Contrast
Developer: Compulsion Games
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Release Date: 29/11/2013
Format: PC, PS3,PS4, Xbox360
In a gaming world of fast octane motor cars, explosions and lots of fighting. It’s nice to just play a game and enjoy it just because of its story and mechanics. Contrast doesn't shout grand set pieces or lets its players choosing who lives and who dies. It is a heartfelt story of a young girl and her family trying to get on and make their mark in a shadowy dark world.
First thing you will notice about Contrast is its Noir art deco feel. The graphics are not next gen, but have a certain homely feel to them. You are introduced to your character; strangely you are an imaginary friend (known as Dawn), of a little girl called Didi. As you both escape the girls home to see her father you are introduced to the unique aspect Contrast brings. Dawn is able to shift between the 3D world and a 2D shadow world, able to walk along shadows on any kind of wall or screen to continue forward.
Even more strangely is that every other character including Didi’s parents in this game, are shown in this special 2D shadow world. But happily interact with Didi in the 3D world, with no hesitation. Virtually all the story cut-scenes are played against a wall so this is possible and does look strange to watch. This aside, Contrast is about Dawn and her shadow puzzles.
At the beginning of the game, the shifting between the 3D and 2D worlds are simple and its easy to see the path ahead. But slowly small obstacles are introduced. Having to move a light source around objects to project a shadow to reach higher places, or jumping across moving shadows. The simple task of reaching you objective is soon not as simple as first thought. Later in the game, these puzzles will test your brain, using light to move crates in shadow form around a room, and even producing a light source so you can enter the 2D shadow world to start with can be a troublesome task.
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Release Date: 29/11/2013
Format: PC, PS3,PS4, Xbox360
In a gaming world of fast octane motor cars, explosions and lots of fighting. It’s nice to just play a game and enjoy it just because of its story and mechanics. Contrast doesn't shout grand set pieces or lets its players choosing who lives and who dies. It is a heartfelt story of a young girl and her family trying to get on and make their mark in a shadowy dark world.
First thing you will notice about Contrast is its Noir art deco feel. The graphics are not next gen, but have a certain homely feel to them. You are introduced to your character; strangely you are an imaginary friend (known as Dawn), of a little girl called Didi. As you both escape the girls home to see her father you are introduced to the unique aspect Contrast brings. Dawn is able to shift between the 3D world and a 2D shadow world, able to walk along shadows on any kind of wall or screen to continue forward.
Even more strangely is that every other character including Didi’s parents in this game, are shown in this special 2D shadow world. But happily interact with Didi in the 3D world, with no hesitation. Virtually all the story cut-scenes are played against a wall so this is possible and does look strange to watch. This aside, Contrast is about Dawn and her shadow puzzles.
At the beginning of the game, the shifting between the 3D and 2D worlds are simple and its easy to see the path ahead. But slowly small obstacles are introduced. Having to move a light source around objects to project a shadow to reach higher places, or jumping across moving shadows. The simple task of reaching you objective is soon not as simple as first thought. Later in the game, these puzzles will test your brain, using light to move crates in shadow form around a room, and even producing a light source so you can enter the 2D shadow world to start with can be a troublesome task.
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The best thing is that none of these feel pointless.
Everything you do is to help Didi and her parents, whether it’s fixing Pirates
ship rides or performing as a shadow puppet to help Didis father’s puppet show.
Everything is well thought out and fits together perfectly, and is a real highlight
for the platforming and puzzle genre of gaming.
As perfect as it sounds, the game is not without its faults. Movement in the 3D world can be troublesome at times, Dawn is a circus acrobat, but her jumps and feel in the game don’t flow. The town you explore is dead, nobody is anywhere. (Whether this is to tie in with the fact that everyone but Didi and Dawn are shadows I really don’t know). The developers have done a great job in making the levels and environments, but explore past this and it becomes a scene from Inception, with the ground circling away into an abyss.
You are encouraged to explore when you can, as there are plenty of collectibles to find, and getting some is not just a case of looking. Some are placed high up or over giant chasms. But nearby will be a flicking icon to activate and a small shadow clip from Didi’s past will play on a wall, and Dawn must use the 2D shadow world to jump across to reach it. Falling off high places or into the giant chasms is the only way Dawn can fail or die and the checkpoints are very generous. This is a game about the story, not frustrating you because you can’t defeat wave after wave of zombies.
Contrast is beautiful, with a charming story but is over before it can really begin. Three Acts separate the game and you’ll tie upeverything up within three to four hours depending on how quickly to can tackle the more complicated puzzles. The atmosphere is nailed to a tee, with Jazz music and performances from the time. It sucks you into its unique shadow world, but you’re left with more questions than answers. This plays as a teaser or trial run and deserves a sequel or a full game.
As perfect as it sounds, the game is not without its faults. Movement in the 3D world can be troublesome at times, Dawn is a circus acrobat, but her jumps and feel in the game don’t flow. The town you explore is dead, nobody is anywhere. (Whether this is to tie in with the fact that everyone but Didi and Dawn are shadows I really don’t know). The developers have done a great job in making the levels and environments, but explore past this and it becomes a scene from Inception, with the ground circling away into an abyss.
You are encouraged to explore when you can, as there are plenty of collectibles to find, and getting some is not just a case of looking. Some are placed high up or over giant chasms. But nearby will be a flicking icon to activate and a small shadow clip from Didi’s past will play on a wall, and Dawn must use the 2D shadow world to jump across to reach it. Falling off high places or into the giant chasms is the only way Dawn can fail or die and the checkpoints are very generous. This is a game about the story, not frustrating you because you can’t defeat wave after wave of zombies.
Contrast is beautiful, with a charming story but is over before it can really begin. Three Acts separate the game and you’ll tie upeverything up within three to four hours depending on how quickly to can tackle the more complicated puzzles. The atmosphere is nailed to a tee, with Jazz music and performances from the time. It sucks you into its unique shadow world, but you’re left with more questions than answers. This plays as a teaser or trial run and deserves a sequel or a full game.
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+ Unique play between 3D and 2D planes of existence
+ Heart felt story + Atmosphere + Clever and challenging puzzles - Too short - Environments run into nothing, past where your suppose to go |
8/10
Chris Sowry |
