The controls are easy enough to understand a “X” makes Dawn jump, “Circle” allows her to break down walls and move faster while the “Square” button allows her to interact with different objects. You won’t be using any other buttons on the DUALSHOCK 4 which is a shame, although this game is out on other platforms so the developer had to keep things simplistic.
The soundtrack is great to listen to as well if you’re a fan of jazz and old fashioned music from the ’20s and ’30s. As I said at the beginning of this review, the setting is something you don’t see every day in modern video games so it’s nice to visit a time like this.
As fun as Contrast is, it isn’t without its faults. First of all, there is some slight bugs to the game’s mechanics that make Dawn freeze up. Dawn would usually get stuck after she turned herself into a shadow and enters the real world again. It’s as if she freezes up and does not know which world she is trying to enter in. It’s not a game breaking glitch, but it can get very annoying.
The other main flaw is that Contrast is very short and there is little to no incentive for you to play through the game more than once. You can collect and view some of the collectibles that are scattered throughout the game, but they’re not too exciting anyway. There are no other modes to speak of either so it’s a game that is only great to play only once.
Overall, Contrast is a fine platform/puzzle game that has very unique gameplay and the old fashioned setting sets it apart from most other games. The story is interesting and will keep you engaged until the very end, but it’s way too short and offers no replay value whatsoever. Not to mention the freezing glitches happen way too often and the game doesn’t push the PS4’s capabilities in any way. Contrast would have been much better if it were longer and bug-free.
[Editor’s Note: Contrast was reviewed on the PS4 platform. The game was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]
