SCHiM starts as a bittersweet tale, beautifully told in an interactive montage from the Pixar school, then blossoms into one of the most innovative platformers around. Can you deem this a platform game? Absolutely.
In this game from Ewoud van der Werf and Nils Slijkerman, you play as a shadow separated from its owner. Attached at the hip, you do everything together, yet after a series of misfortunes, our owner becomes a shell of their former self, leaving you behind, a literal shadow.
SCHiM is about reuniting with your owner again, leapfrogging from one shadow to the next – hence the platform element, albeit from an isometric perspective. To say this game is a visual masterwork is an understatement, so take my word for it that this is a feast for the eyes – as if playing an animated page from one of your favourite storybooks.
SCHiM PS5 Review: Not So Dark
Naturally, there has to be a caveat when jumping from one shadow to the next, and that’s light. Wherever light hits, contrasting shadows will appear at the right angles, giving you a further angle to get to the next area. Like Quantum Leap, you get one jump closer to being ‘home’, only another cutscene occurs, and more shenanigans follow.
These skits are most welcome, however. There’s no time limit for getting your shadow back to where they belong, and while SCHiM isn’t an open world per se, you have ample freedom to explore nooks and crannies for side stories such as items and NPC insights. It’s almost expected that you want to explore these vibrant environments, and the devs accommodate that to a great extent.
Stay Away From The Light
The actual movement in SCHiM is way less restrictive than one may think, and though you can’t do as you please, the way you traverse the stages feels effortless, save for the clumsy of thumbs and poor skill ability. It comes across that the devs were looking for something on the chill side of the scale, and though you can’t slouch and have a half-arsed approach, the lack of mortal threat or boss rushes makes this a pleasing experience.
Sometimes, less is more, and the minimalistic approach in visual design—that is, colour palettes—plus the storytelling here induce less is more. That may perplex some, but this simplistic take serves up the rewards for the ambiguous monster in me and fanboy of inserting your own narratives. Again, it’s like interacting with an illustrated book. The last thing I want is to rip up the pages or launch it at the wall. This applies to the DualSense, too.
As a small child and not a gargantuan one, I used to visualise jumping into shadows in the backseat of a car on long trips. That has transitioned to adult life when a passenger, as I imagine jumping through the shadows. That might suggest that the company I share verges on b-o-r-i-n-g. I wonder if the developers have played the same games in their minds when creating SCHiM, whether I need to fast-track the padded cell or invest in a book.
SCHiM Review Summary
Regardless, SCHiM hit the feels for me. The static screenshots were enough of a lure, and when finally getting to lurk in the shadows, it didn’t feel remotely voyeuristic, nor would you end up on a list. The gameplay is short, though it warrants repeat plays to experience this vibrant environment that feels like a sandbox of great ideas.
