SCHiM - The Must-Play Game of 2024: Shadows Come to Life in My Review
SCHiM is a shadow platformer where you are exploring a colorful world hopping from the shadows of cars, cats, strollers, umbrellas, buildings, toys, and more to explore and get to your destination.
Hello everyone and welcome to the first review for Good Game Lobby. Today we are diving into the shady, colorful world of SCHiM. Thank you to Pirate PR and Ewoud for this opportunity and key. Though I was provided the key the thoughts and praise for the game are all my own. Lets dive right in. This review was transcribed from the video review.
SMaLL Shadow in a Big World
SCHiM is a indie title by Extra Nice based out of the Netherlands. The developer Ewoud was studying in university when they began the project it was 2020 and the start of the covid pandemic and through development and recognition from a large publisher they decided to finish their studies to start full development of SCHiM. You can learn more about their journey in development in the official devlogs. With another Developer Nils, and a beautiful soundtrack by Moonsailor we are here today.
It Begins
A SCHiM by its very definition in Dutch is a Shadow or apparition, ghost. You start as the shadow of a young boy. You learn the mechanics of the game by following them in their shadow and hopping out to interact with everyday items from street signs, cars, and other humans. The objects around the world that cast a shadow guide you on your journey.
The main characters life slowly unfolds in a montage of life experiences that bring them to rock bottom. One day they trip and the SCHiM they've had since childhood is thrust into the world. The real journey has now begun.
You are the main character now hopping from cars, to cats, strollers, lamp posts, flying umbrellas, kites, trains and more. Your goal is to reunite with your human. You come close as you solve the puzzle of each level just missing out on connecting again.
Stepping Out of The Shadows
From the outside looking in you may think it is a simple puzzle game, and technically it is, but you get a story that unravels in front of you that touches on all the hardships of life and small victories in the humans life feel like simple puzzles you solve in the game.
As you explore you will find that your path is blocked without a shadow close enough to progress. This is where you need to look around to find hidden items that when discovered will reclaim their SCHiM and a shadow will appear to assist you in your progression.
Development and Mechanics
All of this wonder and excitement comes together in this beautifully colorful yet color absent world. Ewoud touches on this in one of his devlogs here:
This simplicity gives you more focus on the surroundings bringing your attention directly to the black shadows. Using the triggers on the controller you shift the focus of the level in different directions to see around larger items and discover ways to solve the levels.
Connecting to your Shadow
When I played the demo during Steam Next Fest I was intrigued. I had been following development on Twitter for quite some time and the trailers over the years kept the anticipation going.
The game took me roughly 2 and half hours to complete and in that time I never felt a lull or had a moment where the gameplay didn't keep my full attention. I plan on going through the game again to explore a bit more and collect all of the items you find along the way.
SCHiM released on July 18th 2024 and you can pick up a physical version by pre-ordering right now on iam8bit.
Beautiful instrumental soundtrack by the amazing Moonsailor is available now!
SCHiM | Steam | PS5 | Switch
Developed | Ewoud
Published | Extra Nice | PLAYISM