Stacking - The Game Journal Review

When Double Fine announced they had reached a partnership with THQ to publish downloadable titles, I have to admit, I got a bit excited. A prominent developer embracing the digital platforms is always great and, in Double Fine's case, the digital platforms offer a lower risk alternative for them to offer their unique brand of titles without being dependant on making a huge number of sales in order to be a commercial success. The benefit for their customers is also great, as we get more Double Fine titles for lower prices. Double Fine's first downloadable title, Costume Quest, was a great start. Stacking follows suit, nicely.

Stacking sees you playing as Charlie Blackmore, the youngest and smallest member of his family. With the disappearance of their father, the Blackmore family has fallen into debt and the children have been forced into indentured service to The Baron in order to make good on their debts. Well, all of the children except for Charlie who is deemed to small to do any good.

It's an interesting setup on its own, but it gets better. The characters in the world of Stacking are all Russian Stacking Dolls. Playing as Charlie, you have the ability to "stack" into dolls who are a size larger than you, controlling that doll and making use of its unique ability. Once inside a doll can then continually "stack" into dolls that are one size larger, using their abilities, as well.

So this is, essentially, an Adventure game but instead of collecting and combining items, you use the special abilities and combinations of Stacking Dolls in order to problem solve. It's a system that works really well because it's so in tune with the game's characters.

Each level, there are four, plus the Train Station hub world, has Charlie solving various puzzles. Each puzzle offers multiple ways to solve it, encouraging you to replay each puzzle multiple times in order to find each of the increasingly complicated and imaginative solutions.

Exploration is also encouraged. There are unique dolls to discover, themed characters to simultaneously stack together and Hi-Jinks to participate in. Your accomplishments are kept track of by Levi, Charlie's hobo friend, who you can visit in an abandoned area of the train station seeing how close you are to completing the various things to do in each level.

Stacking also encourages you to talk to as many dolls as possible. Dialogue has traditionally been a strength of Double Fine games and Stacking is no different, with some very clever, funny bits of dialogue presented. There is no voice acting in the game, which some people might take issue with, but it seems fitting with the silent movie presentation of the cut scenes.

Stacking also provides a generous hint system for those who need help solving the puzzles. What's nice is that it is placed in the menu system, so those who want to use it can and those who want to figure things out on their own aren't hit over the head with unsolicited tips.

Double Fine's second foray into the downloadable game space is as good, if not better than, their first. Stacking is a refreshing take on the adventure game, offering a unique gameplay mechanic that is tied into the the aesthetic incredibly well. With the accessibility of the gameplay and hint system, the amount of content there for those who want it via the multiple ways to solve each puzzle and the encouragement given to explore the world, this is an easy game to recommend. Everything in Stacking just fits together so well. Double Fine may have found its niche in bringing these smaller, imaginative titles to the downloadable services. I hope they continue to bring more.