A puzzle platforming adventure game set in a war-ravaged diesel punk world, The Last Shot reminds me of games like Limbo and Out Of This World only with less gruesome deaths. Even though you play as an engineer that looks like a background character on the Simpsons, the diesel punk visual setting is really the star of the show.
The protagonist gets thrown into a situation where he needs to reunite with his lady friend, receiving clues via letters along the way. While platforming is involved, solving environmental puzzles is the action that will be performed the most, most requiring trial and error. To overcome these challenges, the player has access to three tools that can be swapped by pressing the “B” button. The hand icon can pick up/place items, open doors, and push/pull crates. The hammer is used to break apart certain items (and is the least used tool by far). And the wrench is used to repair and activate things. Then the “X” button is used to sprint, allowing for momentum to build so jumping can clear greater distances.
Since this game supports multiple languages, there is very little text. Instead, everything is displayed visually including the options menu that explains the button mapping. It is a little confusing and overwhelming at first but will make sense after solving a few puzzles. However, in the few hours it took me to finish the campaign, I still fumbled with the controls occasionally. The shoulder buttons should have been used to cycle through the items and perhaps activating things would have made more sense to be assigned to the RT. It is nothing game breaking by any means but the odd, unchangeable controller mapping is perhaps this downloadable game’s biggest annoyance.
For the most part, the puzzles land right in the sweet spot. They are never difficult, where you need to cheat by using an online guide, but hard enough to require some easy-going trial and error. Uniquely, the game features a built-in hint system at the tap of a button. However, this hint is restricted to a time limit. Meaning, as soon as you enter a new area that contains the next puzzle, the player will need to wait a minute or two before the hint becomes viewable. So instead of looking up the answer right away, the player is forced to experiment a bit. By the time you figure out what you are supposed to do, the hint becomes viewable but you probably won’t need it. Having a safety net is nice and I did reference it a few times towards the end as it provides a step-by-step visual guide on trickier, longer sequential puzzles.
Other than the odd button mapping, I have two more minor complaints. First, sometimes items that need to be collected blend in too well with the detailed background. This is an impressive looking game, basically like playing a cartoon, but having mandatory items glow or be highlighted in some way could have alleviated some tedious backtracking. The second comes from the soundtrack. The looping musical tunes repeat much too often and are presented in a way that seems like it is mocking the player. As you are trying to figure out how to solve a current puzzle, the soundtrack somehow makes the gameplay more annoying than it needs to be. As if it is making fun of you for not knowing the solution to the puzzle immediately. I actually wound up turning off the volume on my TV towards the end of the game just so I can concentrate.
It should go without saying but the hand drawn diesel punk visuals are exceedingly well done. Everything runs on gas. Tubes connect everything. War and explosions have greatly impacted the survivors. Smog is everywhere. It’s like playing a depressing comic book. Pressing a button also zooms in/out the camera and found myself zooming in not to assist in solving puzzles but to admire the artwork. The attention to detail needs to be recognized because this is a small indie game that cares. Even the intro main menu screen is designed in a way that fits into the gameplay. There are humorous pop culture references throughout the entire campaign too.
The Last Shot is a fun, little puzzle platformer that turned into a pleasant surprise. I fear this game will fly under the radar, possibly due to its banner art, but I assure you the gameplay is much more entertaining that you might think. It can be completed in a weekend and most Achievements will unlock with normal play too. But this is a Sometimes You sleeper hit for sure.
SCORE: 8/10
Not As Dramatic As: Inside
Don’t Forget About: Papetura
Also Play: Journey of the Broken Circle
By: Zachary Gasiorowski, Editor in Chief myGamer.com
Twitter: @ZackGaz
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