Bastion
LQ: 9.15
Recommended Age: 10+
Skills Used: Planning, Working Memory, Mathematics, Reading
In Shift 4, players navigate various black and white puzzle rooms by flip-flopping the player between the rooms’ black and white surfaces. Hitting the shift key flips the room upside down, turning what was once the black background into a walkable surface. Hitting shift again reverts the room back to its original state. Players have to experiment with the layout of each room in order to navigate the game’s obstacles and create a pathway to the finish. Shift 4 is primarily a puzzle game, featuring no violence or inappropriate content, except for a small amount of blood shown when the character is defeated. Due to these factors, as well as the difficulty, Shift 4 is recommended for ages 8 and up.
Developing a systematic approach for setting and achieving goals.
This game is good for kids who have difficulty creating a strategy before trying to complete a goal. Every room in the game is connected to another room, and each poses a different puzzle to solve. Players ca see the entire map of connected room, choosing the best path through the level. To make it safely through each room, players will have to pause and take in all elements of the puzzle, like the orientation of black and white, as well as the locations of hazards like spikes. After doing so, they need to plan out a strategy, sequencing out the steps needed to make it across the room. If they don’t, they may get stuck becoming and will be forced to restart the puzzle.
Being efficient and aware of our use of time and effort.
Players are given 10 minutes to complete the major objectives in each chapter of the game. The timer in at the lower right corner of the game screen continues to tick down as players make their way through the interconnected levels. Players must take the most efficient paths through the world map, as quickly as possible. The time limit also makes it important for players to quickly learn the basics of gameplay, and to not hesitate too long while trying to make decisions in the game.
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