Switch (A.B.F.S.)
Switch, a puzzle platformer by Scott Addelsee, Jemma Barnard, Kate Fierek, and Tom Saunders, is like Sonic CD, if it were designed by the team that made LIMBO. You'll be switching between the past, present, and future to collect keys. Moody atmosphere and clever puzzles are hampered by wonky jump physics and unnecessary "switch" limits, but Switch is a game well worth your time.
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This is charming, but, as you point out, has one considerable flaw, and I'm not sure it's worth mustering up the patience to play any further than the first couple levels.
Having a limited number of switches without any way to preview what the other two time-periods will show is like blind leaps of faith in a platformer with strictly limited lives. If they're interested in including that sort of challenge, it would have made a lot more sense to simply reward a medal for finishing under a certain number of time switches, or -- even better -- include some method of seeing the ghostly outlines of the future and past while standing in the present. At a minimum, the keys should probably show up as outlines in the 'wrong' time-periods.
As things stand, the current choices makes what might be a charming puzzle game into a chore of trial and error and memorization.
But I'm only chiming in here because the game seems so promising, so should the author's come across this, I hope they take it as suggestions for an updated version.
As an afterthought, I wonder if there's some consistent relationship between past, present, and future that, once understood, would make these complaints moot?
While initially off-putting, I quickly realized that the limited switches are what make this game. Any dissatisfaction I felt stemmed from the idea that I should be able to beat any puzzle on the first try, through cleverness and careful observation. That is simply not the case here; you WILL restart, and more than once, in the process of beating these levels... coming to terms with this is part of the challenge!
I believe any "shadowing" of the other time periods would ruin this game, by eliminating any semblance of challenge. I strongly believe that, handled well, discovery through repetition is still a viable game mechanic despite the overwhelming desire for immediate gratification in today's world.
On a somewhat related note...
Are there only 3 levels?
After successfully completing level 3, my only option was "menu," but when looking at the levels list, the layout suggests there should be at least 7 more...?
@NazZ
I felt there should be more but reading the instructions from the main Menu is says
Finish with 3 gold medals
so I am guessing that is it.
'nobody' nailed it. Having to randomly use limited switches to keyhunt while offering no clues otherwise to where they might be really isn't fun. It just becomes and exercise in trial and error.
I hope this game's designers use this to make a better game, with more levels and not limited switches.
I actually liked the trial and error bit of it! I thought the platforming itself wasn't done well, and I really didn't like not being sure where I could and couldn't actually jump to, but trial and error actually seemed to be the point.
Are there more than three levels? I've beaten all of them with gold medals, but it's still not giving me any more.
Oh, and here's the fastest possible solutions to the three first levels if you're going for the gold medals:
Level 1:
Get the present key in the pit and proceed right. When you get to the bridge, switch to the future. Once you're past it, switch to the past. Go underneath the overhang and into the cave. Run in as far as you can, take the past key, switch to the future and run back out. Go right, on top of the overhang. Climb up the factory, drop down to take the key, and keep going right as fast as you can to get to the door.
Level 2:
Switch to the future and go right. After you pass the building with the future key on top, switch to the present, climb left up that building until you get to the one small block sticking up on the long ledge, then switch back to the future, take the key, drop down, and switch to the past. Go right, taking the key as you go. Switch back to the future when you're almost at the rightmost part of the screen, then climb up the building, stand in the middle of the overhang, and switch to the present. Get the key, and go left toward the door.
Level 3:
Go right and climb up, drop down under the first overhang, and switch to the past and get the past key. Switch to the present, and jump across the platforms to the right to get to the present key. Switch to the future and just walk across for the biggest gap, then go back to the present. You'll come to a platform that you can't jump up to at the very end. Jump straight up on your current platform, and switch to the future while you're in the air. You should land on a tower one block higher up. Now jump to the right, and switch back to the present while you're in the air. You should now be able to climb to the top of the cliff. Switch to the future, get the future key, and switch to the past, drop down, and run left to the door.
I think it is quite nice. The graphic and mood are attractive, but the game control is quite annoying. I totally agree that the whole limited switches thing is the biggest problem.
My 2cp
I liked the limited switches, to me it was a major part of the challenge and is integral to the game as it stands especially with the game being so short.
Without the limited switching there would be no challenge left at all!
This is the most well executed take on this mechanic I've seen, but it still has these two flaws: It's waaay too short and you can't change things in the past to affect the future. Hopefully there's a sequel or update.
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Oh, and here's the fastest possible solutions to the three first levels if you're going for the gold medals:
Level 1:
Get the present key in the pit and proceed right. When you get to the bridge, switch to the future. Once you're past it, switch to the past. Go underneath the overhang and into the cave. Run in as far as you can, take the past key, switch to the future and run back out. Go right, on top of the overhang. Climb up the factory, drop down to take the key, and keep going right as fast as you can to get to the door.
Level 2:
Switch to the future and go right. After you pass the building with the future key on top, switch to the present, climb left up that building until you get to the one small block sticking up on the long ledge, then switch back to the future, take the key, drop down, and switch to the past. Go right, taking the key as you go. Switch back to the future when you're almost at the rightmost part of the screen, then climb up the building, stand in the middle of the overhang, and switch to the present. Get the key, and go left toward the door.
Level 3:
Go right and climb up, drop down under the first overhang, and switch to the past and get the past key. Switch to the present, and jump across the platforms to the right to get to the present key. Switch to the future and just walk across for the biggest gap, then go back to the present. You'll come to a platform that you can't jump up to at the very end. Jump straight up on your current platform, and switch to the future while you're in the air. You should land on a tower one block higher up. Now jump to the right, and switch back to the present while you're in the air. You should now be able to climb to the top of the cliff. Switch to the future, get the future key, and switch to the past, drop down, and run left to the door.
Posted by: Alice
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April 20, 2012 12:57 AM