SCHiM

SCHiM
WindowsandXbox Seriesversion cover
Developer(s)	Ewoud van der Werf, Nils Slijkerman
Publisher(s)	Extra Nice JP:Playism
Engine	Unity
Platform(s)	Windows macOS Linux Nintendo Switch PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Xbox One Xbox Series X/S
Release	18 July 2024
Genre(s)	Action,Puzzle
Mode(s)	Single-player

SCHiMis a 2024video gamedeveloped by independent German developers Ewoud van der Werf and Nils Slijkerman and published by Extra Nice.Playismreleased the game in Japan. The game is anaction-platformerin which players guide a 'schim', a creature that lives in shadows, throughout the environment to be reunited with its host's shadow. The game received mixed to average reviews upon release, with praise directed to the game's visual presentation and the novel gameplay concept, and critiques to the repetition and lack of variety of its gameplay across its levels. Following release,SCHiMreceived awards at theTokyo Game Showand nominations at theLondon Games FestivalandA Mazefestival.

Gameplay

As a schim, players must navigate through shadows in the game's environment to solve puzzles.

SCHiMis an action-puzzle game in which the player controls a boy and his titular 'schim', a frog-like creature that inhabits his shadow, and follows him through life stages, from his youth to study, graduation and career.Now fully grown up, the man experiences a series of hardships that lead him to become separated from the schim,requiring the player to travel through the shadows across the city to be reunited.Mostlevelsfollow a similar objective of following the trail of the man as he leaves a scene, controlling the schim by navigating across shadows cast by objects and characters in the environment.

Players control the schim by hopping around shadows. If the player lands outside a shadow, they can briefly perform an additional hop within a small window of time to return to one.Otherwise, players landing outside a shadow return to acheckpointearlier in the level.In order to progress, players interact with objects or characters they are inside the shadow of by pressing a single button,which can cast shadows that allow the player reach new areas.Other objects, such as a windsock or a clothesline, can launch the schim further than jumping.Interactive elements that are required to progress are highlighted.The game contains 65 levels.

Completion of the game unlocks settings that introduce additional gameplay challenges. These settings include turning off secondary jumps or checkpoints, and a 'risky mode' that limits the number of times the player can land outside of a shadow before reaching a game over state.

Development and release

Development

SCHiMwas created by Dutch independent developer Ewoud van der Werf and Nils Slijkerman, with van der Werf responsible for art and programming, and Slijkerman designing the game, levels, narrative andmotion captureelements.Van der Werf stated that the game's concept was inspired by memories of playing games with shadows as a child,with the game's title being a Dutch expression for a shadow.This concept was first implemented, with the developers then brainstorming the "general lore (and) rules of the world, the schim characters, and what they mean to the game".

SCHiMwas developed by van der Werf in theUnityengine, creating custom shaders for the game.The minimalisticline artdesign of the game, which began assilhouettes,were influenced by the work ofThe Adventures of TintinartistHergéand Dutch illustratorJoost Swarte,as well as using similar techniques as the video gamesSableandManifold Garden.The game's environments drew from Dutch locations and landmarks, which became a "core ingredient of the game" after positive feedback from playtesters.Van der Werf, who hascolor blindness,designed the game's visuals with the intent to limit the palette to four colours, although expanded this to having each level have its own color scheme based on the "time of day, temperature or events in the story".

Release

SCHiMwas announced during the June 2022Day of the Devsdigital showcase.In April 2024, the game's release date of 18 July was announced atNintendo'sIndie WorldShowcase,followed by an official demo and trailer in May.Playismpublished the game in Japan, featuring a new cover designed by Japanese illustratorKeiichi Arawi.

Reception

Reception

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
Metacritic	67%

Review scores

Publication	Score
Edge	5/10
Hardcore Gamer	3.5/5
IGN	7/10
Nintendo Life	7/10
Nintendo World Report	8/10
PC Gamer(US)	57%
Push Square	6/10
TouchArcade	4.5/5
Multiplayer.it	7/10
Vandal	6.5/10

SCHiMreceived "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according toreview aggregatorMetacritic.Reviewers praised the originality and uniqueness of the game's shadow platforming gameplay,with many critics finding the gameplay and controls were simple and accessible.However, other reviewers felt the game was too simplistic to be challenging,or did not clearly communicate the behavior of the shadows.Some critics also considered the gameplay was too repetitive across its levels.Jody Macgregor ofPC Gamerconsidered there to be little content under the game's surface, stating the game was "not hard enough to be a challenge, but not painless enough to be relaxing".Similarly, Mikhail Madnani ofTouch Arcadewrote "there really is no evolution of the mechanics over the course of the game".

The visual presentation of the game was praised,including for its use of minimalism, line art and negative space,and for its smooth physics and animations.The visual use of light and shadow were viewed to effectively complement the game's concept by some reviewers,with Nicole Carpenter ofPolygonstating that "the game's use of color, shadow and light is essential in conveyingSchim'sstory and emotion.Critics also commended the laid-back pacing of the levels,and the degree of interaction with objects for encouraging exploration.However, some reviewers critiqued the lack of content and variety across levels, finding the environments to be too similar.

The game's narrative received mixed assessments, with some critics finding its story to be subtle and emotionally resonant,and praising its delivery without dialog or text.However, other critics considered the substance of the story to be minimal or tedious.Ed Thorn ofRock Paper Shotguncommended the game's early vignette of scenes seeing the character grow up, but considered the remainder of the game to not be "as emotionally charged as it implies early on".Jeni Lada ofSiliconeraexpressed annoyance at the premise, finding the wordless story never allowed her to connect with the main chracter, and that it was "disappointing" to see that "Even if my platforming was perfect, there were still more levels to come and I wouldn't reunite the two."

The game's audio soundtrack was also praised,with some critics finding it complemented the pacing and tone of the game.

Accolades

SCHiMreceived the Audience Award Grand Prix and Best Game Design Award at the 2022Tokyo Game ShowSense of Wonder Night, an independent games award showcase, with judges praising the "nostalgia and novelty of the game idea".The game was also nominated for the 'International Innovators' award at the 2022London Games Festivalas part of its Official Selection,and nominated as a selection for the 2023A Mazefestival.

External links

• Official website