Shift Happens is a puzzle-platformer game where players control two connected jello creatures, Bismo and Plom, who can switch sizes and abilities. The game features four unique worlds with varying environments and challenges, designed for both solo and cooperative play. Success requires coordination, communication, and occasionally, some friendly backstabbing.
Shift Happens is a fun and enjoyable co-op puzzle platformer that encourages teamwork and offers plenty of opportunities for laughter and friendly sabotage.
The game features clever puzzles that require communication and coordination, making it a great choice for playing with friends or loved ones.
Despite some bugs, many players found the game to be a unique and entertaining experience, especially when played in local co-op.
The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, particularly in online multiplayer, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustration.
Many players criticized the life system, which forces you to restart levels if you run out of lives, making the game feel punishing rather than enjoyable.
Some found the puzzles to be repetitive and lacking in variety, leading to a sense of boredom after a few levels.
gameplay
244 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
62%
8%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of innovative mechanics and frustrating inconsistencies, with many players noting issues such as clunky controls, bugs, and repetitive puzzles. While the core mechanics, particularly those involving cooperative gameplay and unique challenges, are praised for their creativity, the overall execution often detracts from the experience, leading to a gameplay loop that can feel tedious and unpolished. Despite these drawbacks, some players find enjoyment in the cooperative aspects and the potential for fun interactions, making it a game worth considering for those who appreciate teamwork and puzzle-solving.
“This hidden gem's unique mechanics, focus on teamwork, and charming presentation make it a must-play for anyone looking for a fun and engaging gaming experience.”
“Puzzles are inventive, the concept is solid, and pulling off the co-op mechanics with a partner feels very satisfying.”
“The gameplay is simple, yet very effective as just pure, unadulterated fun.”
“The controls are clunky, and the gameplay is boring and just not enjoyable.”
“The game's mechanics, crucial to its core gameplay, are plagued by inconsistency, making it a frustrating experience rather than an enjoyable challenge.”
“It's incredibly frustrating when basic actions like grabbing objects or each other fail due to clunky controls or unreliable mechanics.”
stability
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay, particularly in multiplayer modes, leading many players to describe it as "unplayable" at times. While some users find the mechanics enjoyable despite the issues, the overall consensus is that the game's stability is a major drawback, often detracting from the fun and requiring frequent restarts. Players recommend caution, especially for those sensitive to technical problems, as the experience can be frustrating due to desync and lag.
“So far, I've only played it with a buddy online, and it runs great with only minor hiccups.”
“The reason I can't recommend this game is because it is *incredibly* buggy.”
“This game is so buggy it's unplayable.”
“The glitches are really bad and it ruins the game experience as well as friendships/relationships.”
humor
100 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 funny glitches. Many reviews note that the combination of puzzle-solving and friendly sabotage leads to hilarious moments, often resulting in uncontrollable laughter and memorable experiences with friends. Overall, the game is described as a fun and entertaining experience that excels in delivering comedic moments, making it a great choice for multiplayer sessions.
“Imagine if you and a friend were two wobbly blobs that could only solve puzzles by swapping places—sounds like a recipe for hilarious chaos, right?”
“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 4th I believe took my friend and I about an hour because I couldn't breathe I was laughing so hard.”
graphics
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
48%
7%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the colorful and simplistic aesthetic reminiscent of titles like "Gang Beasts" and "Fall Guys," while others criticize the low-polygon, minimalist style as outdated and lacking depth. Despite the varied opinions, many agree that the visuals are charming enough to complement the gameplay, even if they are not top-notch. Overall, the graphics are described as basic but enjoyable, with some players noting that they serve the game's fun mechanics well.
“The graphics look splendid.”
“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.”
“The lack of textures is a method that lazy devs often use to disguise their lack of talent or interest in doing the graphics properly, trying to disguise it under the name of 'art' or 'we made it look bad on purpose', which really isn't something gamers should have to put up with.”
“The weakest link for this game was the graphic design, which was kind of meh and tended to put me to sleep.”
“Was so much fun and a lot of laughs, but the only thing that confused me a bit was the graphics, which really look a bit outdated, giving a 2012 feel.”
story
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
65%
20%
The game's story is largely criticized for its absence, with many reviewers noting that there is no meaningful plot or character development, leaving players feeling unsatisfied. While there is a vague implication of blobs escaping a factory, the lack of narrative depth and engaging elements detracts from the overall experience. Some appreciate the absence of a forced narrative, but the overwhelming consensus is that the game suffers from a significant lack of story.
“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 to their size-changing, and that's sort of it.”
“Two blobs escaping a factory would have so much potential for a fun story, loads of humor, and engaging gameplay possibilities, but this game's complete lack of story, bland characters, lack of any meaningful choices, and extremely uninteractable world left me completely unsatisfied.”
“Small or sometimes longer passages with story or a beautifully hand-drawn background.”
“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
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
42%
16%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the soundtrack as engaging and fitting the game's atmosphere, while others find it bland or even frustrating. Many agree that the sound design is either unremarkable or contributes positively to the gameplay experience, with standout moments like catchy menu music. Overall, while some players appreciate the music's role in enhancing the game, others feel it lacks variety and memorability.
“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.”
“Things I didn't like at all: the soundtracks gave me a headache, and those noisy sounds characters were making made me want to leave ASAP.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
Overall, "Shift Happens" offers a mixed perspective on replayability; while some players find the cooperative and solo experiences provide significant replay value, others feel the game lacks enough content to warrant multiple playthroughs. The quality of the game is acknowledged, suggesting that it may still be worth revisiting for some players despite its perceived limitations in replayability.
“This greatly increases the replayability of what can be a short game if you're not focused on achievements and intend to play just the co-op experience or just solo.”
“The game isn't replayable for me.”
“But the game is certainly high enough in quality to warrant some replay value.”
“Shift Happens is a cooperative puzzle-solving game that offers a lot of content and replay value.”
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 reviewers note that the grind can detract from the overall enjoyment, with some even suggesting that it feels like a second job. Frequent technical issues further exacerbate the grind, leading to frustration during gameplay.
“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 two 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.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players describe the game as a wholesome experience that evokes strong emotions, particularly laughter, with many sharing moments where they laughed so hard they cried. The humor not only enhances enjoyment but also fosters a sense of connection, as players often share these joyful experiences with others. Overall, the emotional impact is characterized by a blend of fun and heartfelt moments that resonate deeply.
“Overall, it was really fun for me and I really enjoyed playing it. Some levels made me laugh so hard at what happened 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 near impossible.”
“It's just wholesome.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Overall, the optimization of the game is mixed; while some users report minor hiccups or bugs during gameplay, others praise "Shift Happens" for its smooth performance and lack of major issues, distinguishing it from typical early access titles.
“Shift Happens doesn't feel at all like any other early access game: it runs smoothly, bug-free, and without any problems.”
“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.