Shifter
Platform: Windows
Shifter. The word conjures up images of werewolves or some other type of were-creature. Or maybe somebody's been watching too many episodes of Grimm? Jennifer Klement obviously has a different interpretation of the word, and she displays it well in the point and click adventure escape the town game Shifter. If you've needed a good break from the summer festivities or you've been looking for something different to try out, then take a peek at this beauty!
Welcome to the town of Aberdan! You wake up and experience the joy of seeing nothing but strangers all around you. As you'll find out, the countryside is embroiled in war and the guards have been commanded to keep the city gates closed at all times. This is quite the problem for you, seeing as how all you want to do is get out! Your ticket home is your "shifter" ability along with keen conversational skills that lure bits of information out of each stranger.
At the bottom of the screen is a bar with a number of different buttons. Most of your interactions will involve just three of these: the chat bubble to speak to townspeople, the inventory button, and the clone button. To clone a person you must know them well enough to answer three questions correctly. You can't fake your way through this one, you've actually got to do the talking, listening, and talking again in order to learn what you need to know. Getting people to talk is fairly simple, but you'll have to switch between times of day to get different bits of information along with exhausting every branch on the conversation tree multiple times.
Analysis: Shifter takes a familiar idea, escaping a designated area, and gives it a twist. Much like going to a salon and getting a new haircut, you're still the same you, but boy howdy you look purdy! The cloning aspect also ensures you read the dialogue carefully, something many of us happily skip over in most modern games. The most enjoyable part of the game are the characters. Each has his or her own personality, there's no overlap of traits, and they're so endearing it's hard not to want to know more about them and the lives they lead.
Shifter is, unfortunately, not a very long game, but that neither hurts its innovation or entertainment value. Unlike most games in the point and click or escape genres, conversations are absolutely key to beating the game, along with having a piece of paper handy to write down information (or just memorizing it if your brain is up to the task). For a game that's so focused on reading, you'll be surprised to know that Shifter isn't nearly as text heavy as many of its counterparts. You ask a few questions, get some information, talk to the next person and repeat. No walls of text or pseudo-novels to digest. And these people seem perfectly willing to talk about their lives to a complete stranger, even though you tell them nothing of yourself!
One can only hope that there will be more of Shifter in the future or that the unique cloning feature will become more prominent in the genre or allow for more interactions with the environment. Still, it's fun to see how fast you can make your escape even after having done it once, twice... okay five times. But hey, there's nothing wrong with wanting to better your sleuthing skills!
Windows:
Download the free full version
Mac OS X:
Not available.
Try Boot Camp or Parallels or CrossOver Games.
Walkthrough Guide
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Shifter Walkthrough
Basic hints:
Talk to everyone as much as you can. Day and night, when impersonating others, just talk to everyone as much as you can. Like the review said, you need to pay attention!
The inventory's a little confusing. You'll want to click the icon at the bottom of the screen, get whatever item you want, then click the "OK" button after your cursor has changed to that item. It should still be changed when you're at the main screen- you're free to use the item now.
The correct answers won't be displayed until you've discovered them. If you're not getting it right, or if none of the answers appear correct, then you haven't found out that piece of information yet.
Getting the answers:
Girl with grocery basket:
1) What color is this girl's hair?
How to get this answer:
She's right there. The correct answer is automatically available. If you have difficulty with colors, check the solution.
Solution:
Purple.
2) Where does this girl work at night?
How to get this answer:
After the girl shows interest in Moki, ask him about her during the day (as yourself).
Solution:
She works in the bath house.
3) What is this girl's name?
How to get this answer:
As before, after the girl shows interest in Moki, ask him about her during the day (as yourself).
Solution:
Blizz.
Little kid in the streets:
1) Who is this girl's father?
How to get this answer:
After you see Burr when he's drunk at night, go report back to the other guard (as yourself). He'll mention the girl's parentage.
Solution:
Burr.
2) What is her favorite food?
How to get this answer:
Ask the girl with the grocery basket (as yourself), during the day.
Solution:
Apples.
3) Where does this girl go during the day when she's not on the street?
How to get this answer:
Ask Moki (as yourself), during the day.
Solution:
She helps her grandmother run and clean the shop.
Guard:
1) What does this guard do at nights?
How to get this answer:
Find him at night (as yourself), then talk to his brother after.
Solution:
He gets drunk in the bar.
2) How many children does this guard have?
How to get this answer:
Talk to Moki during the day (as Pan).
Solution:
2.
3) What is the most exciting thing this guard has ever done?
How to get this answer:
Talk to Burr at night (as Blizz).
Solution:
He captured an enemy soldier in the city.
Walkthrough:
Day 1:
Talk to the little kid, the girl with the grocery basket, the man on the steps, and both guards. Go through all of each character's dialogue options- make sure especially to ask the girl with the grocery basket and the man on the steps about the little kid, and to ask the guard on the right about whether he and his brother get along.
You can give Pan the apple now, or later. You'll need an apple for a puzzle, but the girl with the grocery basket will give her one every time you ask, so feel free to feed Pan now if you want.
Night 1:
Talk to Moki and to Burr, the drunk guard, who's on the right side of the town square. Go through all their dialogue options. After you've talked to Burr, go back to the other guard and tell him you found his brother.
Day 2:
Talk to the girl with the grocery basket, and ask her about Moki. Talk to Moki, and ask him about the purple-haired girl.
Now you can be Pan or Blizz. Let's be Pan first. Use your shifter ability and answer the questions correctly.
Burr, Apples, She helps her grandmother run and clean the shop.
You can talk to everyone as Pan if you want to, but the only one you need to talk to is Moki. Say hello to him, and ask about Pan's mother.
Go be Blizz. Use your shifter ability and answer the questions correctly.
Purple, She works in the bath house, Blizz.
Talk to Moki for a cute little scene if you want.
Night 2:
As Blizz, talk to Burr. Go through all the dialogue options. Shift back to yourself, and ask Blizz about Moki.
Day 3:
Ask Pan about the treasure. If you don't have an apple still, get one from Blizz- just ask if she wants you to take another one to Pan, and she'll hand it over. Give her the apple. Then, give the key to Moki.
If you'd like to see a little more about Pan and her family, you can shift to Pan before you go back to the night.
Night 3:
There's a man in the shadows where Moki was lying down before. Talk to him, and ask him about the papers. Talk to Blizz, and ask her about Ishtar. Get the dodgy package and give it to him.
Day 4:
Shift to Burr. Answer the questions correctly.
He gets drunk in the bar, 2, He captured an enemy soldier in the city.
Use the papers on the other guard. Congrats, you've won.
Posted by: Alice
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June 17, 2012 9:03 AM