If we were ranking job opportunities in terms of "rawest deal", space janitors would have to be pretty high on the list. Cleaning up after interplanetary messes in the context of any video game, book, or movie is always portrayed as more dangerous than giving a zyf'langer to a herd of qotzulians. Nevertheless, space waste ain't gonna clean itself, which is why the two stars of Shiftlings are on the case, willingly or not.
The game, due out in Spring of this year, offers its own unique twist on the platforming genre. Not only are the mechanics focused around co-op play, as you control two hapless space janitors tethered directly to one another, but they are also based around the premise that the two mop jockeys are able to expand and contract at will. In fact, doing so is their primary means of traversing the inexplicably dangerous levels.
Please take a seat in this horribly uncomfortable plastic chair and watch this orientation video for a better look at the gameplay.
Seriously, though, you must be pretty down on your luck if getting through those zones is the only way you can bring home the galaxy-bacon. The threat of getting F.I.R.E.D. would be more than enough to make me consider applying for my GED.
Shiftlings will be coming out on PS4, Xbox One, and PC and sports two player co-op for both online and offline play. The idea of being constantly tethered to your partner looks like a really fun way to mix up a genre that's been thoroughly plumbed for ideas. It's definitely one to keep track of if you and a friend need a way to experience the desperation of risking your life for minimum wage. On the other hand, you could both apply to be sewer technicians.