Contrast Review

So the first game that I finished on my PS4 was a small title called Contrast.  I have PlayStation+ and this was one of the free titles that was available at launch so I figured what the hell and downloaded it.  When I finally started it up on the second day I had my console I was actually very surprised how much I started enjoying the title.  I played it for a few hours and realized that the game was probably not going to be very long so I figured before I dug my teeth into some of my other launch day titles I wanted to see how this one ended.  Finishing games is something I seem to always have a problem with.  While I have completed my fair share of games over the years, I do seem to be a little ADD when it comes to finishing one, but Contrast actually kept me interested in the characters and the story the whole time I played through it. 

The game is set in what might refer to as a 1920's noir style world where you not only interact with what you see in the 3d world, but a 2d world as well.  One of the most interesting mechanics in this game is how your character, Dawn, can shift between the world as "we" know it and a shadowy 2d world around her.  This one concept makes the game and will keep your brain thinking and your eyes looking for every detail that may help you accomplish the task at hand.  The game is a somewhat simple platform/puzzle type game, and I use the word somewhat loosely.  There were several puzzles where I sat there for a good twenty minutes or more trying to figure out how and what I needed to interact with in both the 3d and 2d worlds in front of me. 

The art style of the game is really gorgeous and being on the next gen consoles fit this game perfectly.  The story was one that I actually found rather interesting and one that fit with the graphical style perfectly.  Didi, a young daughter to a night club lounge singer, just wants to have a real family.  Since she is alone so much, a companion named Dawn, who you control, becomes the girls best and from what we can tell only friend to help her family become one again.

I really enjoyed the game, and while it may be a little on the shorter side, it was the perfect size, you can probably knock it out in about six to eight hours.  I never felt like any puzzle or game mechanic became overly burdensome and right about the time the game finished, I felt like I had really enjoyed my time in Contrast. 

If you have PlayStation+ then by all means download the game and give it a weekend of your time.  If you don't have PlayStation+ I would still highly recommend getting this game as the price to time comparison is perfect. 

I'll give this game a Definite Let's Play!