Shifter’s Box

Genre: Adventure
Developer: Ben Chandler
Available from: http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=186579

Ah, the world of point-and-clicks: pointing, clicking, wondering if the genre is dead, wondering if any genre can die, getting all meta and hating yourself for it. A title such as Shifter’s Box can bring us back down to Earth: pure, unadulterated fun wrapped up in what can definitely be described as an underrated genre, with a nice chunk of teleportation and crazy aliens to go with it.

The tale of young Sally finding herself sucked into the titular object is a short one. Although the creator obviously doesn’t have the resources of a bigger development studio, as it stands there are some problems in that Sally seems to believe she has spent days warping between boxes – when the total game time to this point is at most an hour. It’s not a major complaint, but it is counter intuitive to suspending the sense of disbelief.

What is certainly without fault, however, is the structure and logic of the puzzles that make up the majority of the game itself. While not the most challenging of encounters present in the genre, their design is as good as any from the 90s series of Lucas Arts masterpieces – probably a clichéd compliment, but an honest one. However, they really are quite easy. I am by no means a point-and-click master, but I had no difficulties after those initial problems of my own stupidity. Not that that’s a bad thing; it just means that for the experts of the genre among you, the journey will be a quick one.

However, your audio receptors during this journey will be lovingly tended to by a brilliant soundtrack created by Erdbeertelefon, which is freely downloadable at that website. Although each piece is relatively short, they are perfect for the situations in which each is employed, composed of exactly the right amount of creepy, jazzy tones to compliment the setting.

Sadly, this awesomeness is not accompanied by voice acting, something that seems to detract significantly from the experience. The dialogue itself, with the exception of the narrator’s caricature of the Olde English Gentlemen, is uninspired and dull – particularly that of Sally. Perhaps I’m spoiled by our modern blockbuster stylings, but surely it cannot be that hard to procure a voice for a game as short as this and integration no harder than that of music.

These really are minor gripes though. There simply isn’t a reason not to play this. Its free, its fun, its got a decent plot. Enjoy yourself – but remember it’s not a commercial release.