Snapshot

Developer: Retro Affect
Steam Release: Aug 2012
Hours Played: 4.3
Similar To: Blackhole / Gateways / In Between / Munin / Four-Sided Fantasy
Rating: 2/5 Parsnips



GAMEPLAY
Retro Affect knew what they were doing when it came to conjuring up the next interesting USP for the next platform puzzler and so far through my journey with the game, they seem to have got it right. Get your camera at the ready boys and girls, let's take some snaps! But hey, with so much to aim for, is the actual gameplay any good? Well, yes, yes it is! The thing is, unless you're given a power-up later on that gives you super-human speed, there is absolutely no chance you'll complete the levels in the target time so I don't know what the hell that is about. Other than that, it's a great thinking-man's game. In a side-scrolling environment you generally run and leap about in an effort to reach the exit portal at the end. 



BALANCE & PACE
To facilitate in this process you must take a snapshot of a variety of solid objects and place them back in the environment to leap onto and to negotiate those tough parts.Control-wise, think of it as a twin-stick shooter where one hand controls movement and the other, rather than firing, controls the lens of a camera. This "lens" is a small window or frame which you move around the screen to take your photo. Ok, the fact that you also have to jump, take snaps and place one of up to three photos may sound complicated but once you get the hang of it (and I recommend an Xbox controller) you'll be playing the game fluidly in no time. The all-important variety in gameplay is definitely here as you'll be encountering (among other things) different types of blocks, elephants that you can spring from and switches that need to be activated. 

PRESENTATION & DESIGN
On launch, moving your robotic chap to the Continue portal will take you to the colourful and well-designed level-select screen. This features the area of one of four chapters with Fresnal Forest being the first. From here you may enter one of nine large trees which each housing three levels. You have to complete earlier ones to unlock the later ones. While hovering outside the entrance you are shown how many levels you've completed within that tree along with the total stars collected and the total time taken. In the top right you are shown total levels completed in that area, total photos taken of collectables and total stars collected for the area. 



PROGRESS SYSTEM
The game bowls you over with stats because on top of all this, you get a bunch of stats on entering the tree as well. Here, for each individual level you are shown the amount of stars collected, best time and whether the collectable has been photographed. Additionally, for each batch of three levels you get: (1) a colourful star for completing all three levels; (2) a gold star for collecting all white stars within; (3) a round gold award for completing levels within impossible target times and (4) a gold camera for taking pictures of all three collectables! You click on a screenshot to enter a level and hit Escape at any time to restart a level, return to the lobby or get up the options etc. 

CONCLUSION
Snapshot is definitely for the more discerning puzzle platforming enthusiast. It is not about hacking, slashing and blasting your way through the environments but thinking it through carefully, exploring the areas and planning your method of escape with clear logic. Personally, after four hours of play I have completed 16 levels and have unlocked the second, icy area, Vignette Volcano. I am a little stumped on one level (and hate to use a walkthrough) but know I can leave it and explore other levels instead for the time being. This still means I have ample to look forward to in this classy, pleasant and solid platform puzzler.