Picture yourself in is smoggy, Victorian London in the middle of the 19th century. You’re employed by an underground network of thieves tasked with the mission of seizing important technology designed by Scotland Yard and you must do it soon, or the whole network will be non existent. The catch? You must sneak around, steal all the money, hack into intricate computer systems, and make it back to your rocket ship base before the coppers make an arrest or you fall victim to one of the many traps along the way. With upgradable tools at your disposal, this Steampunk adventure will keep you on your toes for hours to come.
The Swindle originally made its debut in July 2015 on platforms such as Steam, PS4, Xbox One, but most recently in October being ported and released on the Nintendo Switch. Notable Indie game developer and BAFTA winner Size Five Games teamed up with producer Curve Digital to create a Steampunk inspired stealth and rouge-like game with a new twist on a recognizable setting.
This RPG gives you a throw back, Mario-esque feel with the challenge of modern day difficultly along the lines of games like Cup Head. You have to jump, attack, avoid traps like in retro style RPGs but also must be stealthy and time yourself accordingly as to not be caught by the police. With Steampunk becoming more popular these days, I found it refreshing to be on a different side of what is expected. It is rare that I find games with a fresh stance in viewpoint. I was not expecting to be in the role that is normally seen as the “bad guy” in most games. The art style is exquisitely fun, yet grungy and ruffian like the Victorian working class portrayed in most historic media. The soundtrack creates a real mysterious feel while hyping the player up for each heist throughout the game.
No game is perfect and there are some downsides to The Swindle. There is little instruction on how to go about the game. It’s really a trial and error method that wastes some of the time you are given to complete the main objective. While you can access the control list at any time, it’s a counter productive measure that eats up play time. Each character has the ability to die permanently. This feels a little impersonal even though the idea is that you are part of a collective. Spike traps cause a mental disconnect as jumping isn’t a primary action like the attack function. While you can play mobile, it is best to use the big screen to play as objects are clearer. The last issue I have is that a percentage of the heist cleared is not available until you return to your ship or die. You can only clear a heist if you have collected 80% or more of the loot or disable a security station, so not having this information can slow down game progression.
Overall, this is a great casual play game for people who like a tough challenge and enjoy stealth aspects. I feel though there is quite a bit of disconnect between the gameplay and the player. This game needs a bit of cleaning up to be cohesive for all types of players verses a niche player market.
Features:
- Classic RPG Level Feel
- Upgrade: Upgrade your equipment and skills to further progress throughout the game.
- Stealth Encouraged
- Long roster of playable characters.
- Can be played on the TV or on the go.
Score: 6/10
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