I don’t remember when I first came across SCHiM. I remember seeing a trailer for it, and feeling mixed about it yet hopeful. A combination of the game’s artstyle and its hopping from shadow to shadow premise had me intrigued. Yet I wondered if it would be engaging. Would that premise grow boring quickly? I recall think that this game looks like the next evolution of Frogger. Does it live up or surprise that? Is it a good Single Player Experience? I’m here to answer all those questions.
Let’s dive into it.
The Narrative:
Well, imagine this, folks. You got this little fella, right? And his shadow? It’s like his loyal teammate, always right there, rain or shine. They’re inseparable, from playing in the park to handling heartbreak and rocking that cap and gown at graduation.
But then, wham! One tough day hits hard. The kid loses his job, takes a spill on the way home. That stumble? It shakes the shadow loose, and from that point on, the kid’s flying solo. The rest of Schim? It’s all about that shadow hustling to catch up, always a step behind as the kid’s life keeps unfolding. Both of them, trying to patch things up and find their way back together.
Despite the game not having any words, it conveys a story that hits ya in the feels and sets the stage well for the adventure that you go on. I like this simple, but effective and relatable narrative.
The Gameplay:
Alright, here’s the deal with SCHiM. It starts off with this deep setup where you, as the schim, are leaping from shadow to shadow, always chasing after your person who’s just out of grasp. You’ve got to keep tabs on shadows—whether they’re from objects or things that move—to navigate your way. Sometimes, you gotta press a button to trigger something and open up a new path. Environmental stuff like car lights on a dark road or lightning in a storm? They create these small windows where you gotta make quick moves.
Then there are these special shadows, like a windsock that blows you further ahead or a clothesline that springs you to a new spot.
Now, I’ve played my share of puzzle games, and some of them? They’re like hitting a brick wall if you’re not a hardcore puzzler. But SCHiM? It’s challenging enough to make you think but not so tough that you need a Ph.D. in puzzles to get through. It strikes a nice balance.
Here’s the thing, though. It’s a game you might want to pace out. Jumping from shadow to shadow, solving puzzles to move forward—it’s engaging, sure, but after a while, it can feel a bit repetitive. They mix things up with new areas and puzzles, which helps keep it fresh, but it’s still kinda the same song and dance.
So, take your time with SCHiM. It’s worth diving into, just maybe not all in one go.
Additional Pros:
The game has an excellent soundtrack filled with Soft jazz and Lofi tracks. The music helps set the mood for a cozy vibe and its varied enough that you don’t get tired of listening to the same tracks over and over again. The sound design and sound effects are also well done. The sounds help make each area feel lived in and like you are just a small piece of the world.
The game features a minimalist artstyle that contains solid two-toned colors that often illustrate a darkness behind the light. Two worlds, one of the light and one of the shadows. It illustrates the metaphor of one character’s bad day and the other trying to find its way back home. The game is easy on the eyes and its constant scenery change prevents location boredom. The artstyle looks like a pencil-drawn comic book panel come to life.
Cons/Flaws:
I don’t think that this is a bad thing, but for many people, this game is going to be too easy. The puzzles arean’t particularly hard nor is the platforming. For hardcore fans of either genre, I can see this being too boring and simple for them.
Overall/Should you Play SCHiM Review:
I think if you are looking for an indie puzzle platformer that is more on the cozy side than challenging, then you should check out SCHiM. While it is light on the story, its gameplay is engaging, the environments are artistically pretty, and the soundtrack is one that I could listen to anytime that I want to chill. I do think that it warms out its welcome a bit by the end of its 50 or so levels, but that said this is a game that if you come into it looking for a more chill experience then you’ll likely enjoy more than you’ll dislike. Oh and play it on a handheld, this game is right at home on the go.
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Reviewed on PC
Disclaimer: Review code provided by PR/publisher.
