Contrast

Contrast (2013) is a traversal puzzle game set in a surreal 1920s world of vaudeville, film noir and jazz clubs. To move through each area you use your light to create shadowy platforms that you can use to progress. It stands out for the emotive story of fractured parents mirrored by your ability to switch from 3D to 2D and use those shadows to move through the world.

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Contrast is a game about family, sacrifice, and redemption as Didi and her invisible friend Dawn navigate the challenge of her separate parents. You work to solve puzzles and traverse the world and along the way mend broken relationships and save a failing circus.

You play Dawn, the imaginary friend of a young girl named Didi, who has the power to slip from the real world into projected shadows. By moving light to distort, enlarge or stretch the shadows you create new ways to progress.

The result is a game with an emotive family narrative from the perspective of a child, that ties well to the shifting platforming of the 3D and 2D world. It's all wrapped up in a rich world of cabaret singers, circus performers, and magic.

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Our examiner, Jo Robertson, first checked Contrast 5 weeks ago. It was re-examined by Andy Robertson and updated 4 weeks ago.