Stacking is a adventure/puzzle video game developed by Double Fine Productions and published by THQ; like Double Fine's previous Costume Quest, it is a smaller title created during the development period of Brutal Legend, and was released on the PlayStation Network in North America on February 8, 2011 and in Europe and on Xbox Live Arcade worldwide on February 9, 2011.
Release Date: February 09, 2011
MSRP: $15.0
Also on: PS3
E10+ for Everyone 10+: Crude Humor, Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco
Genre: Puzzle
Developer: Double Fine Productions
Release Date: February 09, 2011
MSRP: $15.0
Also on: PS3
E10+ for Everyone 10+: Crude Humor, Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco
Genre: Puzzle
Developer: Double Fine Productions
Gameplay:The player controls the smallest doll, Charlie Blackmore, who is attempting to reunite his family that is being forced to work for an evil industrialist named The Baron. Charlie is able to jump inside dolls that are one size larger than him and control them, as long as the larger doll is facing away from him. If the player already controls a stack of dolls, that stack can jump into a one-size-larger doll as well. The player can also unstack the dolls at any time in order to enter dolls smaller than his current stack. Certain unique dolls, outside of Charlie, have their own special abilities—such as the ability to unlock doors, float to higher locations, or lure other dolls around, which can be used by the outermost doll. Thus, the player must stack and unstack the set of dolls possessed by Charlie to solve puzzles throughout the game.
The various challenges for each mission contains multiple solutions, with rewards offered for finding all of them. For example; in a challenge where the player must clear out a lounge of rich people, players can either sneak in a poorly dressed man into the party, or have another character flatulate into an art vent to clear everyone out. There are also rewards for completing side missions, discovering unique dolls, and finding and stacking a matching set of dolls. A free-play mode called "Hyjinks" allows players to enjoy the game without the structure of the game's story, and features additional rewards.
Final Thoughts:
The game contains a central hub level, the Royal Train Station, and four additional levels that the player travels to through the Train Station. Each level was designed with a number of puzzles that allowed the player to approach in any order, while keeping the level size small and uncomplicated to prevent the player from becoming lost. Most of the puzzles have been designed with multiple solutions; Petty stated they wanted to cater to both the casual player, who may only want to find one of the solutions to progress in the game, and the more dedicated player, who would likely spend time to discover all of the intended solutions. This was furthered by allowing the player to freely roam through previously-completed areas to complete all the puzzles, including after completing the main story. The levels themselves are designed using a mix of the Great Depression and Victorian era designs, using virtual household items such as marbles and safety pins, an inspiration that came from interest in dioramas and miniature stages. The game itself presents cutscenes with dialog in the fashion of silent films, where a text plaque is shown to show the dialog after it is acted out.
Rating: 4.0 = Good
Recommendation: Nice BUY
The game contains a central hub level, the Royal Train Station, and four additional levels that the player travels to through the Train Station. Each level was designed with a number of puzzles that allowed the player to approach in any order, while keeping the level size small and uncomplicated to prevent the player from becoming lost. Most of the puzzles have been designed with multiple solutions; Petty stated they wanted to cater to both the casual player, who may only want to find one of the solutions to progress in the game, and the more dedicated player, who would likely spend time to discover all of the intended solutions. This was furthered by allowing the player to freely roam through previously-completed areas to complete all the puzzles, including after completing the main story. The levels themselves are designed using a mix of the Great Depression and Victorian era designs, using virtual household items such as marbles and safety pins, an inspiration that came from interest in dioramas and miniature stages. The game itself presents cutscenes with dialog in the fashion of silent films, where a text plaque is shown to show the dialog after it is acted out.
Rating: 4.0 = Good
Recommendation: Nice BUY
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