name itself offers great insight into the Xbox Live Arcade downloadable title.

At the core of ilomilo is a puzzler in which the player must switch between the game's two main characters, with the goal of each level being to bring them. As the intro to the game explains, Ili and Milo are characters who meet every day in the park, but by the next day the entire layout of the park changes. So new challenges face them with each and every stage, if they plan to continue meeting.

It is essentially a cooperative puzzler without the need (but the option for) a second person playing. Characters have to assist one another to progress, by doing things like moving blocks into place to create paths. As the game progresses, the puzzles get harder, with new elements presenting new challenges. And in the general campaign, the player toggles between characters to complete the necessary tasks to solve the puzzles.

The levels are all designed with cubes, but some cubes expand in different ways, or even move. Carpet ramps also allow the characters to actually defy gravity by changing which side of the cubes on which they are walking. Along the way, players also collect fragments that form to become memories, and search for small Safkas hidden in each level, along with photos and records that unlock bonuses. Of course, new elements present themselves throughout the game, presenting players with new challenges.

The world maps for each chapter of the game are essentially grids. By completing one level, the others directly facing it are opened. So players are given options as far as which direction they want to go and which puzzles they want to complete. After a certain number of Safkas are collected by completing these levels, the path to the next world is opened.

The extras go a long way in extending replay value for puzzle fans as things get more complicated. Though it may be possible to simply pass a level, getting all Safkas is sometimes incredibly more difficult, offering a challenge for those who want to collect everything. Also, tying into an Xbox Live promotion, owners of A World of Keflings and Raskulls will get additional content.

The downloadable ilomilo is a solid puzzler, which rehashes some old concepts in fun new ways, offering a reasonable difficulty curve and options that will challenge all types of gamers to different degrees. Its indie art style and cute meetings and sounds of the characters go a long way, as well, in making it a charming title. It is a great example of what kind of originality can be achieved in the realm of digital downloads.

Final Score: B