Summary
In the story of Plato’s cave, those who lived in the cave stared at shadows of things from the real world, believing that the shadowswerethe real world. Video games often cast their characters and worlds in such shadows, particularly assilhouettes.
Depending on the environment of the game and the gameplay, they can be used to achieve different effects. They can be superimposed on beautiful backgrounds, creating images worthy of a painting in a museum. They can also complement the tone of an eerie experience, where dangers can be lurking around every corner. The fact that silhouettes can be so versatile complements their creative use by the artists and developers who make such games. Here are some prime examples of beautiful and haunting silhouette art in games.
Runbowis a platformer party game for up to nine players. It includes 3 multiplayer game modes: Run, Arena, and King of the Hill. It also includes a single-player campaign and a roster of characters, includingindie game mascots likeShovel Knight.
The game levels are no more than a few basic colors, with permanent elements being in solid black. Platforms and walls, though, appear and disappear, based on which color the background changes into. This makes for a tricky challenge, as the flow of the game can change in an instant.
Donkey Kong Country Returnswas the first original entry intheDonkey Kong Countryfranchiseafter its original developer, Rare, was purchased by Microsoft. Retro Studios perfectly captured the spirit of these games in its stunning visuals, which made the most of the Wii’s limited technology.
This includes a handful of levels in which the foreground consists of solid black silhouettes. These stand out beautifully against the warm sunset on a beach to create a serene moment, or against a raging inferno, creating something more harrowing. The splash of red on Donkey and Diddy Kong’s clothes helps them stand out even more, contrasting them with enemies and obstacles.
6Game And Watch
Visually Entertaining Games On Limited Hardware
Game and Watchisn’t a game, but rather a series of handheld game units which were originally released in 1980. The line was conceived by Gunpei Yokoi, who would later create Nintendo’s successful Game Boy handheld. Several variations would be released, including more modern versionsfeaturingSuper MarioandLegend of Zeldagames preloaded.
The display and computing hardware were essentially that of a calculator, so the games’ graphics needed to clearly communicate visual information, often with a single color. The fact that Nintendo made games that were so visually creative with such limited technology is a testament to their economic game design.
In His Timeisan adventure/puzzlerfrom developer Teary Hand Studio, following a school kid named Olly as he attempts to uncover stolen parts of a device for an elderly machinist. In return, the man will help find a remedy for his ailing mother.
In His Timetells its story with excellent writing and simple imagery. The characters are depicted as solid black figures. These silhouettes complement the dream sequences and flashbacks of the characters, which take place in more surreal landscapes, with steampunk-themed machinery in the background.
InBadland, a collective of round, fuzzy, bat-like creatures must travel across levels while avoiding the dangerous machines in their way. The backgrounds consist of beautiful, alien foliage, which ends up overtaken by foreign machines as the game progresses. The goal is to get the creatures from one end of the level to the other while collecting power-ups that grow, shrink, and multiply them.
The jet-black silhouettes of the creatures and foreground elements contrast beautifully with the warm colors of the daytime levels and the cool blues and purples of night. Dangerous machines are also silhouetted, making them even more haunting. This is a title for those who enjoythe simple, yet addictive, gameplayofFlappy Bird, along with the weirdness ofOddworld.
Framedis a novel take on the puzzle game.A series of comic panelsmust be rotated and rearranged in order to affect the events of each scene in the overarching narrative, which plays out to a jazz-infused soundtrack.
The artwork captures the vibe of comics from the early 20th century. Its silhouetted characters give the leading figures a sense of mystique. This complements the game as an homage to classic hard-boiled detective and noir stories. Fans ofThe SpiritandDick Tracywill want to check this one out.
Beholdercan be described as George Orwell’s 1984 meetsPapers, Please. A man is responsible for managing an apartment building, monitoring the residents’ actions, and reporting any illegal activity to the authorities. Residents may be in difficult situations, resulting in morally gray dilemmas.
The fact that the characters are black silhouettes perfectly fits with the setup of this game. Everything has a pervading sense of gloom, includingthe oppressive, authoritarian government, as well as the run-down building that players now look after. The faces are surprisingly expressive, though, sharing emotions through large, blank eyes.
IfLimbodid not invent the monochromatic game, then it certainly popularized it. The title drops a young boy in the middle of the dark woods, and he must navigate unseen dangers.
Being lost in the forest is spooky enough, but it is even spookier when in black and white. The foreground elements are solid black, while the midground and background are obscured in an eerie fog. These silhouettes do not just have an aesthetic effect, though. They can also make it more difficult to notice hazards. For instance, what may first look like a tree branch may turn out to be a giant spider leg that impales the boy without warning.
MORE:Great Games In Black And White
