Shift Quantum
Nintendo Switch

Reviewed by Brett

Publisher – Red Panda Interactive
Developer – Fishing Cactus
Category – Puzzle, Platformer
Music – Volkor X and Simon Felix
Release Date – May 29 , 2018

A message From Axiom Vertigo

Axon Vertigo, the world’s leading authority and most trusted friend in cerebral contentedness programming, promises to deliver better life quality for everyone with the Shift Quantum program. Connected to the cyber-noir action-puzzle platformer, you will be tasked to solve puzzles and create negative space by inverting the world to transform barriers into escape routes. Shift the world, twist your environment, bend your mind to unveil its secrets and solve each brain-drilling level.Make use of all special gameplay blocks to overcome obstacles and get to the exit to find the happiness you have been searching for and promised by Axon Vertigo.

That message is echoed in the beginning of the game. You are greeted by an A.I named Mary and are thanked for placing your trust in Axon Vertigo. This plays out like signing a form and agreeing to a verbal contact. It is explained that Axons mission is absolute happiness. You have selected Axom to improve your quality of life as you know they are the worlds leading authority in cerebral contentedness programming. You have been assigned to the groundbreaking application Shift Quantum. The Shift Quantum application will place your brain in “game mode” and will be tasked with puzzles that will stimulate your brain, generating energy to maintain the process as long as possible.

You then must answer a short questionnaire. Questions asked are designed to learn more about you, questions like which movie title best describes you, what type of game do you prefer and how do you think Axon Vertigo can help you. after answering you are finished with registration and are connected to Shift Quantum.

Immersion begins.

I hope you answered that you like a thinking mans puzzle game because that is what your going to get. This is as interesting a set up for a puzzle game as I may have ever seen. Its a little odd that the game is clearly treating it like you yourself are connecting your brain into this application but the game is played at a side view, with full sight of the character you are playing. If the game was in first person this would have made a little more sense but its still an interesting premise. That’s where the bulk of the story is however, but this is to be expected with a puzzle game.

Your character very much reminds me of Neo from the matrix, as he wears a black trench coat and likes to slam his fist into the ground when he lands from a jump. The background behind the play field is of a future/cyber city nature and can easily remind you of something like The Fifth Element.

The game is played by shifting the color plain your on, reversing from black to white and vice versa in a gray scale atheistic. By pressing A or the shoulder buttons you shift to the opposite spectrum occupying the spaces that were once solid to make you way through the labyrinthine levels. It’s a very clever mechanic that works extremely well. There are some pops of color to be found that are story related, so i wont say much on that but much of everything will appear to be presented on an old black and white T.V. complete with static. Your very athletic and nimble character can run, jump and pull himself onto any ledge that is within reach and is not obstructed by obstacles such as spikes and can push movable blocks by holding Y.

Shift Quantum consists of 117 progressively more challenging levels to work your way through. Through time you will notice the challenge grow from larger more complex levels and added elements like fans with large jet streams that will block your way or send you careening to your death. There is also an optional collectible on each level for added difficulty and challenge. On top of the main game there is also a fully functional user friendly level creator that is easy to use. If creations your thing you can upload your masterpieces to give the community even more brain busters to work through.

Verdict

Shift Quantum is a pretty amazing puzzle game and I have personally never played one quite like it. Its minimalist design is extremely pleasant and puzzles/levels are fun, challenging and completing a rather hard one always feels rewarding. The soundtrack for Shift Quantum by Volkor X and Simon Felix add a ton of atmospheric ambiance that match the ascetic amazingly well and quality is top notch. If your looking for a solid, top notch, very fun to play puzzle game with twist (or shift if you will) look no further. I can safety say its one of the very best available for the genre.