stray

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Over time, video games evolved along with their claims. Before, it was very common for the focus to be on the game mechanics and for everything else to be a complement that, in the best of cases, enriches the context or the little plot that exists. Now, things are very different.

Many creatives put storytelling and world building above anything else, which means that the game systems are merely a vehicle that allows the player to go from scene to scene and learn more about the story. Naturally, this design philosophy has both detractors and supporters.

In this line we find stray, the latest project from BlueTwelve Studio and Annapurna Interactive that caught the attention of the community since its reveal due to its unique concept. Yes, the idea of ​​seeing a cat wander through a futuristic environment while he unravels a mystery is interesting on paper, but is it fun? I anticipate that yes, but there are some points to consider.

Related Video: Stray – Preview Trailer | PS5

Being a cat from the future has never been so interesting

In essence, stray is a puzzle-solving and exploration video game with a heavy emphasis on narrative. Its greatest attraction, and factor that differentiates it from other similar proposals, is that it puts us in the shoes of a very adorable cat. Fortunately, the developers at BlueTwelve Studio faithfully recreated the look, sounds, and movements of these animals.

Our protagonist will do what a cat in the real world would do: scratch, meow and, of course, sleep. Many of these actions are useless, but they are charming, also like with any cat, and greatly help immersion. Running and climbing are the only activities that we will do regularly throughout the experience.

For most of the time, stray it is a linear experience where we will have to go from point A to point B. However, in some chapters of the campaign we will be given the opportunity to explore semi-open areas where we will find both main and secondary characters, as well as collectibles. Talking with the inhabitants of these places and interacting with surrounding elements is very entertaining.

Luckily, going through the stages and jumping from object to object is hypnotic and satisfying. This is possible thanks to the good design of most of the levels, since the game subtly tells us the path we must follow to reach our destination and continue with the campaign.

The puzzles are also very attractive. Those that are physical, like pushing a wooden board to create a platform or pulling a lever to open a door, work despite their simplicity. Of course, there are some more complex ones that involve talking to an NPC to obtain clues or an item in the semi-open areas. It is in these segments where we will find the funniest and most ingenious brain teasers.

An artificial world with a lot of life

Having said that, it is time to talk about the main course of stray: the history. After separating from his companions, our cat hero is trapped in a futuristic city inhabited by robots. With the help of a drone called B-12, he must return home and, in the process, discover the secrets of the city.

Although it is a simple premise, it works perfectly and hides a very interesting mystery that, although predictable, is satisfying to experience. Each of the scenarios we visit organically reveals small pieces to complete the puzzle of the plot arc and learn more about the context that surrounds the cities and the characters.

Throughout the campaign we will contact many robots that will give us clues to move forward or tell us about their lives in this world of science fiction. Although they are artificial beings, they exude personality and charm through their animations and dialogues full of pessimistic humor. Also, the characters in the campaign, especially B-12, are very endearing and memorable.

Finally, he had to highlight the impeccable presentation. While it’s not a graphical feat that exploits the potential of a next-gen console or high-end PC, its art direction is sublime. Each of the scenarios is taken care of down to the smallest detail and the environments soak us with lore; the cities and other locations we visit are characters in themselves.

The kitty is also highly detailed with a surprising level of care. Watching him scratch a couch, drink water, or just sleep is adorable, so don’t be surprised if you always want to reach out and pet him. In short, the pussycat is a charm and will steal your heart.

Finally, the music is subdued and very well accompanies the feelings of mystery and discovery that permeate this science fiction story. This means that bizarre or epic melodies are conspicuous by their absence, but certainly stray you don’t need them.

Unfortunately, there is a cat locked up

While the exploration is fun most of the time, it can be annoying in some segments. Yes, it is almost always obvious where to go or what structures we can climb, but don’t be surprised if you get lost in an area for several minutes because you can’t find the only ledge or lamppost that will allow you to advance to the next stage. and continue with the story.

In a similar vein, in the campaign there are times where we will have to search a room to find an item or a clue. These sections boil down to looking at every possible corner and jumping all over the structures in the hope that the action icon will appear, which is unattractive.

Finally, I found drawbacks at a technical level. Most are visual bugs that are insignificant and whose only negative effect is to briefly break the immersion. It’s also relatively common for the camera to block dialogue text if we start a conversation at a particular angle, but luckily it’s something that is easily fixed by moving the stick.

Of course, on a couple of occasions I encountered errors that prevented us from moving forward and forced us to load the last save point. I am referring to a key object that is lost on stage due to the physics of the game or falling into an inaccessible area. With any luck, these bugs will go away with patches.

A cat experience without many variations

stray It’s a one-note game. Significant changes of pace or situations that alter the formula are rare, so in much of the adventure we will do the same. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but we would like to have seen more diversity. For example, there are some chase sequences where we escape from beings known as Zurk or stealth scenes that, despite being very simple, provide variety. I wish there were more moments like these to break the monotony.

Another detail to consider is that we are facing a very short experience. I finished the campaign in just over 6 hours, although I have to confess that I didn’t find all the collectibles. The latter come in the form of memories that provide more information about the context or pins that we will obtain by helping the robots. Are they worth finding? Yes, but don’t worry if you miss any along the way.

Short, exciting and charming: this is the new game from BlueTwelve Studio

In conclusion, stray it is an adventure that exudes charm and that achieves its pretensions with great success. The inconveniences I mentioned, with the exception of the most serious bugs, are far from being factors that diminish the experience, and it is even possible that they do not seem bothersome to you.

It is certainly a very enjoyable and relaxing exploration experience that is enriched by a charming cast of characters and an interesting story that is worth experiencing. The cherry on the cake are the locations that we will visit: from the city full of neon lights to the dirty sewers. Each of these environments is imposing and wonderful in equal parts.

If you’re looking for a straightforward sci-fi title with a lot of substance and sublime world building, I doubt you’ll stray disappoint you despite its monotony of situations and short duration. And yes, I strongly recommend it to all fans of kittens and animals in general.

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