Despite the 2D look, the world is rendered in 3D and fully rotatable.

It might be tempting to glance at Fez’s pixel-centric levels and deem them “flat,” but that couldn’t be further from the truth. One quick squeeze of either trigger button and the world spins 90 degrees in full 3D, giving you a fresh perspective on the environment — and often a way to reach new areas of the world.

It’s the core mechanic behind one of the most eagerly anticipated Xbox Live Arcade releases of next year, but while Fez may utilize a similarly retro-inspired visual approach as Super Meat Boy, the games couldn’t be more different. Instead of a brutal challenge, Fez takes on a notably relaxed demeanor, with no timers, enemies, or even consequences for steep falls. Instead, that level-turning approach is used to help guide hero Gomez — adorned with the power-giving hat — through numerous worlds that can be tackled in nearly any order. Swapping between viewpoints reveals fresh ledges, ladders, doors, and other routes to collect essential cubes, which gives this vibrant platformer something of a puzzle-solving appeal.

Rotating this area places those floating platforms in perfect ascending order.

With more than 150 fully rotatable environments and rooms to explore, it’s no wonder that Fez has been in development for roughly four years now. The effort shows, however, thanks to the game’s stunning artwork and animation, plus hauntingly gorgeous chiptune songs that stuck with us long after our brief demo. Luckily, this long-awaited indie-developed XBLA release is nearly complete and gearing up for launch, so be ready to check your dimensional perceptions at the door.

Publisher: Polytron/Trapdoor • Developer: Polytron • Multiplayer: No • Release Date: Early 2012 • For Fans Of: Retro charm, chill challenges, optical illusions