The Chameleon

About

The Chameleon is a single player action adventure game with horror, mystery and science fiction themes. It was developed by Merlino Games and was released on July 13, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

"The Chameleon" is a first-person puzzle-adventure game that follows the story of a shapeshifter. Players must use their ability to blend in and deceive while solving increasingly complex puzzles to uncover the truth about their past and escape the mysterious mansion they find themselves in. With a focus on stealth and cunning, players must carefully navigate their surroundings and choose when to reveal their true form.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 230 reviews

gameplay26 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game features a unique disguise mechanic that allows players to blend in with enemies, adding a fun twist to the stealth gameplay.
The retro aesthetic and atmosphere are beautifully crafted, evoking a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic PS1 games.
The punch mechanic is extremely satisfying, providing a rewarding combat experience that complements the stealth elements.

The game is quite short, with many players finishing it in under two hours, leading to concerns about replayability and value for money.
The AI behavior is often criticized for being too simplistic, making stealth less challenging and more about exploiting mechanics than skill.
There are several bugs and glitches reported, including issues with the save system and unresponsive controls, which can detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
63%
7%
The gameplay is primarily stealth-focused, featuring simple mechanics that allow players to disguise themselves and navigate environments with ease. While the game is short and lacks depth in some areas, it offers a satisfying experience with unique mechanics and a retro aesthetic that appeals to fans of classic stealth games. Overall, it balances fun and accessibility, making it a worthwhile pick for those seeking a quick, engaging gameplay experience.
- “Brilliant, bite-sized indie game that evokes the gameplay of early Metal Gear Solid games, but with an intriguing premise and unique gameplay hooks.”
- “Incredible visuals and aesthetics, immersive atmosphere, very cool soundtrack, a nice subtle story, and fun gameplay too.”
- “The atmosphere and gameplay add up to a very satisfying package, and I'd easily recommend it to any fans of retro 3D or stealth games.”
- “The mechanics are everything you hate to see in what's supposed to be a stealth game.”
- “Each time the player is shocked they are sent to the lobby, meaning that after attaining a key card, the player can just get caught and not have to sneak their way out. This makes gameplay feel unpolished.”
- “All I got from it was a terrible stealth game with a terrible energy mechanic.”
graphics
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
47%
4%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful retro low-poly aesthetic, reminiscent of 1970s sci-fi films and classic PS1 visuals. Players appreciate the immersive atmosphere created by the combination of visuals, sound, and music, which together evoke a nostalgic experience. While some users noted minor issues with visibility and limited graphics options, the overall consensus is that the game's unique style and vibrant palette enhance its appeal.
- “Visually stimulating in its beautiful retro low-poly atmosphere and aesthetic.”
- “The chameleon excels in two things in particular: the atmosphere, and the climax. The atmosphere is clearly inspired by the old sci-fi movies of the 70's, and is perfectly built through every single detail: the soundtrack, the visuals, the sound effects, the cutscenes, everything is perfectly interconnected to recreate the long lost mood of the great classics.”
- “Stunningly beautiful, with atmospheric lighting and a vibrant palette that contrasts with the blocky visuals; sort of the best looking PS1 game that never was.”
- “There's no keybindings or graphics options beyond vsync which, like I said, doesn't work.”
- “Every punch you throw wastes your energy and you have to wait for it to come back again. The visuals sometimes make it so you can barely see where you're going through the level. The game barely tells you where you're going or what you're supposed to do; there is no map or radar, just some map on a wall you have to memorize or you will get lost, and enemies know your location through walls.”
- “It is obvious but I need to mention it: its PS1-like graphics are present and don't disappoint one bit.”
story
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
39%
5%
The game's story is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its engaging narrative and the lore that enhances the gameplay experience. While some feel the story primarily serves to support the gameplay, others highlight its intriguing twists, personal touches, and the immersive atmosphere it creates. Overall, the narrative is described as enjoyable, with a satisfying conclusion and plenty of details to uncover, making it a significant aspect of the game.
- “I really enjoyed the story and lore surrounding it too.”
- “It really is something all its own with a great, sort of personal story with lots of little details to uncover if you pay attention.”
- “But the highlight is the story for me, the reveal at the end changes how you view the entire experience.”
- “There is a story there, but it's mostly to set up the gameplay.”
- “Finally, it had a plot twist that I saw coming from miles away.”
- “The story is like a very 70s grindhouse sci-fi movie; I wanted to know more about that universe and characters because it feels like it misses something.”
music
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
48%
7%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the visuals, particularly noting its nostalgic 70s sci-fi vibe. While some players found the soundtrack sporadic and lacking in transitions, others highlighted its engaging quality and how it effectively matched the gameplay's pace. Overall, the sound design and music are seen as standout features that contribute significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “The chameleon excels in two things in particular: the atmosphere, and the climax. The atmosphere is clearly inspired by the old sci-fi movies of the 70s, and is perfectly built through every single detail: the soundtrack, the visuals, the sound effects, the cutscenes, everything is perfectly interconnected to recreate the long lost mood of the great classics.”
- “The reverb-laden guitar, bass, and synth tracks seem to match the pace and rhythm of the gameplay, always spurring you forward and providing a continued urgency even after the facility alarms fade away, whilst the more ambient, piano-led songs hold up the story beats along the way.”
- “Incredible visuals and aesthetics, immersive atmosphere, very cool soundtrack, a nice subtle story, and fun gameplay too.”
- “I was a bit let down by the soundtrack (it didn't quite fit the tone for me), but the rest of the atmosphere was great.”
- “The music doesn't seem to be mixed well as random ones were playing with no real transition or keeping the area you're in in mind.”
- “Not to forget the rather unique, but small, soundtrack it has.”
atmosphere
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
32%
11%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its visually stimulating retro low-poly aesthetic, immersive lighting, and vibrant color palette, reminiscent of classic 70s sci-fi films. While the soundtrack received mixed reviews, many players found that the visuals, sound effects, and overall design work harmoniously to create a captivating experience. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enhancing the gameplay and contributing to a satisfying package for fans of retro and stealth genres.
- “The chameleon excels in two things in particular: the atmosphere, and the climax. The atmosphere is clearly inspired by the old sci-fi movies of the 70s, and is perfectly built through every single detail: the soundtrack, the visuals, the sound effects, the cutscenes, everything is perfectly interconnected to recreate the long-lost mood of the great classics.”
- “Incredible visuals and aesthetics, immersive atmosphere, very cool soundtrack, a nice subtle story, and fun gameplay too.”
- “Stunningly beautiful, with atmospheric lighting and a vibrant palette that contrasts with the blocky visuals; sort of the best looking PS1 game that never was.”
- “Whatever atmosphere there was kind of just ruined by how bad the game itself is.”
- “-the atmosphere;”
- “I love, nearly everything about this game, from the aesthetic, atmosphere, and subtle world-building, to the metal gear esque stealth, and (this may be a slight stretch) the dishonored-like powers.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a blend of humor that includes a satirical introductory cutscene reminiscent of vintage advertisements, which effectively sets the tone. Players can expect a surprising twist near the end that elicits a chuckle, alongside charming touches throughout that enhance the overall experience. Overall, the humor is cleverly integrated into the narrative and visual style, contributing to the game's unique atmosphere.
- “There's an introductory cutscene that's satirizing those old adverts from the 1950s to 70s; it's funny and helps set the tone of the game in a pretty good way. You're introduced to the main character, who's a doctor working for a mysterious corporation.”
- “By 92% into the game, you get a funny 180-degree revelation once you find out the truth, which will get a small chuckle out of you.”
- “There's neat dynamic lighting, a cool dithering effect on high pixelation, lots of moody colored lighting, details all around, notes to read to enhance the setting, and charming humorous touches.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been criticized for being quite poor, with users reporting numerous bugs and counterintuitive design choices that contribute to a frustrating experience. Overall, it is described as a "buggy mess," indicating significant issues that detract from gameplay.
- “This is where the problems started for me, given that I noticed a lot of counterintuitive decisions in the game's design, as well as in how buggy it was.”
- “A bit of a buggy mess, isn't it.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game's optimization is generally praised, with users reporting smooth performance on older hardware, achieving 60fps in most areas, though some locations, like the main warehouse, experience noticeable dips to 38-45fps. Additionally, the "pixelation" setting offers a visual customization option but does not enhance performance.
- “Performance is some of the best I've had in an Unreal Engine 4 game on my 6-year-old potato laptop (i7-4710HQ, 12GB RAM, 840M 2GB VRAM, Win10 x64 bit), 60 FPS in almost all areas. The main warehouse area dipped to 38-45, though in the demo I only had dips to 50-55.”
- “There's a 'pixelation' setting that can make the game look more, some, or not at all pixelated; it's a neat touch, but it doesn't improve performance, and this game can be deceiving.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional engagement while exploring the game's labyrinthine levels, particularly when discovering strange human-like masses that grant unique powers. The sense of achievement from uncovering secrets enhances the overall emotional experience, making players feel accomplished despite the simplicity of some elements.
- “Even the secret I managed to find made me feel amazing for putting it together, even though it was a bit simple.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding in the game to be well-balanced, as its length is sufficient to provide a sense of progression without becoming tedious.
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is criticized for its short duration of only one hour, leading to a lack of replayability. Players feel that the brief experience does not encourage them to revisit the game.
- “Con: too short (1 hour) with no replayability.”