SCHiM [PC] | REVIEW

SCHiM has been on my radar for a long time after I found myself mesmerised by its charming gameplay clips on social media, and after finally getting the chance to play it, I’m happy to report that it is as delightful as I hoped.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Whilst they might look like cute frog-like creatures that simply leap between shadows, the titular SCHiMs actually represent the soul and spirit of the objects and living creatures found within the world. In your case, you’ve been separated from a human following an accident, and after being with them from the day they were born and sharing the trials and tribulations they have faced in their life, are desperate to reunite. Thus, your shadow-hopping journey begins, with the player leading the SCHiM through a vast array of landscapes as they seek out their human.

There’s no narration or word of dialogue found across your adventure, yet it still manages to stand out as a touching journey that captures a lot of the feelings you might associate with… well… being human – especially during the opening sequence, where you watch your human grow up. I think what it manages to capture the most effectively is a sense of realness, with the world you’re venturing across feeling believable in design and like actual living landscapes. Everybody’s going about their everyday lives in each level, and whilst some aspects are gamified to make the shadow-hopping work, it also brings with it a creative sense of realism that makes the whole experience all the more endearing. It’s really, really nice.

Of course, the big hook of SCHiM comes with its clever shadow-hopping gameplay, with the game taking a puzzle-platformer approach by having players leap between each shadow they come across to make their way through levels. It’s an easy enough process, and as long as there’s a shadow nearby, you won’t have any trouble jumping to it or even running across it depending on its shape. You can make big leaps or short hops when jumping too, giving players a greater sense of precision when making their way from point A to B.

“Everybody’s going about their everyday lives in each level, and whilst some aspects are gamified to make the shadow-hopping work, it also brings with it a creative sense of realism that makes the whole experience all the more endearing.”

Where the real creativity comes in is when working out which shadows to utilise to get through levels. There are plenty of different shadows to work with across each level, and whilst some of these are of inanimate objects, there’ll be plenty of occasions where you’ll have to carefully time your jumps to reach an object that’s moving in order to get to inaccessible areas. You’ll also need to work out the right path to take through levels, and with plenty of shadows to leap between, it can be easy to find yourself heading in the wrong direction (or, on some occasions, forced to restart levels when you find yourself completely lost). The game does give a bit of guidance of the route to take when a level begins, but the impetus is on the player to navigate through it correctly.

The game demands some careful planning then, but patience and creativity is of equal importance. There’ll be a lot of moments when playing where you’ll have to carefully wait for the right moment to leap in order to reach your objective, whilst you’ll also have to be clever to spot the opportunities to take advantage of moving shadows. I wouldn’t necessarily call SCHiM challenging when it comes to its platforming, but there are plenty of ways in which things can go wrong if you aren’t careful. At least the checkpoints of the game are forgiving though, so you don’t have to worry too much if you find yourself stepping out of a shadow for too long.

It all comes together to make for a gameplay experience that I found incredibly rewarding. I thought that the shadow-hopping of SCHiM might have got a little bit repetitive after a few levels, but the clever and creative level design ensures that each one is a real treat to play through – so much so that I was a little sad there weren’t more levels to play through after beating it (which took me around three hours). Additional mechanics are introduced in some levels to keep the experience fresh, whilst the collectibles give players an incentive to take the time to explore all of their surroundings carefully. And when you beat the game? You’ll unlock a more challenging mode to play that’ll push your shadow-hopping skills to their limit. Admittedly, SCHiM did feel like a bit of a one-and-done experience for me, but I’m sure the increased difficulty will appeal to those who like a bit of a challenge.

Check out some screenshots down below:

What adds to the experience is the wonderful visual style, which is simple in design with its muted colour palette but manages to capture the serene tone of the game perfectly. It complements the creativity of the level design with its minimalism, but also ensures there’s plenty of detail for players to appreciate each little thing found across levels. With levels ranging from the likes of outdoor play areas, bustling tube stations, and complex factories, there’s a LOT to see, but it always looks great thanks to the charming aesthetic. And the soundtrack? It’s absolutely delightful.

Developer: Ewoud van der Werf, Nils Slikerman
Publisher: Extra Nice, Playism
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1519710/SCHiM/