It's been weeks since I beat The Swapper and I still think about the game pretty much every day. So here's a thread, because this game deserves all the attention it can get. It's weird that's there's so little love for this game, on this forum nonetheless. Couldn't believe it when I searched and found an OT of only 3 pages.
If you're not aware of the basic concept: you're stranded on a planet, you need to get off. To do so, you have to solve puzzles using a Swapper device. You can create up to 4 clones of yourself that move when you move, and jump when you jump. You can even swap consciousness with a clone, making the others empty disposable vessels.
The puzzles themselves are so smart and satisfying to solve, that I quickly promised myself not to succumb to a guide for this. It's simply too rewarding to figure them out yourself. The puzzles get challenging fast, but they're designed in a way that the solution always seems within reach. And if you're stuck, a break to clear your mind works wonders. Sometimes the solution was more straightforward than I thought, but the more devious ones are more complicated than they first seem. Apart from one incredibly tough puzzle that I read a vague hint for, I solved everything myself and I couldn't remember another puzzler where that felt so good.
The Swapper could've just been a series of brilliant puzzles, but it doesn't stop there. The developers actually created an interesting universe around them. They added philosophical depth to the core idea of swapping, and a big part of the (surprisingly great) story revolves around the clones and the concept of a soul and the complexity of mind and matter. The story resonates because you are constantly hands-on with the overarching theme of the game. The memorable finale is a culmination of all this. Rarely do you get such a flawless fusion of gameplay, concept and story.
There's also the unique aesthetic: there a claymation look to it all, and it's convincing because The Swapper was actually hand-crafted beforehand:
To top it off, there are the numerous echoes of Metroid and Alien, giving you an eerie sense of isolation. There's even a typical metroidvania map and hidden rooms with logs.These are all just nods though, the game is still a puzzle game at heart.
The Swapper is a gem... that unfortunately a lot of people seem to be sleeping on. You shouldn't, because it's available on every platform out there. Play it, it's brilliant.
If you're not aware of the basic concept: you're stranded on a planet, you need to get off. To do so, you have to solve puzzles using a Swapper device. You can create up to 4 clones of yourself that move when you move, and jump when you jump. You can even swap consciousness with a clone, making the others empty disposable vessels.
The puzzles themselves are so smart and satisfying to solve, that I quickly promised myself not to succumb to a guide for this. It's simply too rewarding to figure them out yourself. The puzzles get challenging fast, but they're designed in a way that the solution always seems within reach. And if you're stuck, a break to clear your mind works wonders. Sometimes the solution was more straightforward than I thought, but the more devious ones are more complicated than they first seem. Apart from one incredibly tough puzzle that I read a vague hint for, I solved everything myself and I couldn't remember another puzzler where that felt so good.
The Swapper could've just been a series of brilliant puzzles, but it doesn't stop there. The developers actually created an interesting universe around them. They added philosophical depth to the core idea of swapping, and a big part of the (surprisingly great) story revolves around the clones and the concept of a soul and the complexity of mind and matter. The story resonates because you are constantly hands-on with the overarching theme of the game. The memorable finale is a culmination of all this. Rarely do you get such a flawless fusion of gameplay, concept and story.
There's also the unique aesthetic: there a claymation look to it all, and it's convincing because The Swapper was actually hand-crafted beforehand:
To top it off, there are the numerous echoes of Metroid and Alien, giving you an eerie sense of isolation. There's even a typical metroidvania map and hidden rooms with logs.These are all just nods though, the game is still a puzzle game at heart.
The Swapper is a gem... that unfortunately a lot of people seem to be sleeping on. You shouldn't, because it's available on every platform out there. Play it, it's brilliant.
I'm an idiot then presumably.