“SCHiM” is a casual adventure puzzle game where players take on the role of a schim, the soul and spirit of an object, entity, or living being, that has been separated from its original form. The primary objective is to navigate the world in search of the lost entity, but the player can only move within the confines of shadows. The game introduces a fresh and unique concept but I couldn’t help but think of this as a remix of a Frogger style game. It features a distinctive monochromatic art style that actually looks really nice and along with its chill musical soundtrack, this can be a rather peaceful laid-back experience.
The story revolves around the Schim’s quest to reunite with its human counterpart, a journey that is both physical and somewhat emotional. As you progress, you’ll uncover fragments of the Schim’s past and the bond it shares with its human. This storytelling approach adds some depth to the gameplay, I was hoping the game dwelled on this a bit more to make all your shadow hopping feel that much more meaningful. Before continuing I want to continue to applaud the game’s monochromatic art style, it not only sets it apart visually but also improves accessibility. The stark contrast of the shadows will make it easy for you to identify safe jumping points. Despite the simplicity of the art, the use of varying colors in different areas adds a significant amount of visual variety and appeal. Each area has its unique color palette, helping to differentiate the regions and break up the visual monotony.
As mentioned, in “SCHiM,” your schim has lost its “thing,” which in this case is a human being. The journey involves traversing a world filled with moving objects that cast shadows. These shadows serve as pathways for the player to move across otherwise inaccessible areas. This mechanic requires strategic thinking and timing to leap from shadow to shadow. You must plan your moves carefully, using the shadows cast by objects, buildings, and other environmental elements to navigate the terrain. As objects move, their shadows shift, creating dynamic pathways that you’ll have to adapt to in real-time. While this is the general gimmick of the game, it’s done really well most of the time, but if you play the game too long it may begin to feel a bit repetitive and while the art style is cool, it can grow stale quickly, so I recommend playing this in shorter bursts.
The game is designed to be approachable, with intuitive controls and a gradual learning curve. There is no HUD on the screen on purpose and if you aren’t sure where exactly you need to go there is a button you can push where the camera gently tilts in the general direction the game wants you to go towards. Overall, the game is supposed to be tranquil and not to give you the feeling of being overwhelmed by overly complex mechanics or punishing difficulty levels. This balance does make “SCHiM” an excellent choice for gamers of all ages and skill levels interested in the casual adventure puzzle genre. Its focus on shadows as the primary means of navigation, combined with an attempt at a touching narrative, but has a very visually appealing design, made it a memorable and enjoyable game for me.
7/10
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Related: Nick Navarro Reviews
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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