The Chameleon

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 115 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
The Chameleon Game Cover
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"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.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 115 reviews
gameplay13 positive mentions
stability2 negative mentions
  • The Chameleon features a unique and engaging stealth mechanic where players can disguise themselves as enemies, adding a fun twist to traditional stealth gameplay.
  • The game's retro aesthetic and atmospheric sound design create a captivating experience reminiscent of classic 70s sci-fi films.
  • Despite its short length, the game offers a satisfying narrative with a humorous twist, making it a memorable experience for players.
  • The game suffers from a lack of challenge due to its mechanics, which can make stealth feel trivial and lead to repetitive gameplay.
  • Several bugs and glitches, such as issues with enemy detection and energy regeneration, detract from the overall experience.
  • The short playtime and limited replayability may leave some players feeling that the game doesn't fully explore its concepts or justify its price.
  • gameplay43 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by simple yet engaging mechanics, focusing on stealth and disguise elements reminiscent of classic titles like Hitman and early Metal Gear Solid. Players appreciate the unique features, such as retaining progress upon death, which alleviates frustration typically associated with stealth games. While the game is short and some mechanics may feel unpolished, it offers a satisfying experience with a retro aesthetic and enjoyable gameplay loop.

    • “Good gameplay elements and a balanced difficulty.”
    • “Brilliant, bite-sized indie game that evokes the gameplay of early Metal Gear Solid games, but with an intriguing premise and unique gameplay hooks.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics37 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful retro low-poly aesthetic, reminiscent of 70s 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 minor issues with visibility and lack of graphical options were noted, the overall presentation is considered stunning and engaging, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “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 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.”
    • “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/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.”
  • story32 mentions

    The game's story is generally well-received, providing a compelling backdrop that enhances the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the intriguing lore, personal narrative, and the subtle details that unfold through collectibles, which contribute to an immersive atmosphere. While some found the plot twists predictable, many enjoyed the engaging climax and the overall aesthetic that complements the storytelling, leaving them eager for potential expansions or sequels.

    • “Interesting story gave me purpose to play.”
    • “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.”
    • “As the end of the game approaches, the story begins to take some interesting turns and finishes with a satisfying narrative conclusion.”
    • “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.”
  • music22 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and evoke a nostalgic 70s sci-fi vibe. While some players found the soundtrack sporadic or not well-mixed, others highlighted its quality and how it complements the gameplay and visuals effectively. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience, despite some inconsistencies in its integration.

    • “Incredibly fun miniature stealth game, nails the 70s sci-fi tone with spot-on aesthetics and wonderful music.”
    • “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.”
    • “Overall though it's clear this is a competent stealth game with a pronounced sci-fi and pixel aesthetic that combines with a killer soundtrack for, at the very least, an engaging auditory and visual escapade.”
    • “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 tracks were playing with no real transition or consideration for the area you're in.”
    • “The soundtrack was a little sporadic, but whenever it popped up, it was welcome.”
  • atmosphere14 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning retro low-poly visuals, immersive sound design, and a soundtrack that, while occasionally criticized, generally enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers note the game's ability to evoke the mood of classic 70s sci-fi films, with every element—visuals, sound effects, and music—working harmoniously to create a captivating environment. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's appeal, especially for fans of retro aesthetics and stealth gameplay.

    • “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 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.”
    • “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;”
    • “The atmosphere, visual style, modern effects complementing the retro style, just feels great.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The game features a blend of humor that includes a satirical cutscene reminiscent of vintage advertisements, which effectively sets the tone and introduces the main character. Players can expect a humorous twist towards the end that elicits a chuckle, alongside charming touches and details that enhance the overall experience.

    • “By 92% into the game, you get a funny twist in the revelation once you find out the truth, which will definitely get a small chuckle out of you.”
    • “There's an introductory cutscene that satirizes those old adverts from the 1950s to 70s; it's funny and helps set the tone of the game in a great way. You're introduced to the main character, who's a doctor working for a mysterious corporation.”
    • “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.”
  • stability2 mentions

    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.

    • “A bit of a buggy mess, isn't it.”
    • “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 how buggy it was.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization is generally praised, with users reporting smooth performance on older hardware, achieving 60fps in most areas, though some locations experience minor dips. The inclusion of a "pixelation" setting adds a unique visual 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). I get 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.”
    • “The optimization is so poor that even on high-end systems, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate.”
    • “Despite the various graphical settings available, the game still suffers from significant lag and stuttering during gameplay.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    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 experience, evoking feelings of excitement and satisfaction.

    • “Even the secret I managed to find made me feel amazing for putting it together, even though it was a bit simple.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    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.

  • replayability1 mentions

    The game is criticized for its short duration of only one hour, leading to a lack of replayability.

    • “The game is too short (only 1 hour) and offers no replayability.”
    • “Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
    • “The lack of different endings or choices makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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