Review: Contrast — English
In defense of an underrated game
Contrast, developed by the Canadian studio Compulsion Games, made its official debut in 2013. This is the same studio behind the game “We Happy Few” and recently announced their upcoming title, “South of Midnight,” during the Xbox Showcase of 2023. Compulsion Games has gained recognition as one of the prestigious “Xbox Game Studios” after being acquired by Microsoft under the leadership of Satya Nadella and the Xbox division led by our beloved Phil Spencer, known as “Tio Phil” here in Pindorama.
Having attended the Xbox FanFest in São Paulo, I found myself engaged in pre-event conversations filled with speculations about the upcoming announcements. Amidst discussions about various studios expected to be present, some people asked, “And what about Compulsion?”
Apparently, I was the only one present who had actually played the game released before “We Happy Few.” And on every occasion, I passionately argue that Contrast is a highly underestimated game.
When I explain that Contrast lacks any sign of a combat system, most people automatically dismiss the possibility of giving the game a chance. Here at New North, we strive to create content that goes against the mainstream. Therefore, after the recent major announcements from Microsoft, Sony, and Capcom, we won’t bother creating content about Starfield (you’ve probably seen that filling your entire feed until now).
That’s why we’re here, revisiting the masterpiece of Compulsion Games — the most underestimated game in the history of a Canadian studio.
Contrast is a puzzle-based platform game set in a noir atmosphere, developed by Compulsion Games and published by Focus Home Interactive. The game’s story focuses uniquely and objectively on the tale of a girl named Didi, accompanied by the silent protagonist of the game, the observer named Dawn. Didi faces family problems related to her parents: her mother, Kat, is a singer and dancer who spends her nights performing in cabarets around the city, and her stepfather, Johnny, is a failed pseudo-businessman with serious issues involving loan sharks and gangsters in the city.
Throughout the game, we follow Didi as we solve puzzles with Dawn, who enters and exits the shadows on the walls — the main and perhaps the only truly relevant mechanic of the game. Amid Johnny’s plans to earn money, pay off the loan sharks, and reunite with his family, a circus is created, and there are various references to a famous illusionist named “The Great” Vincenzo. The game’s plot involves resolving Didi’s family problems and uncovering the great mystery surrounding Vincenzo and his connection to both Didi and Dawn, our protagonist, who finishes the game without uttering a single word. However, for the attentive players, there is an extremely revealing ending about Dawn’s true identity.
Except for Didi herself, Dawn (and Vincenzo at the end of the game), no character in the game is presented as a 3D model. Instead, all characters and the story are portrayed through a grand shadow theater, which is the game’s highlight. Contrast practically only has two characters, and the unfolding of an impressive drama is projected onto the walls in shadows. Perhaps it is for this reason that the game is extremely niche and distant from the mainstream audience.
Contrast wasn’t graphically stunning at the time of its release in 2013. Games like Bioshock Infinite, God of War: Ascension, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, and even The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker were more visually appealing. Technically, the game doesn’t offer anything groundbreaking, and its mechanics are straightforward, especially when compared to the majority of games released that year (2013 was a considerably good year for game releases).
But there is an area where Contrast stands out extraordinarily: it is narrative. The game is a unique experience, a shadow theater with a spectacular script and ending. Those who could be more attentive may get lost in the story since it is told in a looping fashion through the shadows on the walls. However, for those who followed Didi’s family saga closely, Contrast becomes a finely crafted novella, with moments that grip us, such as the loan sharks beating Johnny in the cinema, and surprising revelations like the poster of Dawn with Vincenzo at the end of the game. Everything is meticulously scripted like a true film noir.
It is through this extremely well-developed narrative that Contrast transcends being a simple platform game with little to offer and becomes an engaging story with highly human characters, full of flaws. The dominant behavior and character flaws of each individual are exceptionally well-developed. From a literary perspective, Contrast is the magnum opus of Compulsion. While We Happy Few may be an excellent game, it has its distractions, plot holes, and breaks in the flow. On the other hand, Contrast not only presents a story (albeit short) with a well-defined beginning, middle, and end but also leaves the ending open to various interpretations and dozens of possibilities for the wildest theories we can imagine, from “Dawn is an imaginary friend” to “We are trapped in the matrix.”
However, is Contrast the best game in the world? Far from it. The game has several flaws, especially its extremely short gameplay time and mechanical issues. Nevertheless, its unique way of telling a story and its well-developed plot has an immeasurable value for those who dare to listen to the whispers of this magnificent shadow circus. That’s why Contrast, as problematic as it may be, is highly underestimated, especially because it achieves perfectly what it sets out to be: a noir story about a girl with a traumatic childhood.
At New North, we don’t give scores to games. This was a far from neutral and extremely subjective opinion because the only relevant evaluation is yours! Want to know more about this game? Whether it’s as bad as they say or as underestimated as this article claims? Feel free to play it and share your experience with us. Warm regards from the southern side of the map.
