Shaun Munro reviews Serial Cleaner on Nintendo Switch…
Released over the summer for PS4, Xbox One and PC, iFun4ForAll’s gonzo stealth title Serial Cleaner has now made its way to Nintendo Switch, and like so many indie titles ported over to Nintendo’s hybrid console as of late, it’s so damn satisfying being able to take this bite-sized romp on the go.
Serial Cleaner‘s most immediately apparent touchstone is the brilliant Hotline Miami, in that both games throw the player into increasingly crowded, boxed-in levels which they must gingerly navigate through, while a surreal plot-dump is pigeonholed in-between each mission. The key difference here is that this game doesn’t ask the player to commit wanton acts of violence against innumerable faceless goons; rather, you’re tasked with sneaking into grisly crime scenes already swarming with police, pick up a number of dead bodies, gather any incriminating evidence, mop up the blood, and make your speedy exit.
It’s an amusingly subversive spin on the Hotline Miami formula for sure, a stealth game fondly recalling Metal Gear Solid with the enemies’ comically precise, cone-shaped fields of vision, while also allowing players to hide in various boxes, closets and rooms hidden around each map. The guards have an especially distinguished stupidity about them, though; even if you dive into a safe room mere inches from a cop’s face, they won’t come in after you.
Though not a mechanically intricate game, Serial Cleaner does a fantastic job of starting things simple and gradually ramping the intricacy up; at first players will simply need to be mindful of how loud their footsteps are – indicated by a diamond box emanating from your position – but soon enough you’ll be able to move objects around in order to manipulate enemy patrol routes and even create aural distractions to get through a particularly hairy sequence.
It is worth saying, however, that the lack of an ability to fight back will probably make the game too frustrating for some; though it is possible to escape when rumbled by a cop, your movement and button presses will need to be incredibly precise to reach a hiding place before their ridiculously fast running speed will catch up to you.
The fact that getting caught will also send you back to the very beginning of the mission, totally resetting everything you’ve successfully returned to your car, can also prove somewhat annoying, but such is the game’s desire to punish. Further still, every time you fail, the position of the bodies and evidence resets, meaning you can’t even succeed through effort of sheer rote perseverance.
You can argue that it would’ve been nice for the game to include accessibility options which would allow players to keep their collection progress when caught, but on the flip side, when you finally make your way through a pesky mission after ten adrenaline-soaked, suspense-fueled minutes, it is one hell of a great feeling.
Plus, the core campaign only clocks in at around four hours in length over 20 cleaner contracts, so failing numerous times was clearly always part of the plan pacing-wise. To that end, it would certainly be unfair to call the game a slog even in its more infuriating moments. True gluttons for punishment, however, have the option to play each level with modifiers such as having no enemy vision cones, insta-fail if spotted by an enemy, and being “drunk on the job” (where your vision is blurred) to name just a few.
Those craving even more content will be advised to check out the 10 additional contracts, also, which are unlocked by discovering hidden film reels scattered around the main campaign levels. These extra contracts add fun new twists on the conventional formula, along with a few well-executed homages to classic movies which absolutely shouldn’t be spoiled. On top of this, if you discover secret magazines strewn around the levels too, you’ll unlock some snazzy and oft-hilarious new outfits.
Aesthetically, the game isn’t a dynamo by any means, but there’s a sure charm to its stripped down, cut-out-of-paper aesthetic, accentuating a scuzzy 1970s setting that often feels reminiscent of some of the grottier scenes from Pulp Fiction. The interface is also simple and snappy, with a quick tap of the left trigger handily revealing the colour-coded locations of your objectives and interactibles. As such, you’re never wrestling with the game to figure out your next plan of action, which in a game this contingent on precise movement and strategy, is mighty damn important.
Aurally, it doesn’t actually do much in terms of sound effects – beyond the amusing slurp of your vacuum cleaner as it sucks up pools of blood – but the groovy 70s-style soundtrack adds plenty of mood and atmosphere, even if the overall soundscape is pretty minimalist and, honestly, not much to write home about.
One of the game’s true disappointments, though, is its overall lack of personality where story and characters are concerned. This wouldn’t be so problematic if the game were nothing more than back-to-back levels, but the narrative interludes where you’re forced to interact with numerous objects in your base of operations before triggering the next mission is honestly a little ennui-inducing. The dialogue lacks the slyly subversive appeal of Hotline Miami, and left me frequently eager to skip through it entirely.
All things considered, Serial Cleaner probably isn’t a game for those craving a chilled out few hours in bed with their Switch, but if you’re up for a decent challenge, the game’s addictive appeal, solid visuals and fun soundtrack add up to yet another fun addition to the Switch’s “Nindie” lineup.
Pros:
+ Sharp, minimalist visuals
+ Groovy, jazzy soundtrack
+ Addictive “just one more” gameplay
+ Bite-sized gameplay fits the Switch like a glove.
+ A healthy amount of extra content
Cons:
– Lacking in personality compared to similar games
– Trial-and-error gameplay won’t be for everyone
– Forced interaction between levels gets boring quickly
Rating: 7/10
Reviewed for Nintendo Switch (also available on PS4, Xbox One and PC)
Shaun Munro – Follow me on Twitter for more video game rambling.
