Contrast Review
Hey folks Brandon here and this game might have been out since November but it is still a game I said I'd review. Contrast was made by the fine people at Focus Home Interactive, famous for.... Blood Bowl? Ok so maybe this is their first real success but still it isn't a bad game.
You play as Dawn a woman who can't for some reason talk but she has the ability to turn into a shadow. You are helping out a girl named Didi who is the only other human in the world it seems. They explain the whole shadow thing but they never explain why Didi is the only other human. All the other characters you see are shadow people, the others being Didi's parents, mobsters, or a magician. The story is you help Didi help out her shadow parents from getting killed by the mob. I know that sounds awesome, hold up it isn't that interesting. You basically are just helping the dad succeed so he can pay off his debts. The story has heart I'll give it that but it doesn't have the legs to keep you going. It also doesn't help Didi so damn annoying. I honestly wish I could get an option to grab that little girl and say shut the fuck up and go to bed. Seriously what kind of eight year old is already talking back to adults and being a bitch. The ending was the most interesting thing about the game which only makes me hope that they expand on this universe.
The game graphically is great, just great. I played it on the PS4 so you think shouldn't it be amazing Brandon. Well yes and no the shadows and the things they do with the shadows is amazing but the overall look is just good. I did dig the 20's era look they had going on and the character models were something that Tim Schafer would've shat out.
The soundtrack is good I'm into that style of music so of course I'd approve. The voice acting is all well done except that little brat girl. Maybe it's the fact they made her into this brat, I was raised to be a good and respect adults as a kid. This little shit got under my nerves and plus she points out the fucking obvious. Then Dawn doesn't say a word which always annoys the crap out of me. I hate no loath mute characters.
The gameplay is what is going to be turning the heads with this game. This is a puzzle plat former, but the plat forming is all done within the shadow world. I did have the game fuck up on me which is a huge mark against it but the checkpoint was right there so I continued on. The puzzles can be challenging I spent a couple hours on a few, which I can appreciate that in any puzzle game. The big knock against this game is the fact that it is only like three hours long. I got it free from PlayStation Plus but if you paid any more than five dollars for this game you are going to be pissed and want your money back.
Overall it isn't a bad game it has some pretty big flaws in gameplay, characters and making an interesting story. If you can get it for free I'd say check it out but any amount of money for this is too much. I give this a 2.5 out of 5.
You play as Dawn a woman who can't for some reason talk but she has the ability to turn into a shadow. You are helping out a girl named Didi who is the only other human in the world it seems. They explain the whole shadow thing but they never explain why Didi is the only other human. All the other characters you see are shadow people, the others being Didi's parents, mobsters, or a magician. The story is you help Didi help out her shadow parents from getting killed by the mob. I know that sounds awesome, hold up it isn't that interesting. You basically are just helping the dad succeed so he can pay off his debts. The story has heart I'll give it that but it doesn't have the legs to keep you going. It also doesn't help Didi so damn annoying. I honestly wish I could get an option to grab that little girl and say shut the fuck up and go to bed. Seriously what kind of eight year old is already talking back to adults and being a bitch. The ending was the most interesting thing about the game which only makes me hope that they expand on this universe.
The game graphically is great, just great. I played it on the PS4 so you think shouldn't it be amazing Brandon. Well yes and no the shadows and the things they do with the shadows is amazing but the overall look is just good. I did dig the 20's era look they had going on and the character models were something that Tim Schafer would've shat out.
The soundtrack is good I'm into that style of music so of course I'd approve. The voice acting is all well done except that little brat girl. Maybe it's the fact they made her into this brat, I was raised to be a good and respect adults as a kid. This little shit got under my nerves and plus she points out the fucking obvious. Then Dawn doesn't say a word which always annoys the crap out of me. I hate no loath mute characters.
The gameplay is what is going to be turning the heads with this game. This is a puzzle plat former, but the plat forming is all done within the shadow world. I did have the game fuck up on me which is a huge mark against it but the checkpoint was right there so I continued on. The puzzles can be challenging I spent a couple hours on a few, which I can appreciate that in any puzzle game. The big knock against this game is the fact that it is only like three hours long. I got it free from PlayStation Plus but if you paid any more than five dollars for this game you are going to be pissed and want your money back.
Overall it isn't a bad game it has some pretty big flaws in gameplay, characters and making an interesting story. If you can get it for free I'd say check it out but any amount of money for this is too much. I give this a 2.5 out of 5.