| Platform | OVERALL |
|---|---|
| PlayStation 4 | 8.90 |
| Overall | 8.90 |
|
The Swapper is a 2D sidescrolling puzzle game with a unique game mechanic in which you create clones of yourself who move in unison with your character. Create a clone on a platform above you and if you move forward so will the character above, say to hit a switch you could not reach. You can also swap to the new character, this allows you to discard the previous clone. As with all the best puzzle games the concept begins with introducing the mechanic and showing a few easy puzzle scenarios. After a few rooms new mechanics are introduced, each adding to the complexity. The Swapper is perfectly paced and takes the concept of cloning and swapping to the max potential all while delivering a cool sci-fi story and setting. The Swapper takes place on a crashed space station on a planet where rocks have sentient thoughts. There is one other person dressed in a space suit just like you running around the station. Why you are there, what happened and why the hell are rocks telepathically communicating with you are all parts of the mystery. But honestly who cares, you play this for the awesome puzzles. The map is metroid like but you will not be exploring in the same way, for the most part the progress is linear, after solving some puzzles you earn power to activate a door which leads to more puzzle rooms. After each section a new mechanic is introduced. So at first you can create up to four clones and swap to any one you can shoot a beam at, learning how to use this mechanic is a blast. Just wait till you figure out how to move upward, it was one of the best A-HA moments I have had in a game in a long time. Later puzzles introduce beams that float your character a certain direction, you may need to send a clone into a beam to move him independently of your movements for instance. The most complex mechanic are the lights that prevent certain skills, a blue light means you cannot generate a clone, a red light means you cant shoot the beam to swap, purple means both are out of the question. Trying to maneuver a puzzle room to block certain lights to allow you to use your skills in certain spots all while trying to place your limited clones and how to move them becomes the end goal of the final puzzles. It is brilliant to put it simply. The game took me a little under four hours to see it all. It is a short puzzle game, and judging it as a short puzzle game it is near perfect. I personally prefer a little more meat in my games so I was left wanting more. Maybe a challenge mode with super hard puzzles and ranked times would have been a nice addition. Also the metroid like map layout is basically wasted as the only hidden objects are so random it doesn't really fit the whole "learn new skills to access secrets" mechanic that this genre does so well. The Swapper could have used that extra layer of secrets, exploration could have been a focus instead the game is just puzzle room after puzzle room. That said the entire package is so well made, a great concept with great execution, I just want more. |
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Posted by Dvader Mon, 26 Jan 2015 02:43:00
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*crickets*
Review Teslesgrad next plz.
I am surprised. What did you give Portal?