Straight out of France from debutants Douze Dixièmes is Shady Part of Me, a platform-puzzler. It’s been released without any real fanfare, but it’s no indication of the game’s quality. In fact, there’s plenty to get excited about, as we’ve given this a play and can confirm that it’s a fantastically atmospheric and narrative-driven adventure in the manner of Little Nightmares and Inside. Expect a review soon. Shady Part of Me is out now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Switch and PC.
Edit: Our review of Shady Part of Me on Xbox One is now live.
You take control of a young girl who has been mistreated, and has learned to keep to the shadows for comfort. The first parts of the game will find you navigating a creepy mansion as you slavishly keep to darkness, and avoid light wherever possible. Lamps flicker, furnaces burn, and you have to avoid them all. As you progress, the girl’s inner thoughts play out across the environment, narrated by Hannah Murray, who played Gilly in Game of Thrones and Cassie in Skins.
But you are not alone. Or, in fact, you are alone. You soon come across your shadow, who compels you to escape the mansion and be free (again voiced by Hannah Murray). While you keep to the shadows, she finds comfort in the light. What makes Shady Part of Me grand is that you control them both: your shadow self might make progress only to find a shadow is blocking them, so you need to then switch to the girl and move an item that created that shadow. These are the basics, but Shady Part of You takes this theme to its wildest extremes, creating fantastic situations and puzzles.
You will be moving from the 3D plane of the girl to the 2D plane of the shadow, which means that Douze Dixièmes can effectively bundle two game themes into one: a 2D platformer and a very-slightly 3D puzzle space, like Little Nightmares.
This is an introspective and moody game, and you will be working through ‘sessions’ (effectively levels) in your attempt to be physically free from your captors, but also to overcome your fears and be free of them too. This is a game that doesn’t shirk talking about mental health issues, and is brave in doing so.
Features include:
- • Play with light and shadows, switching between 2D and 3D gameplay at will
- • Your ability to rewind time will help you get you through all situations
- • Explore surreal environments envisioned in a unique watercolor style • Solve contemplative puzzles to break the dream
- • Experience an introspective narrative journey like no other
Shady Part of Me is out now on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S and starts at £11.99 from the Xbox Store. It’s also out on Switch, PS4 and PC.
Game Description:
Shady Part of Me sends you on an emotional and dream-like journey, with breathtaking artistic direction and the enthralling voice of Hannah Murray (Game of Thrones, Skins). As a little girl and her shadow, overcome emotional struggles through surreal dreamscapes across a touching narrative filled with twists and surprises. Both must learn, cooperate and evolve to progress in a poetic journey.
