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AltSHIFT

4 Differences

February 3, 2010

Platform: Flash (plug-in info)

Tags: browser, case, flash, free, game, macwinlinux, puzzle, rating-g, simpleidea, spot-the-difference

By joye | add to favorites | add to your website | Comments (21)

joye Who doesn't enjoy looking at two seemingly identical images and spotting the subtle differences between the two? Why, the last time I saw a pair of identical twins, I may have weirded them out when I crossed my eyes and murmured "Aha, the eyes don't quite match up, I better click on that." But luckily I paid my bail in time to catch 4 Differences, the latest installment in one of the finest spot the difference series out there.

The control scheme is pretty self explanatory. Look for places where Ivoryboy's gorgeous visuals don't match up, and click on them. The eye cross trick doesn't always work because sometimes the pictures are stacked rather than side-by-side, and sometimes they are mirrored.

Although this installment is just as beautiful as the previous 5 Differences and 6 Differences, it's lacking in some of the satire and symbolism that made 6 Differences in particular compelling. 4 Differences doesn't seem to have much to say; it's content just to show us some pretty pictures. The four differences in each scene are also the same every time you play through the game, which severely hampers replay value.

That said, this game is still miles above most other save the difference games. Its visual presentation alone makes it worth a look. If you like the genre at all, you won't want to miss it.

Play 4 Differences

4 Differences walkthrough now available!

Currently 4.6/5
1
2
3
4
5

Rating: 4.6/5 (164 votes cast)

Walkthrough Guide

Walkthrough:

PARKING LEVEL

Screenshot
BR K - PARK
white post
moon
airplane

DINER LEVEL

Screenshot
Way-HI
27-4
jet trail immediately to right of moon
dot on aerial tower

HOUSE LEVEL

Screenshot
branches
window
rag on sidewalk
aerial

WAREHOUSE LEVEL

Screenshot
door with face
upper right bird on right
lamp on right
panel on right

BUILDING LEVEL

Screenshot
blinking power light
bird
graffiti
cloud

DO NOT LEVEL

Screenshot
line
zeit
missing chain link on left
pole

MOVING LEVEL

No picture for this level as the level loops, making screen captures difficult to express what is happening.
missing windmill
mesa in distance
part of bush near mesa
cloud over mesa and bush

INK LEVEL

Only pictures can explain the differences here.
Screenshot 1
Screenshot 2
Screenshot 3
Screenshot 4

TELEPHONE POLE LEVEL

Screenshot
wires
window
graffiti
ladder

TRAIN LEVEL

Screenshot
tank car
automobile
third barrier from left
graffiti

TREE LEVEL

Text not helpful.
Screenshot

DEFIANCE LEVEL

Picture not very helpful for this level.
Arrow on sign
Stoplight
Loud-speaker (in tree on left side)
Cloud (right next to top of tower)

Posted by: joye | February 3, 2010 8:02 PM

21 Comments [leave a comment]

First to say: Great game!

Posted by: Cyberjar88

| February 3, 2010 11:43 AM

Great game.
The mirror effect and "moving pictures" is an entirely new aspect on find the difference games - at least, I haven't heard of anything similar.

Posted by: Benedicta

| February 3, 2010 12:38 PM

Wow. These games are getting more and more ambitious.

Posted by: Shostie

| February 3, 2010 12:55 PM

AWESOOOOOME

I thought I played a game just to play another point-and-click game.

I discovered an art!

Posted by: Uki

| February 3, 2010 1:19 PM

I've played this game on Kongregate already. Beaten this game yesterday. Wasn't too hard after all.

Posted by: Makoto Shinobi

| February 3, 2010 1:32 PM

Simply gorgeous. For a spot the difference game to be that good to look at and to have a soundtrack which could raise emotions...

More please.

Posted by: Glitzcatz

| February 3, 2010 1:40 PM

After playing through the first few levels, I closed the game. When I returned a half hour later the game doesn't load. All I have is an image of the sky with some clouds and the number 1 in the upper right corner. If I move my mouse in the window, the image moves slightly.

Posted by: Zeke

| February 3, 2010 4:16 PM

Good game. My only gripe is that it was a little short, but I personally liked the lower difficulty compared to some other "Spot the Difference" games. It looked and sounded nice too. The mirroring and moving levels took me a minute to wrap my mind around them, but once I understood them I found them great fun.

Posted by: waycooler

| February 3, 2010 4:30 PM

thank you for reviewing this. I have loved the entire trilogy (thus far) and feel they turn the spot-the-difference game into a an atmospheric and emotional experience. I personally found this to be my favourite so far, perhaps because of its simplicity and beauty. I guess by the time they reach '1 Difference' they will have somehow transcended the entire genre?

Posted by: blumley | February 3, 2010 6:22 PM

Absolutely beautiful!!! I usually love the sopt the differences games, but this one took it to a whole other level. Loved the moving ones in particular.

Posted by: queen-of-diamonds

| February 3, 2010 6:29 PM

Walkthrough:

PARKING LEVEL

Screenshot
BR K - PARK
white post
moon
airplane

DINER LEVEL

Screenshot
Way-HI
27-4
jet trail immediately to right of moon
dot on aerial tower

HOUSE LEVEL

Screenshot
branches
window
rag on sidewalk
aerial

WAREHOUSE LEVEL

Screenshot
door with face
upper right bird on right
lamp on right
panel on right

BUILDING LEVEL

Screenshot
blinking power light
bird
graffiti
cloud

DO NOT LEVEL

Screenshot
line
zeit
missing chain link on left
pole

MOVING LEVEL

No picture for this level as the level loops, making screen captures difficult to express what is happening.
missing windmill
mesa in distance
part of bush near mesa
cloud over mesa and bush

INK LEVEL

Only pictures can explain the differences here.
Screenshot 1
Screenshot 2
Screenshot 3
Screenshot 4

TELEPHONE POLE LEVEL

Screenshot
wires
window
graffiti
ladder

TRAIN LEVEL

Screenshot
tank car
automobile
third barrier from left
graffiti

TREE LEVEL

Text not helpful.
Screenshot

DEFIANCE LEVEL

Picture not very helpful for this level.
Arrow on sign
Stoplight
Loud-speaker (in tree on left side)
Cloud (right next to top of tower)

Posted by: joye

| February 3, 2010 8:02 PM

Gorgeous game, but those moving levels made me feel seasick!

Posted by: Martha | February 3, 2010 11:42 PM

I love the moving levels. Especially the last one, as it walks you through a landscape.

I think Ivoryboy is on to something here - a Photo-Realistic-Find-the-Differences-First-Person-Spotter-on-Rails, or PRFtDFPSoR for short.

It's a whole new genre! :-)

Posted by: OverZealous

| February 4, 2010 1:48 AM

For me the best part of this game is sound. Did you notice that anytime you spot difference, sound-click is perfectly matched with music? In this game music is not just nice background to mute...

Posted by: Voqo

| February 4, 2010 9:13 AM

Same problem as Zeke for me, game not loading. Any ideas why?

Posted by: Vogonviking

| February 5, 2010 2:46 PM

Strange! I got to the last level but it wont load!!! is it just me with firefox or???

it happened twice now...

Posted by: CCC | February 6, 2010 11:49 AM

Today it loaded and am I happy!!

Stunning game, beautiful soundtrack. 5/5 from me! More please!

Posted by: Vogonviking

| February 7, 2010 7:38 AM

Thanks for all the help!

Posted by: DMAN | February 8, 2010 4:14 PM

HEY i got the same problem that the others had. game wouldn't load.

How i Fixed it: i just deleted the internett log. maybe the game is made to don't load 2 times a day so you can remember what you did last time.

Posted by: jonny | February 11, 2010 4:09 PM

I Beat It In 5 mins 18-20 sec!

Posted by: Brandon | March 11, 2010 11:26 AM

it always gets stuck on the house level , the reflected mouse wont move , i looked up were the differences are on that level and its already done but it wont go on to the next

Posted by: light | March 14, 2010 6:42 PM

Update