Stacking

One of the games I’ve recently been playing is Stacking, which came out last month.  Developed by Tim Shafer’s Double Fine Productions, this puzzle-adventure game takes place in a world populated entirely by Russian Matryoshka dolls, which stack inside one another according to increasing size.  You control tiny Charlie Blackmore, whose chimney-sweeping family has been forced to work as slaves after falling into debt.  Using his ability to stack into dolls and use their abilities, Charlie must save each of his family members, and also end child labour, which is being enforced by the evil Baron.

The game has a very charming Industrial Age setting with old train stations, steamships and zeppelins as the main backdrops.  The soundtrack, primarily consisting of piano and violin, is appropriately vintage, as are the cutscenes, which are presented like old silent movies.  The dolls all speak in a sort of mangled gibberish, like the Sims, and each has its own unique ability, which can be used to solve puzzles.  For example, prima donna Wilhelmina has a powerful singing voice, which can smash glass.  Fire Chief Russell can spray his hose to put out fires.  The Widow Chastity can seduce and distract male dolls.  Cigarette-smoking milkman, Meriwether Malador, can flatulate in order to clear the nearby area of dolls.  There are well over a hundred of these throughout the game, so the range of puzzles, not to mention the different solutions you can come up with, is extensive.

Stacking’s entirely unique style of gameplay, beautiful presentation, and lighthearted tone (notwithstanding the whole child labour angle and all) make it a great game for those looking for something a little different from the standard, violent shooters saturating the market.  It’s currently available to buy on the Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network stores.