CHANGE Demo

New ideas are not hard to come by in the realm of video games, but it would appear that most of the developers choose safe subjects that have been done countless times before. Hence, it’s always nice to see a bit of originality in terms of story or gameplay mechanics, especially from indie developers. It may not always work as intended, but it’s easier to get over flaws when the idea as a whole keeps you engaged.

CHANGE is a 2D survival game in which you play the role of a homeless man as he tries to get his life back in order and stay alive in the meantime. Your main tasks are to find food, beg for money, try to get a job and maybe find some kind of comfort in the cold streets. It’s obviously a very intriguing concept, and it can easily evolve into something a lot more polished with more work.

The gameplay mechanics are very simple, but the procedural maps and random events should make every playthrough feel unique. As mentioned before, it’s important to eat regularly, otherwise your character won’t make it for too long. Getting money for food is tricky, on the other hand, since you can beg for them, try to find a job, or even pick up leftovers from bins, although the latter can also make you sick.

Another important thing is to find shelter in order to rest at night, although there’s a curfew you must respect. All sorts of random events take place at night, which affect your character’s mood and perspective on the situation. The maps are also procedurally generated, so you can keep walking in any direction and never have to worry about being stuck or bored of the same sights, even if the environments get a tad repetitive in this alpha demo.

Your character can also develop a few skills if you pay sufficient time practicing certain activities, and these perks can also change the experience. As far as the graphics are concerned, don’t expect an awful lot in this regard, but the pixelated environments are actually quite moody. The full game promises a weather system and a few other such interesting elements as well.

When it’s all said and done, it’s obviously great to see new ideas, especially in the survival genre that has been polluted by zombies in the last few years. Hence, CHANGE is definitely worth keeping an eye on, and you can even help with its funding by participating in the Kickstarter project.