Spy Chameleon

 
Developer: Unfinished Pixel

Steam Release: Jun 2014

Hours Played: 2.8

Similar To: Marvellous Miss Take / Monaco / Rats - Time Is Running Out / Robbery Bob

Rating: 5/5 Parsnips

GAMEPLAY

Like similar titles of this ilk such as Dynamite Jack and Robbery Bob this top-down stealth number adds a time-attack element to proceedings. However, with its fast-paced arcade-like gameplay, it's more in line with the little known Rats - Time Is Running Out. While taking control of a two-legged chameleon with anthropomorphic qualities, you enter rooms from a small vestibule and attempt to arrive at the exit door without getting spotted. To do this you must avoid mechanical searchlights that sweep areas with their conal light. These are fixed or attached to moving mechanisms that follow patterns. The main USP of Spy Chameleon though, comes in the form of a colour-switching dynamic where you can change into one of four colours to blend in with a corresponding rug or floor and to thus avoid detection from the lights.

BALANCE & PACE

There are also three secondary objectives to aim for in each level: (1) collect all the flies sprinkled around; (2) collect all tricky-to-reach ladybirds and (3) complete the level in the par time. Completionists will generally tend to go for these in separate runs. Like most top-down stealth games, it's about studying patterns of movement, anticipating where the opening opportunities lie and then carrying out your plan without getting detected. Your character is responsive and smooth to control and with the four colours corresponding to the yellow, blue, red and green button on you Xbox controller this is by far the best way to play the game. As mentioned it's fast-paced with levels coming at you thick and fast but unfortunately restarting is not instant - you'll need to wait for the five second intro to run its course each time.   

PRESENTATION & DESIGN

Unfortunately, the same amount of care and attention that went into making the main game has not gone into the design of the menu screens. With mixed fonts and font sizes that don't quite gel, these menus look a tad cheap - and it comes with one of the most plain and boring leaderboard pages I have ever seen. Thankfully, the music and sound-effects are not too bad. The start-screen features a shuffling spy-tune that suits the mood and you are rewarded with a buzzing riff on successfully completing the level. The levels themselves come with a small store of tunes randomly chosen.

 

PROGRESS SYSTEM

Spy Chameleon scores extremely well with its progress system as it keeps you well informed in many different ways. First off, the game is divided into five unlockable missions with each containing 15 levels represented by squares but you basically complete 75 levels one by one. Beneath each square are three icons showing if you have completed the challenges: a fly to show all flies have been collected; a stopwatch to show the par-time has been achieved and a ladybird to show they have all been collected. The game also records your best-time and gives you a global rank on its online leaderboard. Finally, after successful completion, you get a stat screen showing how many of the challenges have been done along with your best time and rank.  

CONCLUSION

If you want to try a decent top-down stealth game with an arcade coating, then I can't think of many better than Spy Chameleon. The levels themselves are well varied, the difficulty curve rises at a pitch-perfect rate and the overall pacing is spot-on. There are also regular checkpoints that can be activated at just the right locations which eliminates the need to do large chunks again. There are also other mechanics not mentioned above like nudging fish searchlights to make them swivel round and sliding objects which cast shadows acting as safe-spots. The game can be enjoyed both for its time-attack element or for simply completing levels one by one. Retailing at the price of a pint of beer, there is plenty to enjoy here with very little dent to your wallet.