Originally released on PC in 2013, The Swapper tells the haunting story of a lunar-esque base in chaos. Players take the role of an explorer tasked with obtaining resources from the mysterious Chori V planet to help prolong life back on Earth. After discovering that nearly every crew member has died under questionable circumstances, the player-character wanders around the ship seeking answers. The ambiguous nature of The Swapper‘s story creates a near-constant sense of dread, as it’s clear at all times that something has gone horribly wrong. Make no mistake though, this is not the type of game that will explain every second of the narrative in near-excruciating detail. The subtle use of terror and atmospheric visuals allows every moment to feel important, creating a sense of urgency that does wonders in helping players overcome the game’s various challenges. – See more at: http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2014/07/23/review-the-swapper-ps4/95443/#sthash.OTexALXO.dpuf

 

Originally released on PC in 2013, The Swapper tells the haunting story of a lunar-esque base in chaos. Players take the role of an explorer tasked with obtaining resources from the mysterious Chori V planet to help prolong life back on Earth. After discovering that nearly every crew member has died under questionable circumstances, the player-character wanders around the ship seeking answers. The ambiguous nature of The Swapper‘s story creates a near-constant sense of dread, as it’s clear at all times that something has gone horribly wrong. Make no mistake though, this is not the type of game that will explain every second of the narrative in near-excruciating detail. The subtle use of terror and atmospheric visuals allows every moment to feel important, creating a sense of urgency that does wonders in helping players overcome the game’s various challenges. – See more at: http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2014/07/23/review-the-swapper-ps4/95443/#sthash.OTexALXO.dpuf

The Swapper starts you off by being ejected from a spaceship sending you to search on a heartless space station that has been left empty. After having a look around you finally encounter other life – a peculiar device called the Swapper which gives you the ability to clone your body and move your soul directly between your clones.

Like any good puzzler every solution seems utterly impossible just seconds before you realise what to do and wonder why you were ever stuck in the first place. As you progress through the space station complications are thrown into the mix primarily coloured areas that limit the abilities of the swapper.

The Swapper allows you to create up to a total of four clones of yourself, If you step forward they do the same….

Throughout the game, advancement is contingent on sending hundreds of these clones to harsh, ignominious, bone-crunching death to solve its puzzles, with zero caution thrown to the wind, thus rendering even using the gun an act of cruelty and horror.

One of the first aspects of The Swapper that will instantly grab your attention is its dark and isolated atmosphere, which is highlighted by the amazing looking visuals that were all sculpted from clay. Every asset you see in the game world is based off of a clay sculpture, which gives the game a very unique look and feel.

The difficulty in planning your clone placements and moves is furthered increased thanks to the use of red, blue, and purple lights, which each affect the swapper gun differently, making some puzzles serious tests of your spatial skills and mental fortitude. Red lights block you from being able to swap your soul with a clone, and your soul must be in a clone to pick up the encryption orbs that unlock closed doors impeding your progress, so they can throw a few monkey wrenches into your planning. On the other hand blue lights block you from creating new clones, while purple lights block you from creating and swapping to clones. When all colors of light are present The Swapper’s puzzles will challenge you on the same level as the Portal franchise, and at times you’ll wonder if a solution is even available. Sometimes this is even the case on puzzles that only use one light, thanks to the inclusion of pressure plates that turn certain lights off and on to allow you to advance.

The Swapper may have started its life on the PC platform, but it has cemented its status as an amazing and thoughtful puzzler on Sony’s brand of gaming machines. Curve Studios have done a good solid job porting this atmospheric sci-fi title for consoles and handhelds.