Stacking (video game)
Stacking | |
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OS X, Linux | |
Release | |
adventure | |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Stacking is an
The game is based on the Russian stacking matryoshka dolls, an idea coined by Double Fine's art director, Lee Petty, who saw the dolls as a means to replace the standard player interface used in graphical adventure games. The player controls the smallest doll, Charlie Blackmore, who has the ability to stack and unstack into larger dolls and use their abilities to solve puzzles to allow Charlie to free his older siblings and put an end to child labor enforced by the antagonist, the Baron. Puzzles within the game have multiple solutions, and include additional puzzles and challenges that allow the player to explore the game's world outside of the main story.
Stacking was well received by critics and praised for its alluring appearance, humorous story, and accessible gameplay for casual players.
Gameplay
The player controls the smallest doll, Charlie Blackmore, who is attempting to reunite his family that is being forced to work for an evil industrialist named The Baron.[4][5] Charlie is able to jump inside dolls that are one size larger than he and control them, as long as the larger doll is facing away from him.[4] If the player already controls a stack of dolls, that stack can jump into a one-size-larger doll as well. The player can also unstack the dolls at any time in order to enter dolls smaller than his current stack. Certain unique dolls, outside of Charlie, have their own special abilities—such as the ability to unlock doors, float to higher locations, or lure other dolls around, which can be used by the outermost doll. Thus, the player must stack and unstack the set of dolls possessed by Charlie to solve puzzles throughout the game. Later puzzles may require the use of multiple dolls to combine their skills.[6]
The various challenges for each mission contain multiple solutions, with rewards offered for finding all of them. For example; in a challenge where the player must clear out a lounge of rich people, players can either sneak in a poorly dressed man into the party, or have another character flatulate into an air vent to clear everyone out. There are also rewards for completing side missions, discovering unique dolls, finding and stacking a matching set of dolls and performing "Hi-jinks" with certain dolls.[5][7][8] Along with achievements and trophies, rewards can be viewed via dioramas constructed by Charlie's hobo friend, Levi.
Plot
Set in a fictional version of the
Charlie sets up a meeting between the strike leader and representatives from the Train Guild, breaking the strike and freeing Albert. Another letter, this time from Agatha, then leads him to the Baron's private cruise ship, the Commodore Perry, which is currently embarked on a never-ending voyage. By turning a small group of wealthy and influential passengers aboard the Perry against the ship's captain, Charlie forces him to return to shore, allowing Agatha to return home. A third letter leads Charlie to slip aboard a massive zeppelin hosting an international summit on whether or not to ban the use of child labor, which the Baron has rigged by abducting the ambassadors opposed to him. Charlie frees them and they manage to pass a formal ban, but the Baron subsequently orders his men to overload the zeppelin, intending to kill the delegates in a staged "accident". With the help of Abigail, who he rescued earlier, Charlie and the ambassadors fix the damage and save the zeppelin before it crashes.
In an attempt to win back the public's trust, the Baron announces plans to send all of his former child laborers on an all-expenses paid vacation using his newly-constructed private train. However, the whole thing turns out to be a trap; the Baron and his stockholders intend to transport the children to an offshore factory, outside of international jurisdiction. Furthermore, the entire Blackmore family has been taken hostage, watched over by the Baron's henchmen, the Generals. Charlie manages to subdue them individually and free his family, including his father. Unfortunately, they are unable to stop the train before it reaches its destination, and the Baron reveals his true plan: to turn the factory into an artificial island and sell the children as a cheap labor force.
Together with his family and friends, Charlie strips away the Baron's layers until they are both the same size. The Baron summons guards to assist him, but Levi and his hobo cousins show up in a makeshift
Development
Stacking is the second game, following
The game contains a central hub
As part of the game's promotion, Double Fine offered a set of matryoshka dolls based on characters in the game; the initial run was sold out in less than 24 hrs.[13] THQ released a downloadable content.[14] The first add-on, "The Lost Hobo King", has been released in April 2011[needs update], and includes new dolls and a new stage to explore. It focuses on Charlie helping Levi's uncle Rufus to find the crown to become the king of hobos in the town of Camelfoot.[15]
Stacking along with Costume Quest were acquired by
Reception
Aggregator | Score |
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1Up.com | A[19] |
Eurogamer | 8/10[20] |
Game Informer | 8.5/10[21] |
GameSpot | 8.0/10[22] |
IGN | 8.5/10[23] |
Stacking has received largely positive critical appraisal. Most reviewers commented on the short length of the game if one simply progressed through the story without exploring any of the alternate solutions or side puzzles, and may be considered too short a game for the
The game's core gameplay was considered to be very accessible, in part due to its alluring visuals.[24] The controls were considered simple enough to be easily taught to a casual player, and provides enough hints so that the player rarely will be stuck to progress in the game.[21][23] The use of multiple solutions to solve various challenges was praised; as stated by Jeff Marchiafava of Game Informer, providing multiple solutions helps to "[solve] one of the most common problems with the [adventure game] genre" as players do not have to guess at one specific line of thought programmed by the developers. The multiple solutions also provide a means of enticing players to seek out all solutions, as finding the solutions can be "logical and rewarding to work out", according to GameSpot's Carolyn Petit.[22] Christian Donlan of Eurogamer considered this design one that "actively encourages a second play-through and an addled imagination".[20] Many reviews noted that most of the puzzles were somewhat simple, solved with the use of only one doll only until late in the game, making for some awkward pacing in the game.[19] In particular, late in the game, players can combine the special abilities of certain dolls when stacked, a gameplay feature that would have been more interesting to explore earlier in the title.[21] The added collection and Hi-Jinks goals were found to help with extending the game beyond the core story and provide ways of experimenting with the dolls to find solutions for the main puzzles.[21][25] Some reviewers commented on a few issues with the game's camera in tight places and some other small technical issues, but felt these did not mar the overall experience.[21][22][20]
Stacking's story and artwork were highlights of the game. The Guardian's Steve Boxer found the game's art to be "utterly delightful" and "sumptuous".[26] Donlan considered the game's world a "wonderfully crafted place" that was able to combine "the echoing grandeur of 1930s architecture and sooty technology with the home-made ingenuity of LittleBigPlanet".[20] Reviewers noted that the game is able to take serious issues such as the Great Depression and child labor, and turn them into a humorous backdrop.[21][22] Kristine Steimer of IGN affirmed that the "witty dialogue and goofy animations amplify the fact that this game is not actually socialist propaganda".[23]
Reviewing the game's Linux release,
References
- ^ Nelson, Randy (January 19, 2011). "Stacking pops onto PSN Feb. 8, XBLA Feb. 9". Joystiq. Archived from the original on January 31, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
- ^ "Stacking coming to PC". Double Fine. December 19, 2011. Archived from the original on May 17, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
- ^ "Stacking". Linux game database. May 8, 2013. Archived from the original on June 7, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
- ^ a b "Please allow me to introduce you to… Charlie Blackmore". Double Fine. November 23, 2010. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Herring, Will (December 24, 2010). "First Look: Stacking". GamePro. Archived from the original on December 4, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
- ^ Steimer, Kristine (November 23, 2010). "The Skinny on Double Fine's Next Game". IGN. Archived from the original on November 27, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- ^ a b c Funk, John (January 19, 2011). "Hands-On: Double Fine's Stacking". The Escapist. Archived from the original on January 22, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
- ^ Nunneley, Stephany (January 26, 2011). "Stacking to include "Hijinx" mode, all sorts of bodily functions". VG247. Archived from the original on January 29, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ Alexander, Jem (November 24, 2010). "'Stacking' is Double Fine's next game". Official Xbox Magazine. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
- ^ Sony Computer Entertainment. January 14, 2011. Archivedfrom the original on January 15, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
- ^ Gamasutra. Archivedfrom the original on February 13, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
- ^ Klepek, Patrick (February 13, 2012). "$1.6 Million and Counting". Giant Bomb. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
- ^ Doctorow, Cory (February 1, 2011). "Whimsical, fantastical matrioshke". Boing Boing. Archived from the original on February 4, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
- ^ Cullen, Johnny (March 2, 2011). "Stacking DLC in development, confirms THQ". VG247. Archived from the original on March 6, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
- ^ "Stacking Add-On Coming from THQ" (Press release). THQ. March 18, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
- ^ Nunneley, Stephany (November 26, 2013). "Nordic Games hands back rights to Costume Quest and Stacking to Double Fine". VG247. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
- ^ "Stacking for Xbox 360". GameRankings. February 8, 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
- ^ "Stacking (x360)". Metacritic. February 9, 2011. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
- ^ 1UP.com. Archived from the originalon October 18, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Donlan, Christian (February 9, 2011). "Stacking". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f Marchiafava, Jeff (February 8, 2011). "Stacking". Game Informer. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f Petit, Carolyn (February 8, 2011). "Stacking". GameSpot. Archived from the original on October 30, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Steimer, Kristine (February 8, 2011). "Stacking Review". IGN. Archived from the original on August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
- ^ a b Sapieha, Chad (February 11, 2011). "Double Fine's latest production stacks up nicely". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on February 14, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
- ^ Samuel, Ebenezer (February 13, 2011). "Stacking". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on February 15, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
- ^ Boxer, Steve (February 8, 2011). "Stacking – review". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
- ^ Wilson, Hamish (April 29, 2014). "GamingOnLinux Reviews - Stacking". GamingOnLinux. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
Further reading
- Daniel Barron (April 19, 2011). "'Uprising', 'Stacking' polar opposites". G4TV Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2011.