Much like in my recent #BLUD review, visuals alone can be enough to sell a game. This doubles for SCHiM, which is just about as eye-catching as can be with its clever use of one two-toned color scheme per level. More than just easy on the eyes, though, the moment-to-moment gameplay is just as captivating, as you control a shadowy frog creature in an effort to reconnect with your human. Tack on integrating with the environment and manipulating objects to your will, and this sounds like a recipe for a compelling, unique experience. Does SCHiM have what it takes to be the next big indie hit?

Oozing with atmosphere and charm, the presentation within SCHiM is immaculate from start to finish, never wearing out its visual gimmick and making great use of an urban landscape. Quite like art in motion, it’s almost worth just taking in the sights and forgetting you’re playing a game at certain junctures. It’s always easy to discern where to go and how to get there, and each segment is a nice brief length, typically needing just a bit of critical thinking and maneuvering to reach your destination with no worry of failure thanks to a forgiving, persistent checkpoint system.

Getting to and fro in SCHiM is also a delight, as its flowy traversal is a breeze and shadows are abundant in each level. While it is particularly linear and requires some trial and error in moments where movement-based shadows are involved, the game never outwears its welcome, as the better you get at shadow-jumping, the more intricate and challenging the puzzles seem to get. With a clear motivation laid out in just the first ten to fifteen minutes of gameplay, you’re driven to see the whole thing through in its short runtime.

The biggest point of contention within SCHiM, and a great debate between gamers, is that you are paying $24.99 for a three-hour experience with no replay value. Nary a New Game Plus or collectible, it’s a play-once-and-forget experience with not too much content for the price of admission. It’s not to say that there aren’t stellar short games; Before Your Eyes is the best game I’ve experienced this decade and it’s two hours long, but with multiple endings and only $9.99, it makes more sense than this short one-and-done excursion that costs twice as much and offers less.

While there are a ton of redeeming qualities within SCHiM that make it a veritably good game, it’s simultaneously hard to recommend at its current price point. It’s too early to tell what this title will go for during a sale as it’s just come out, but the $10 range seems more accustomed to the amount of content and the length of the journey your little shadow will take you on. It runs great on just about any PC, and especially on the Steam Deck, but with a lukewarm launch and a “Mixed” reaction in its Steam reviews, it might be worth waiting for SCHiM to skim down on its cost of entry.

A PC review copy of SCHiM was provided by PLAYISM for the purposes of this review.

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SCHiM

$24.99

7

Score

7.0/10

Pros

• Dazzling Visuals
• Mesmerizing Soundtrack
• Array of Color Palates

Cons

• Overpriced for Content
• Tedious/Repetitive