Shift Happens

Ever since I played LittleBigPlanet on my dad’s PS3 around 2008, I’ve loved platforming games that encourage you to rely on friends to make it through each level.

73%Game Brain Score

gameplay, humor

stability, story

79% User Score Based on 1,100 reviews

Critic Score 68%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

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About

Shift Happens is a single player and multiplayer platformer game with a violence theme. It was developed by klonkgames and was released on February 22, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

In Shift Happens, players control Bismo and Plom, two connected jello creatures who aren't afraid to change size and abilities to navigate through four diverse worlds. From a freaked-out laboratory to the bitingly cold caves, each level introduces new puzzles and challenges for players to tackle. While it's enjoyable for solo players, the game's full potential is experienced in multiplayer mode, encouraging teamwork and friendly competition.

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79%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,100 reviews

gameplay38 positive mentions

stability62 negative mentions

Shift Happens offers a hilarious and chaotic co-op experience, perfect for playing with friends.
The game features creative puzzles that require teamwork and coordination, leading to many funny moments.
The vibrant graphics and unique mechanics, such as size swapping, add to the overall enjoyment of the game.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, particularly in online co-op, which can disrupt gameplay.
Many players find the controls unresponsive and frustrating, especially during critical moments in puzzles.
The lack of variety in puzzles and repetitive gameplay can lead to boredom, especially in single-player mode.

gameplay
166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
67%
10%
The gameplay of "Shift Happens" is characterized by a mix of innovative mechanics, such as size swapping and cooperative puzzle-solving, which can be enjoyable and creative. However, the experience is often marred by bugs, inconsistent controls, and poorly implemented mechanics, particularly the grabbing system, leading to frustration rather than a satisfying challenge. While the game offers fun cooperative elements and interesting level designs, the overall execution suffers from repetitiveness and a lack of polish, making it a hit-or-miss experience for players.
- “The gameplay is simple, yet very effective as just pure, unadulterated fun.”
- “The game offers many unique mechanics that lift the puzzle challenges to a genuinely impressive level from a design perspective.”
- “The gameplay is creative and the design is cute, so it's definitely a game to check out.”
- “The game's mechanics, crucial to its core gameplay, are plagued by inconsistency, making it a frustrating experience rather than an enjoyable challenge.”
- “From the outset, Shift Happens struggles with bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay.”
- “This design flaw becomes especially pronounced in bonus levels and achievements, where the already laggy and inconsistent gameplay makes success feel more like a stroke of luck than a result of strategic planning.”
humor
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its ability to generate laughter through chaotic co-op gameplay and amusing glitches. Many reviews mention the joy of playing with friends, where moments of sabotage and unexpected mishaps lead to uncontrollable laughter, often resulting in tears of joy. While some found the gameplay repetitive at times, the overall experience is described as hilariously entertaining, making it a fun choice for multiplayer sessions.
- “Overall it was really fun for me and I really enjoyed playing it... some levels I laughed so hard at what happened, that I cried... my partner first wanted to kill me, but then couldn't stop laughing either... laughter cures.”
- “From the first stage to the fourth, I believe it took my friend and I about an hour because I couldn't breathe; I was laughing so hard.”
- “This game is pure hilarious, nothing like sabotaging your mate to steal his coins.”
stability
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay, making it often unplayable, especially in multiplayer modes. While some players find enjoyment in the chaotic mechanics and humor of the glitches, the overall consensus is that the stability issues detract from the experience and can lead to frustration. Improvements in stability are highly recommended to enhance the game's potential.
- “So far, I've only played it with a buddy online, and it runs great with only minor hiccups.”
- “From the outset, Shift Happens struggles with bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay.”
- “This game is so buggy it's unplayable.”
- “The glitches are really bad and it ruins the game experience as well as friendships/relationships.”
graphics
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
50%
5%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players finding them basic and outdated, while others appreciate the colorful and charming art style. Although the visuals are not considered top-notch, they are often described as nice and simple, complementing the innovative gameplay and challenging puzzles. Overall, while the graphics may not be the game's strongest aspect, they are deemed adequate and enjoyable by many players.
- “The graphics are good and the gameplay is innovative.”
- “Unique levels with challenging puzzles, nice low-poly graphics and great music, a perfect combination to play with my buddy.”
- “No doubt the graphics are not top-notch, but they are still very colorful and adorable; after all, a platformer should focus more on gameplay mechanics than visuals.”
- “The graphics here can't compare to those games and there's no story, but the game is charming enough to sell itself and keep you having fun.”
- “The weakest link for this game was the graphic design which was kind of meh and tended to put me to sleep.”
- “The only thing which confused me a bit was the graphics which really look a bit outdated, 2012 feel.”
story
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
58%
24%
The game features a minimal and vague story, primarily revolving around two blobs attempting to escape a factory, but it lacks depth, character development, and meaningful choices. Many reviewers express disappointment in the absence of a compelling narrative, feeling that the gameplay suffers from this lack of engagement. While some appreciate the avoidance of a forced narrative, the overall consensus is that the game would benefit significantly from a more developed story.
- “Small or sometimes longer passages with story or a beautifully hand-drawn background.”
- “There's a vague bit of implied story that they're in a factory that makes these oozy shape-shifters and they're trying to reach the machine that's linked their size-changing.”
- “And they've added an easy story.”
- “No plot to speak of, just back to back puzzles and they’re all so similar.”
- “The lack of story arc created no anticipation of future events; there was no excitement of how the characters will evolve, what skills or abilities to unlock, what will happen next, or anything like that.”
- “Tl;dr: no story, no relatable characters, no choices, no world interaction, no fun.”
music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
42%
12%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the gameplay experience, while others find it bland and repetitive. Notably, the soundtrack is described as fitting the game's aesthetics and mood, with some tracks being particularly memorable, though overall variety is lacking. While it may not be the game's strongest aspect, it effectively complements the visuals and gameplay for many players.
- “The soundtrack is a certified banger and instantly puts you in the right mindset from the moment you hit the menu screen.”
- “This game is well thought out, the soundtrack adds to the anxiety of the situation and you're having so much fun you don't even care whose fault it was that you died - because you will die.”
- “Unique levels with challenging puzzles, nice low-poly graphics, and great music, a perfect combination to play with my buddy.”
- “Gráficamente el juego es bastante simple y carece de un soundtrack variado, siendo una determinada canción la cual estará de fondo en cada uno de los niveles disponibles.”
- “The characters are not cute, the music is bland, the art style is basic, and the puzzle design is not that unique or clever.”
- “Both the graphics and the soundtrack are okay.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
40%
40%
Players consistently describe the grinding aspect of the game as excessive and tedious, often requiring multiple playthroughs to achieve completion. Many reviews highlight that the grind can become frustrating, especially when compounded by frequent game-breaking issues that necessitate restarts. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the enjoyment of the game.
- “Grindy.”
- “A tad bit grindy.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The achievements are crappy, grindy as hell, and they require at least 2 playthroughs.”
- “Even with the 90% discount price, you get a game that breaks quite frequently, having left me and my friend forced to restart a level multiple times, and the gameplay will get tedious very fast.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
While the game is enjoyable and of high quality, many users note that it lacks significant replayability, suggesting that it may not offer enough incentive for multiple playthroughs.
- “But the game is certainly high enough in quality to warrant some replay value.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a highly emotional experience characterized by intense laughter, often to the point of tears. The game's humor not only provides joy but also fosters shared moments of hilarity, creating memorable and bonding experiences between players.
- “Overall, it was really fun for me, and I really enjoyed playing it. Some levels made me laugh so hard that I cried. My partner first wanted to kill me, but then couldn't stop laughing either. Laughter cures.”
- “I was laughing so hard I cried and had to pee, so I almost peed my pants, because getting to the bathroom when your eyes are full of tears is nearly impossible.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The optimization of the game received a score of 3, indicating that while there were no significant issues, players experienced minor hiccups or bugs during nearly every playthrough.
- “The pricing and performance balance is commendable, making it accessible for a wide range of players.”
- “While there were no major problems, I experienced minor hiccups or bugs almost every playthrough, which affected the overall performance.”
- “The optimization of the game ensures a smooth experience, despite occasional minor issues.”
- “A 3 on performance, because while there were no major problems, there was a minor hiccup or bug almost every playthrough.”
- “A 3 on performance, because while there were no major problems, there was a minor hiccup or bug almost every playthrough.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game initially faced criticism due to its art style and design, which some players found off-putting. However, these concerns faded as players engaged with the gameplay, suggesting that the experience ultimately overshadowed initial impressions.