In the Shadows

I had the pleasure of streaming this game for the GOG Twitch channel, and was pleasantly surprised with the overall experience. I found it hidden among the list of "new releases" for that week, and being a fan of puzzle platformers I decided to give it a shot. What immediately drew me to this game was the wonderful visuals and art style. Drawn in a retro 8-bit style, this game does a great job with lighting, color and atmosphere to provide a truly engaging story presented with fairly intuitive mechanics. As you progress through the game (which takes place somewhere between the main protagonist's dreams and reality) you solve various environmental puzzles in order to collect "stars" that were stolen from your childhood bedroom by monsters which lurk in the dark. Using your ability to manipulate light-sources, you eventually learn how to use these "monsters" to your advantage and progress through the levels. These techniques range from a simple flip of a light switch, all the way through to manipulating the time of day. There is an absolutely beautiful soundtrack by 'Lombus' that perfectly compliments the game's rich and emotional atmosphere, and helps contribute to the games' overall "chill" atmosphere. It's almost criminal that this game has not gotten more exposure and recognition post-release, considering how good it is! The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is due to a few lingering bugs. However, the game's developer joined me during GOGs launch stream and promised these would be fixed. He also provided wonderful insight into the game's development. It's a wonderful effort for virtually a one-man team! If you are a fan of beautifully designed atmospheric puzzle platformers, retro design and emotional storytelling, I strongly recommend this game! It truly is a gem!

I found this game by accident while browsing the deals. Very nice surprise and completely worth your time. The game looks and sounds great, really showing how good lighting effects can create ambiance. There were several moments when I just slowed down on purpose to take in the world I was exploring. I could feel the appreciation of the game's maker for the beauty of the world around us. Kudos. I fully completed the game in two evenings, so it is fairly short and not immensely difficult. Sometimes the physics can get a bit janky, as well. Overall though - I found it very relaxing and enjoyed it very much.

Very beautiful game good atmosphere and clever design. Nice 16bit aesthetic reminds mega drive and SNES era. I’m going through the last levels I think (I don’t want to search a walkthrough or any spoiler) and it’s becoming little bit more difficult to collect all the stars but the only reason for this is the strange physics to manipulate the objects and solve some of the puzzles. I hope the end will be as charming as it was the game experience till now!