Chameleons are sneaky little buggers, and weirdly capable of espionage if Spy Chameleon is anything to go by. The adorable chameleon is capable of changing colours to blend in with his environment, catching flies and ladybugs whilst outsmarting his foes all before slyly making his escape. He has to be careful of the lifeless robots and mutated rats that patrol some stages however; put one scaly foot wrong and it’s all over. Powered by a simplistic array of mechanics and a consistently entertaining pace, Spy Chameleon is a charming little title that is well worth your time.
Controlled from a bird’s eye view perspective, Spy Chameleon tasks you with reaching the end of a stage and advancing to the next, with optional collectibles that can be accrued along the way. Whether this be flies, ladybugs or keys to unlock doors. These objects are satisfying to obtain, and there is an odd sense of fun snatching up every little object in each stage. Along with adding replay value, the magnitude of objects increase as you tackle higher difficulty settings. Such a change influences the way in which you manoeuvre throughout each environment, adding an extra layer of strategy to certain obstacles.
These obstacles can range from eagle eyed goldfish to roller skating robots that shred across the floor in search of your reptilian behind. The act of avoiding foes becomes progressively more difficult as you advance, forcing you to adopt new strategies and hone each skill you are given. Spy Chameleon introduces new mechanics and adversaries at a steady and consistent rate, ensuring you never grow bored after repeating the same strategy multiple times. Such a commendable pace allows each victory to feel rewarding in its own unique way, even if at times you spend upwards of 20 minutes grinding on a single, pesky set of levels.
As you might expect, chameleons need to blend in, and Spy Chameleon provides you with ample opportunity to do just that. An individual colour is mapped to each face button. A is green, B is red etc. These must be used in accordance with the environment you’re in, allowing you to blend in to avoid patrolling enemies and security cameras. The best use of this camouflage is when you must rhythmically adjust your colour to match alternating floor panels. Sections like this are joyous to play, but never fulfil the potential they could have had. Imagine changing your colour to the beat of some music, navigating each stage with a gradual mastery of strategic rhythm.
Granted such a diversion would have clouded the core mechanics, but is definitely an interesting direction the gameplay could have taken. Regardless, Spy Chameleon remains entertaining throughout its brief duration, providing enough nuance and variety within its mechanics that it never feels tiresome. The same praise cannot be lauded over the aesthetic however, which is relatively stale and clichéd in comparison. It abides by the charming yet familiar visual style of classic spy movies we’ve all seen before, but does nothing imaginative with it. Our protagonist could have easily sneaked through jungles, cities and ancient ruins if given chance. Unfortunately most, if not all stages are relegated to bland office spaces and generic laboratories.
Spy Chameleon is a lovely little stealth game. Abundant with enough charm and personality that integrates seamlessly with a selection of mechanics that are simultaneously simple and challenging. It never outstays its welcome, providing enough challenge and entertainment in its brief collection of stages to leave you feeling satisfied as the credits roll.