Title: Contrast
Format: PS4 (Reviewed), PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Release Date: Nov. 15 2013
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Developer: Compulsion Games
Price: 14.99
ESRB Rating: E
Sony came out swinging when they decided to launch the Playstation 4 with two free games: the extremely riveting and intense Resogun, and the interesting Puzzle/platformer Contrast. Resogun is widely regarded as the best game on the system, and making it free proved be a wise decision for Sony. Unfortunately, Contrast falls short.
You play as Dawn, an imaginary friend of a little girl named Didi. Dawn can jump into shadows, and this is the core mechanic of the game; it’s also the only one besides jumping. Didi is living with her mother, who is, like all characters besides Didi and Dawn, only represented by shadows. This form of storytelling is actually very interesting and really puts the focus on the story.
Didi follows her mother out one night when she is supposed to be sleeping. When she reaches the bar her mom performs in, she finds a few things out of place. This is where Dawn comes in. The player is asked to Move spotlights until the shadow on the wall is compatible with Dawn’s platforming ability.
This is all very interesting; the problem is that the integral jumping mechanic is clunky and imprecise. Dawn simply slides down the shadow at random times, and it never feels like you are really in control. Feeling like you are constantly at the mercy of the game’s ability to function correctly can be frustrating.
Didi’s father pops back into their lives, which is where the content for the rest of the game comes from. Johnny is Didi’s troubled father that is trying to find a way back into their lives. His plan is a circus, though he owes a lot of people money and is struggling to get it going. Didi wants to help.
Dawn’s task is to fix the broken attractions, all the while uncovering more story with every completed puzzle. The reminder that you are progressing is nice, except I never felt like I accomplished much. Most of the puzzles were short and simple: move a box and shine a light so that you can climb on it. The idea is neat, but there just isn’t enough content there.
The puzzles aren’t the only part of the game in need of further development as the world feels half-baked. Compulsion Games was clearly rushed for completion and left the world floating in air without explanation as to why there is not any extra world than the chunk the player is in at any given time.
Also, the game is really short. Clocking in at under three hours, Contrast doesn’t get much of a chance to get going before it’s over. Generally, I don’t like to fault games for their length, but this time it is evident that the developers just didn’t give enough game to warrant purchase after the game was no longer free.
There are a few particularly interesting levels, one at the end of the game and one right in the middle. The others are sort of straightforward, and every puzzle, even the good ones, uses the same two or three mechanics to solve them.
The last twenty minutes is where Contrast shows the most potential. Finally, the levels were dense and much more thoughtful. At this point in the game, I was motivated to continue playing for the first time. Then, Contrast ends in a brief, but somehow fitting, way that did exactly what it needed for the story.
Over the last year, I’ve played a dozen interesting and unique indie games with clever new implementations to platforming that Contrast seems to get lost. It just didn’t grab me the way that The Cave or Bit Trip Runner 2 did. The most frustrating thing about this game is how clear it was towards the end that the developers had an intriguing idea and a true vision but weren’t able to pull it all together.
Contrast’s story is well done, but the game itself isn’t quite there. It struggles at times to provide a competent platforming experience. Simply put, it struggles to be a video game.The idea is there, but the content is not. Contrast is a cool idea that is dragged down by it’s underdeveloped gameplay. @lanphlog 6.5/10
