Free running in space with various abilities and platforms describes this game perfectly. Schacht is primarily a time trial based game where you try to post the fastest time on a course that is randomly generated. The premise of the game is quite interesting since there are not a lot of games that feature this sort of gameplay elements while also turning out to be good. Schacht is a great addition to this small genre of games but it has it’s own share of shortcomings that stop this game from being a great game, so lets see what it has to offer to players. Schacht is a game developed by the Students of the Stuttgart Media University and has been published by LAB132 and is available on the PlayStation 4 and PC.
Schacht is a fast paced 3D platform with a handful of mechanics that the tutorial does a wonderful job of teaching you. These mechanics include running, jumping, dashing, using a grappling hook and activating switches. These core mechanics once mastered can lead to moments of sheer exhilarating fun when you pull of a flawless run on a course. The game does not feature a lot of modes sadly to use these really cool mechanics on.
The modes that are available include a Challenge Mode and an Editor Mode that is exclusive to the PC version of the game. The challenge mode features cups and challenges that periodically change, be it daily, weekly or monthly. This doesn’t get stale or boring however due to the fact that levels are randomly generated which means that you’re never certain as to what level you’re going to get. This is good since there’s no story mode of any sorts so challenge mode is the go to mode for players, especially those on the PlayStation 4 and helps with replayability. This shouldn’t be confused with the fact that every player gets a unique level. The courses that players get are all the same but are randomly generated once the challenge is over. This however does mean that you’ll see the same set-ups and set pieces a lot since there isn’t much of a variety in that aspect.
The 3D platforming aspect is where the game shines as it is really solid. I did not face any glitches or game breaking bugs that would ruin a run for me. Once you master the core gameplay elements, chaining the moves together and completing a course is a lot of fun. However there is no real reward that you get from completing courses. There’s no story mode or progress based unlockables and upgrades that you can look forward to. It’s a pure time trial based game where you just play to beat the time of other players. The game does feature a local multiplayer mode for support up to 4 players which can be quiet a lot of fun. There’s also character customization but other than that there isn’t much to the game.
Schacht is a fun free-running 3D platformer that has solid core mechanics but falls short in terms of making progress and rewarding the players. The lack of other game modes is also something I feel this game can improve on but for its price, its offerings are not too bad. If you’re a fan of time trial based games and speedrunning, you should absolutely try this game out. I feel there isn’t too much else for the casual player in this game but it can be fun in short spells of playing.
