Glover

About

Glover is a platform game where you control a sentient, four-fingered glove on a mission to recover magical crystals scattered across surreal worlds. The game mixes 2D and 3D environments as you bounce, stretch, and swing through levels filled with hazards and puzzles. Each crystal retrieval restores part of a crumbling kingdom while fending off the corrupted glove Cross-Stitch. Gameplay leans into quirky physics and timing, with levels that shift from whimsical to chaotic as Glover’s powers expand. The game stands out for its eccentric art style and deadpan humor. Bright, hand-drawn environments contrast with gloopy textures and character designs that feel lifted from a children’s book gone rogue. Critics in 1998 praised its inventive level design and replay value, though its oddball charm divided players. With a cult following and a Metacritic score of 78, Glover remains a nostalgic pick for those who enjoy offbeat platforming with a dash of absurdity. Its influence on later games is subtle but present, especially in titles that blend 2D and 3D spaces.

Storyline

In a peaceful, idyllic kingdom, a kindly wizard rules over various lands from his large castle. The beauty and harmony of the kingdom are protected by seven magical crystals, which sit on the spires of the castle. The wizard is aided in his magic by a pair of magic, four-fingered gloves, which are sentient. One day, though, the wizard accidentally mixes together a bad batch of potions, which create a massive explosion. The mishap turns the wizard into a statue, and sends his magic gloves in two directions—one flies out the window, while the other lands in a cauldron. The explosion also shakes the crystals from the spires, and they hurtle to the ground. The glove that landed outside—Glover—quickly casts a spell to transform the crystals into rubber balls to prevent them from shattering on the ground. They bounce away, entering the magical realms around the kingdom. Without the crystals, though, the world transforms into a foggy, desolate wasteland. To make matters worse, the other glove is corrupted by the potion in the cauldron and becomes the villain, Cross-Stitch.