Contrast Reviews
Contrast is a curious, fair attempt at a puzzle platformer with some neat ideas that make it somewhat enjoyable, but is a slightly frustrating experience that in the end won't be remembered for its gameplay, but more for its world, visuals and sound.
The story, characters, and aesthetic are incredible and have the power to linger with the player after the credits roll but it's up to each player to decide whether or not getting to those credits is worth the headache of playing a game that feels unfinished.
Contrast conjures a children's magic show - and is about as believable as one
As its name suggests, Contrast is a game of light and dark: a puzzle platformer with two well-realised female leads that occasionally buckles under the weight of its own mechanics. It's beautiful in parts, but also a little broken; I admire it for the first and can almost forgive it the second.
Contrast is aptly named. Its disappointing instability contrasts sharply with its wonderful ambiance and concept, and you're left feeling somewhat unsatisfied. The adventure is moderately fulfilling, the story is worth hearing, and the atmosphere is captivating, but in the back of your mind, you know what it could've been.
Contrast had the potential to be the breakout indie game of the new generation, but has managed to fall drastically short of what I had imagined.
Contrast is an intriguing and enjoyable title with a host of good gameplay ideas, fantastic visuals, beautiful music and an interesting and heartfelt story that succeeds in spite of its occasional technical problems and short length.
...the cheap feeling of the effort and downright tiresome nature of moving about makes it hard to recommend Contrast as worth your money.
Contrast is a mess. It's ugly, tiresome, insipid and occasionally insulting.
While I'm impressed that Compulsion Games fought to make a game that would appeal to both genders and I appreciate their effort, in the end, I had my issues with Contrast. It's an adequate game but fails to live up to its full potential. I recommend it to those who desire a more story -focused title or those who have a preteen son or daughter to play with, but not for players who want a thought-provoking, puzzle-driven adventure.
I really, really wanted to like Contrast, and in many ways it is a beautiful game. The thing is, though, that however great a wow-factor devleopers can create in visuals, in compelling story, and in atmospheric music, this cannot and should not come at the expense of enjoyable, inventive and functional gameplay. Unfortunately for Contrast, too much time appears to have been spent on polishing the look of the game, and far too little on polishing the actual gameplay.
Like the shadows that inspire the game, Contrast just doesn't have much substance.
I dearly wanted to enjoy Contrast. It's the kind of game that is normally right up my alley, featuring puzzles, platforming, a stylish, historically inspired world, and an intelligent young female protagonist. It simply wasn't fun to actually play. Contrast would have made a delightful short film, but I'm afraid that it isn't a particularly good game.
Frustrating glitches and a lack of polish dim the brightness of 'Contrast,' an otherwise brilliant indie title for the PlayStation 4.
It'd be nice to say that at least it's something different but Contrast is far more mundane and derivative than it first appears. It's also a near farce on a technical level.
Contrast is underwhelming due to basic and unrefined platforming mechanics. The adventure fails to capitalize on strengths and the resulting experience falls flat.
This is a game that could have been an indie classic, but the lack of polish—and conviction—kept it from really shining the way it could have.
There were also a few minor gameplay glitches in which I would get kicked out of shadow mode for what appeared to be no reason or stuck to objects in the world. I would find myself setting down boxes and then unable to move afterwards or stuck on invisible objects in the environment. This didn't happen throughout the whole game, but it occurred enough that it warranted mention. For the most part the shadow mode works pretty well. It is a fun and unique twist to your standard fare puzzle-platformer, but really only adds underutilized potential when the curtains prematurely fall.
A great hook falls foul of terrible bugs, inconsistent mechanics, and woeful performance issues.
Despite some frustrating complications towards the end, Contrast has been one of the best titles I've played of the PS4's launch lineup. The noir jazz age setting is fantastic and the game's use of shadows and silhouettes for both platforming gameplay and telling the story of a struggling family is unlike anything else I've played. I only wish it lasted that little bit longer.