(Cross posted with OO because this game deserves some attention.) The Swapper came out on Steam yesterday and so far I’m impressed.
What really makes the game stand out is its unique art style. The game uses real-world clay models and found objects for almost everything in the game world. It creates an eerie surreal environment, which, when combined with the minimalist sound direction, is completely haunting.
Gameplay itself is puzzle platforming, with an emphasis on the puzzle. You use the Swapper device to create clones of yourself which you can then swap to in order to reach otherwise impassible areas. The game starts out pretty simple but after about an hour in it starts to get downright devious. If I had to level a complaint at the game it’s that while the puzzles are very good they don’t seem to really fit in with the game world. Instead of being integrated into the environment it’s more akin to a series of puzzle rooms that you must complete to carry on the story. In a lesser game this wouldn’t be an issue but here it feels a bit like a missed opportunity.
Speaking of the story, it’s surprisingly good. I haven’t finished it yet and I don’t want to spoil anything but it is psychologically poignant and deals heavily with the morality of clones and the soul.
