No matter how alone you are in this world, you will always have someone with you. You can attempt to hide from them, but they are always attached to you. Your shadow has been forever by your side, experiencing the highs and lows of your life. Douze Dixiemes explores this premise in its light manipulating puzzle game Shady Part of Me (SPoM).
Published by Focus Home Interactive, this melancholy title has you controlling a lonely girl whose existence is dominated by the continued feelings of isolation and despair. A recluse child whose fear of the light has kept her in the dark. Her only companion in her “prison” is her silhouette, her shady pal enables her to journey to places otherwise off-limits. Alongside this solitary friend is a person known as “the other”. This controlling being is the authority figure in her life and offers no contact or warmth.
A familiar mechanic.
Light manipulation is nothing new, many puzzle games of late have used it to great success. Projection First Light is one such title and one I’ve recently reviewed. SPoM plays with the use of shadow alongside visual perception. What once appeared flat, turns into a climbing frame along another plain. Paths are forged through unseen layers and moving torches and boxes alter both the fore and the background.
It was a familiar and comfortable place to be, with a gentle learning curve. Her phobia of the light forced you into analysing the situation and thinking about how to venture through the shadow. Her shady partner loves the light and isn’t simply a passenger in this puzzle game. She can pull levers and change objects in the other realm. Each child works together to reach an illuminated circle. Both characters’ progress is delicately balanced, but not complicated.
A story veiled in mystery.
Other than the opening cinematic that explains the main game premise, very little is uncovered. The world in which the girls live, changes in how it looks, and the atmosphere it creates. You never know if it’s simply a nightmare or something more sinister. “The other” takes many forms and tricks the mind into thinking it’s all a dream. No matter the reason for being there, the aim is clear! The two friends must work together to escape their fate.
Even though the story is kept a mystery, how the gameplay unfolds is a delightful experience. It never bothered me that I never pieced together every part, and that its conclusion wasn’t entirely fulfilling. The journey from beginning to end was a sombre awakening with some brilliantly designed puzzles chucked in.
A monochromatic delight.
When you are playing with light and dark, the world is going to be monochromatic by nature. The beautiful use of silhouettes and hidden imagery strengthened the dreamlike nature of this title. And a gothic art style powered through helping to enhance the melancholy and depressing tones set by the odd story. Each of the 4 chapters that you experience has a unique look and progressively deepens the insane and confusing nature of the storyline.
The power of words is an under-used commodity, but not in SPoM. Phrases and emotive tags are splashed across the world, giving hints and meaning to the actions that you are undertaking. It’s a clever approach from the developers, though it wasn’t always necessary.
The artistry wouldn’t have been as successful if it wasn’t for the wonderful audio. The mournful yet airy soundtrack keeps you going along this confusing and unnerving path. Its quiet and gentle tones patter away in the background, never overpowering the action or the storyline. It supports every other element with a strong yet subtle platform.
Easy to play and odd collectables.
Whenever I play these perception manipulating titles, I get concerned that it’ll be a complicated mess. From the off, it’s clear that it’s going to be a pleasure to play. A simple tutorial offers advice covering all aspects of the game. A small amount of trial and error ensures you master everything within the first 5 minutes.
So with simple puzzles, and a short gameplay length, approximately 1 evening, you may think it lacks depth and replay value. You needn’t worry as the gameplay and story offer enough to keep you interested, and bizarre origami birds act as collectables to keep you coming back for more. These odd birds add a layer of gameplay that strangely does nothing to clear up the main story. I cracked a wry smile when it simply added another layer of mystery to this strange story.
A beautiful and touching story that’s worth a look.
The gaming world is getting better and better with delivering touching tales and emotive plots. Shady Part of Me is a prime example of an interesting mechanic mixed with an excellent story. You may be disappointed, confused, or annoyed with the outcome. Don’t let it tarnish the journey you have taken. With a distinct art style, sombre music, and well-delivered pace, I can’t help but recommend you try this. Buy a copy here! Darkness and light must come together to help you escape your personal prison. Grab your shadow and solve the problems you face!
