It’s typically onerous to inform if a sport starring an animal might be greater than shallow bait for memes. Untitled Goose Recreation had appeal, however was typically irritating and acquired more and more extra tedious because it dragged on. Skatebird was an honest pun that ought to have stayed only a pun. So it was unclear if BlueTwelve Studio’s cat-led platformer Stray would endure the identical destiny and be extra enjoyable to joke about than to play. However as a substitute of leaning on one joke for 5 hours, Stray is a fascinating expertise that thrives on its unconventional foremost character and splendidly realized dystopian metropolis.
Being a cat opens up new gameplay alternatives not seen with video games starring bipedal (and even different quadrupedal) protagonists. Stray’s environments are constructed to benefit from a cat’s pure dexterity. Jumps are automated with the push of a button, however that doesn’t make them any much less rewarding because it’s not about pixel-perfect platforming and is extra of a way to discover house in a approach a cat would. Flopping round and lacking ledges wouldn’t be probably the most immersive technique to discover as a cat and slicing that room for failure out means it could possibly give attention to simply getting round. Whereas wildly completely different in most situations, it’s virtually like swinging round as Spider-Man in the newest Spider-Man video games the place it instantly fulfills the ability fantasy of being the character by eliminating the potential for introductory stumbles.
Transferring round as just a little cat in a giant world is exclusive and its densely packed environments are sometimes fairly vertical. BlueTwelve makes use of verticality to make its ranges really feel greater, but additionally fittingly makes use of that to make gamers inquisitive about what might be up that prime. Very similar to an actual cat who simply needs to leap on prime of the ledge above the hearth to see what’s up there, BlueTwelve created tall constructions which can be often like small puzzles to ascend, a few of which reward inquisitive gamers with small collectibles that flesh out Stray‘s lore. Curiosity is commonly mentioned to kill cats, however right here it makes for the most effective bits of its traversal.
Nevertheless it additionally doesn’t ignore the opposite pure or typically foolish traits cats typically have. Gamers can scratch the furnishings, curl up and go to sleep, paw at sure doorways, meow on the press of a button, lovingly rub on sure characters, and knock gadgets off ledges or tables, one thing that’s made even higher by what number of movable objects have physics utilized to them. Many of those don’t typically have gameplay ramifications, however they — together with a number of scripted ones which can be fairly hilarious — flesh out the unnamed foremost character and provides a greater, extra well-rounded view of being a cat, which is one thing this sport is uniquely positioned to discover.
Making a story round these cat-like behaviors is a tricky job since cats don’t converse or have complicated motivations; two points that tales typically must make the most of in a method or one other. Meowing and scratching couches aren’t precisely huge verbs that might organically push its missions ahead, both. However BlueTwelve designed Stray in a approach the place it strikes alongside utilizing its typical array of cat mechanics with out breaking its personal guidelines.
It duties gamers with sneaking in tight areas and climbing the place nobody else can whereas getting correct help from B12, the sport’s charming little robotic buddy. B12 is ready to translate and do the narrative lifting between bits the place the cat climbs, runs, or scurries towards the target or away from the Zurk, its nasty little unhealthy guys that fling themselves on the participant. Chases involving these spherical little creeps are sometimes thrilling since their unpredictable actions inject some wanted adrenaline into what is usually a extra calming sport. B12 and the cat even collaborate in taking them out by means of a selected gadget, which is a considerate symbiosis of their expertise and one more approach BlueTwelve has constructed the sport round its limitations.
B12 and the primary feline do kind considerably of a bond, however, after getting over the central conceit {that a} cat would wish to do something apart from licking itself and consuming, the story, setting, and themes are the extra compelling elements of the narrative. The premise is inherently wrapped in secrecy since gamers are inhabiting the function of an animal that can also be clueless as to what triggered the world to fall. Piecing collectively what occurred isn’t onerous nor are these solutions contemporary or new, however the familiarity of those reveals doesn’t diminish them as a result of the method of figuring all of it out by means of its collectibles, stage design, and dialogue continues to be rewarding.
And whereas the larger solutions have been finished earlier than, Stray‘s finer particulars inside these bigger beats are nonetheless robust sufficient, just like the origins of the Zurk, for instance. Its slight lack of originality can also be balanced out by its regular pacing and the extremely charming soul at its heart. Stray’s most heartwarming moments are discovered with its well-animated robotic residents; people that actually lack hearts however have figuratively discovered them after many centuries. The mechanical beings give the sport a technique to discover companionship, group, and humanity all by means of the lens of those that naturally lack these traits. Their society of human-ish conventions is enrapturing to inhabit, as it’s recognizable and supplies an attention-grabbing mirror to real-world society that’s made much more attention-grabbing with its sci-fi-tinged robotic exterior.
Stray additionally makes use of robots to dig into matters like policing and the advantages and follies of discovered habits however doesn’t completely examine lots of them. Whereas it’s a bit disappointing to not see lots of these threads tie collectively and have an effect on the primary plot — which sucks some influence out of the ending — investigating all of those concepts only a bit nonetheless builds out the world and provides it extra depth.
The world itself can also be visually interesting due to its impeccable artwork route and total design. Neon indicators are used extremely nicely, cleverly guiding the participant whereas additionally illuminating the damaged, sunless world with some eye-catching synthetic gentle. Environments are additionally full of element and all types of things to make them really feel really lived in. Rooms are jammed with books and all types of bespoke artwork or objects. Streets are plagued by wires, trash, graffiti, and an uncountable quantity of different small fine details.
Extra like this may most likely outline the seemingly inevitable apocalypse, however recreating that in a online game takes lots of work. BlueTwelve has taken these additional steps and it has paid dividends, including extra believability with every empty can mendacity on the road or framed portray hanging in a bar. Its locales are augmented by its unbelievable soundtrack that gives suitably moody ambient tunes made up of atypical devices that give it its personal unique soundscape. The combination of energetic and atmospheric tracks are nice sufficient exterior of the sport, however work so significantly better inside it since they’re half of a bigger puzzle.
As a lot because it goes in opposition to its appropriately overstuffed ranges, Stray seems like a sport that was minimize down in all the appropriate locations so it might meaningfully give attention to extra essential options like its rigorously deliberate world design. A worse model of this sport has longer ranges which can be extra barren or a handful of boring quests to be able to hit some arbitrary stage of content material. However by aptly indulging the place it ought to and never overstaying its welcome, Stray is a richer, meticulously crafted expertise that intelligently prioritizes high quality over amount.
Stray is way more than a sport a few cat. Its feline protagonist is a giant draw because it provides the sport an unusual perspective and set of mechanics, however the robot-run dystopia, elaborate environments, and a number of attention-grabbing themes make sure that it may be mined for greater than memes or foolish tweets. Its lack of originality in some spots retains it from true greatness, however it makes up for its missed alternatives by means of the love and care BlueTwelve poured into its many particulars. Cats are usually not usually recognized for his or her heartwarming persona, however that’s precisely what makes Stray so poignant.
SCORE: 8/10
As ComingSoon’s evaluate coverage explains, a rating of 8 equates to “Nice.” Whereas there are a number of minor points, this rating signifies that the artwork succeeds at its purpose and leaves a memorable influence.
