Review: Stacking

Double Fine, the creative force behind the 2005 cult hit, Psychonauts, have been on somewhat of a roll as of late. Whether you are thinking of the incredibly ambitious adventure-RTS, Brutal Legend or the clever, trick-or-treat RPG, Costume Quest, there simply isn't any denying the talent at Tim Schaeffer's buzz-worthy studio. I suppose if there were a team that could inspire interest in a Sesame Street game, this would be the team to do so. Without the extreme pressures associated with producing blockbuster titles and the manpower to produce a myriad of innovative titles, Double Fine is stretching their creative wings wide. Their latest offering, 'Stacking' is nothing if not unique, but creativity means nothing without the proper execution. Does 'Stacking' stack up against the competition or has Double Fine struck out? Read on to find out.

Stacking (XBLA, PSN)
Developer: Double Fine
Publisher: THQ
Released: February 8, 2011 (North America)

Double Fine has a real knack for coming up with really novel game ideas that deliver common or familiar gameplay mechanics wrapped in an unprecedented visual style. Do not be fooled though, there is nothing common or familiar about the gameplay in 'Stacking'. Players play Charlie Blackmore, the runt in a family of Russian matryoshka dolls (russian nested dolls),  who is tasked with rescuing his family from indentured servitude at the hands of a maniacle Baron. With a setup like that, standard platforming mechanics went out the window in favor of a very clever mechanic that allows the player to stack inside of any NPC character within the world. Every character within the world is equipped with a skill or talent which can be used and even paired with other skills to solve puzzles and progress the story. The only hinderance is that players can only stack within other dolls that are exactly one size larger than them. It is a mechanic that is as charming as it is unique but it certainly may take time to get its hooks in some people because it requires a more methodical approach than the many twitch based games out there.

[caption id="attachment_14883" align="aligncenter" width="495" caption="Yes, Russian Nesting Dolls can be Mimes too"][/caption]

Like the game's core mechanic, the world itself is just as important in setting the tone and building the atmosphere. Everything from the silent-film style cutscenes to the beautifully painted dolls works to create a world unlike anything I have ever experienced in games. Using the industrial age setting to their advantage, Double Fine crafted dolls with personalities and motivations that match the time period and then incorporated classic Double Fine humor for good measure. Whether it be farting on a fire to create a massive explosion or seducing a gullible gaurd to lure him away from his post, light hearted humor plays an important role in a game that would otherwise be all about slavery and serving justice.

The game is separated into four distinct worlds that are reached from the train station hub that players will return to periodically. Upon solving a few puzzles, the player is rewarded with a ticket that allows access to the next world and subsequently, a chance to rescue a captured family member. Thanks to a convenient menu that organizes challenges, puzzles, and characters, knowing what to do next is rarely an issue. The menu also gives the player access to hints, a la Professor Layton hint coins, even though the same hints can usually be found by simply talking to various NPCs.  After solving puzzles and progressing the story, players can choose to return to puzzles and find the alternate solutions. Unfortunately, there is not a whole lot of incentive to complete challenges or find all of the unique dolls other than to satisfy curiosity or 100% the game. I think the biggest fault that one can take with 'Stacking' is it's over reliance on extraneous challenges to extend playtime. The gamer who solves a puzzle once and moves on is sure to finish the game in one or two sittings when the game could have benefitted greatly by adding more puzzles or simply making the other challenges required to progress the story.

[caption id="attachment_14884" align="aligncenter" width="495" caption="This game brings the charm"][/caption]

Over the course of the relatively short adventure, there is plenty to be seen and enjoyed. While most of the puzzles are relatively simple to complete, there is still plenty of fun to be had stacking inside of other dolls and experimenting in the hopes of stumbling upon a solution. With such an inspiring visual style and unique gameplay hook, 'Stacking' is yet another example of why downloadable arcade titles are considered to be pioneers in the modern gaming industry. By harnessing and developing creative ideas and taking a more minimalistic approach to visuals and presentation, Double Fine has found themselves a style that I think can work for them on both a business and creative level. 'Stacking' may not leave as big an impact as other cult classics like Psychonauts but it certainly stands out as one of the most unique uses of the technology that I have witnessed this generation.

Score: 89%

85-89%: Exceptional; very minor issues