“Contrast” Review: Remarkable, But Short

Compulsion Games puzzle-platformer debut title “Contrast” is a bizarre, beautiful and brilliant experience, but don’t get too attached, however, since the campaign is over in just a few short hours and since you will probably pick up all the easy-to-find collectibles on your first try, there is hardly anything to motivate a second playthrough.

Set in a fantasy Paris, “Contrast” follows the story of Didi, a young girl who must intervene with her separated parents affairs in order bring them out of harms way and back into each others arms. Players take the role of Dawn, Didi’s imaginary friend, who can shift in and out of the shadows, creating a unique platformer that demands you switch from 2D to 3D (and vise versa) to progress.

The gameplay is simple, aside from the ability to lurk in the shadows, Dawn only has one other skill: dash. Dawn can dash through certain objects to reveal new areas to explore. However, this is rarely ever needed and Compulsion smacks “Caution” tape onto all objects that can be smashed which makes it easy to spot and steals the purpose and joy out of exploring for hidden locations – of which there are none.

Where “Contrast” lacks most, though, is in its inability to deliver consistent shadowy puzzles. The game is at its best when you’re challenged with a puzzle that forces you to use your brain instead of one where all you need to do is find a box and place it on a nearby button, which occurs way too often.

Even still, “Contrast’s” story is extremely satisfying, in a weird, almost unexplainable way. You’re thrown into this strange world with no explanation. It’s as if there was a prequel that you’re unaware of. There’s really no beginning. Everything is there, and there for a reason, but that reason is unknown to you. But that’s okay, because you learn to accept it. In fact, you embrace it.

The game ends just as it begins. The closer you come to the conclusion the more you start to think you understand, but when it’s all said and done you realize you still don’t and no amount of playthroughs will change that.

“Contrast” is remarkable, but it’s also remarkably short. You can finish the campaign in under two hours if you minus the cutscenes. Hopefully with the success of this game Compulsion will look towards making a more lengthier title next time around. And if the idea is half as creative as this one, we will all be in for a real treat.