Ah, "Shapeshift," a bold attempt at redefining puzzle gaming—or at least that’s what it seems to think it’s doing. Let’s break this down.
First, the premise of transforming shapes to solve puzzles has potential. But then the execution turns that potential into an existential crisis for anyone with expectations. The controls? They're like trying to parallel park a semi-truck with one hand tied behind your back. Sure, pressing shift to "stick" and control to "detach" might seem intuitive until you realize the game interprets your every move as if it's a philosophical debate rather than a command.
The visuals are quaint, if "early learning software from 1997" is the vibe you're going for. While there’s an undeniable charm to the simple pixel art, it feels like the developer opened Microsoft Paint, got halfway through their masterpiece, and thought, "Meh, good enough." Not to mention, the soundtrack, while not terrible, loops in such a way that it makes your brain itch by the third repetition.
As for the puzzles themselves, calling them challenging would be generous. They're less "intellectual stimulation" and more "why-am-I-doing-this-again?" Some players might call it meditative; others might call it a nap waiting to happen. There’s no real narrative or hook to keep you engaged—just shapes shifting their way to some kind of ambiguous, anticlimactic victory.
But the pièce de résistance? The bugs. The game doesn’t just crash—it existentially questions whether it should have even started in the first place. One moment, you're stacking blocks; the next, the physics engine is pulling a "choose-your-own-chaos" adventure.
So, does "Shapeshift" deserve your time? Only if you're compiling a “What Not to Do” list for aspiring game developers. Otherwise, play at your own risk—or better yet, don’t.