Rate top gamesBeen waiting for this little gem back since back before the hype, back when no one really knew about it. And let me tell you, I'm only a few hours in but it doesn't disappoint, not one bit.
This is generally what you'd call a "game as an experience". As with most such games, the gameplay is simple, there's no HUD and the control scheme is very minimalistic.The immersive experience you get is all in your surroundings and the indirect atmospheric narrative. The gameplay itself is 100% prompt-oriented, which is ideal for this types of games - you get some variety without losing immersion. The pace is very friendly and relaxing, there's a lot to explore and a lot of fun cat shenanigans to occupy yourself with.
That said, the only real problem so far is that the level design occasionally struggles with implementing a proper vertical gameplay in these atmospheric surroundings. What I mean by that is that sometimes you clearly see that you should be 100% able to climb a wall or a building using the very prominent ledges and objects and whatnot but the game just won't let you. An immersive vertical gameplay is never easy to implement, sure, but some games actually pull this off - take both Dying Light games. So that's about the only somewhat serious problem with this game.
Sometimes it can be a bit hard to determine which way is going to progress the story, and which one may contain secrets, and there are hard-locks in place that prevent you from backtracking - always a nasty combo, although a very common one, sadly.
Technically speaking, the game runs pretty smooth, although expect some heavy FPS losses at some points - the game might get optimized at some point, but so far it's not ideal, although it's not really that much of a problem. So far I've only ran into a few jerky animations and that's about it on the bugs side of things.
I'd say that if you're a fan of cats or a fan of this sort of games - definitely check this one out, cause my review contains A LOT of nitpicks and surely fails to give the whole experience enough credit.
«Can’t stop playing»
«Liked before it became a hit»
Other reviews16
world building was really good and i liked the interactions with characters,, i found myself more attached to the game than i had expected when i finished it
«That ending!»
An amazing game! Not the best, but it is certainly worth playing. The devs put a lot of love into this game, and it shows. The worldbuilding, graphics, and overall concept are amazing. The story may not be on the same level as other great games out there, but it is decent.
9/10.
9/10.
«Blew my mind»
«Sit back and relax»
The game looks great. I think the on rails platforming is a poor choice. It’s easier for them but it would be more fun to actually feel like a cat jumping around.
The world looks really cool. I’m constantly lost. The history of the humans demise has been interesting.
I like the creature sections much more than the “walk around an area aimlessly and see what you can interact with” sections. I don’t find these “puzzles” very clever. I’m not liking them and I’m constantly getting stuck.
I’m about 3 hours in. I’m still not loving it. The world is cool but I don’t really like playing it. I’m not certain I will finish it.
Ya I’m done. Might google what happens in the story because the world is cool but I don’t want to play it. Ends a low B.
Final Score: B
The world looks really cool. I’m constantly lost. The history of the humans demise has been interesting.
I like the creature sections much more than the “walk around an area aimlessly and see what you can interact with” sections. I don’t find these “puzzles” very clever. I’m not liking them and I’m constantly getting stuck.
I’m about 3 hours in. I’m still not loving it. The world is cool but I don’t really like playing it. I’m not certain I will finish it.
Ya I’m done. Might google what happens in the story because the world is cool but I don’t want to play it. Ends a low B.
Final Score: B
I've been looking forward to Stray ever since it was first announced over a year ago, and I am happy to say that I wasn't disappointed. The main things that you do in stray is solve traversal and "story" puzzles, the latter of which are similar to that of point and click games without the frustration that is associated with such games. While doing such activities you'll find yourself exploring a neon lit city populated primarily by human-like robots. All of these robots are oozing with charm making your time on this adventure an absolute pleasure. However, Stray is a very short game, especially if you do not seek out any side content. Despite this, I didn't mind the price tag as I felt that the quality of the game made up for the length. The game is gorgeous and there is very little bloat. I believe that Stray is a must-play, but, I understand if you wish to wait for a sale though.
«Sit back and relax»
I'm not sure how to categorize this game. It's not really a platformer because of the jumping mechanics. The puzzles are too simple for it to be a puzzle game. There is combat, but not very much of it. Maybe an exploration adventure game?
I did end up enjoying the game. The cat and the sidekick were a combination I haven't played before. The cat is nicely animated. Although the jumping looks a bit off occasionally, the cat-like walking, drinking, napping and others look spot on. The environments are also full of details and the abandoned feel of many places is excellent. That alone made me want to explore.
There's not much dialogue and the story is rather simple. But I did root for the good guys to succeed and enjoyed being mischievous against the bad. I can recommend it to anyone who enjoys adventure games, especially if you like cats.
Atmosphere in this game was on a whole other level. Design, audio and visual, was topnotch and made me fall in love with the game. Short but sweet.
«Blew my mind»
«Sit back and relax»