Shiftshape

NOTE: This game is still in an early stage of development. This prototype is a demonstration of the systems in the game and does NOT reflect the final version (where applicable).

Simple controls. Limitless possibilities.

Take control of various shapes and use their geometric properties to reach the exit of each level. Squeeze and stretch through tight spaces as the square, tumble down slopes at high speeds as the circle and break through gaps as the triangle.

Instructions

On keyboard, use the arrow keys to move and press space to jump. (The keys Z and X also work.) Press escape to pause the game.

On gamepad, use the analogue stick or D-pad to move and press any of the face buttons to jump. Press start to pause the game.

Press jump in the air to use your special move. The special move is different for each shape. Some shapes require you to charge the special move by holding the button.

Some stages require progression points to progress. You gain progression points by completing levels as fast as possible. The rank you get, from E to A, determines how many points you get.

Square

The square is the simplest and easiest shape to use. Its movement is snappy and instant. The square also has the ability to change its proportions if down or up is held. Pressing down causes the square to squish into a shorter size, allowing it to fit through short gaps. Conversely, pressing up causes the square to stretch into a taller and thinner size, allowing it to get through thin gaps and reach higher points of interest. Pressing up or down also affects the height of the square's jump.

Special ability: The square is able to dash in any direction once while in the air. The dash may not be used again until touching either the ground or a special restore point. The square will maintain its horizontal momentum after the dash.

Circle

The circle is a shape that relies on momentum. Instead of snappy movement, it rolls to build up speed. It gains extra speed by rolling down slopes and loses speed when going up slopes. The circle can reach extremely high speeds quickly this way, which lets it break through obstacles and fly over gaps and up walls.

Special ability: If the circle holds the jump button, it will start to spin in place. When it lands, the speed it built up while spinning in place is converted into a significant boost in speed.

The following shapes are still in the design phase and have yet to be implemented and/or tested.

Triangle

The triangle moves similarly to the square, except slightly faster. It defeats enemies that attack from above.

Special ability: Instead of a dash, the triangle is able to tunnel through cracked surfaces.

Hourglass

The hourglass moves in steps by rotating on its sides 90 degrees at a time.

Special ability: The hourglass projects both of its segments outwards until each collides with something. Then the segments retract to reform the hourglass' original shape. The direction the segments are launched depends on the side the hourglass is standing on. If it is standing on a flat side, the segments are projected vertically, and if it is standing on a pointy side, the segments are projected horizontally. This can be used to simultaneously interact with multiple objects that are far apart.

String

The string has two ends, but one is the main end. The main end controls similarly to the square. The tail end of the string lags behind the main end.

If the main end reaches a hook point, it grabs onto that point. The control then passes to the other end, which becomes the new main end and can move in any direction, but is constrained to the first end.

Special ability: The string's main end stretches some distance in the direction pressed on the control stick, allowing it to grab onto hook points more easily. If the other end is already attached to a hook point, it releases that point and jumps in the direction pressed on the control stick.

If the string is attached to hook points at both ends, using the special ability will cause both ends to jump with great velocity.