Overview: 5.0/5.0
Stray is a puzzle platformer game where you play as a cat lost in a city populated by robots. The game masterfully utilizes the natural behaviors and limitations of being a cat in its mechanics. The unique puzzles are then combined with whimsical characters and light-hearted dialogue to create a truly joyful experience despite the dark atmosphere and tragic circumstances of the city. Gameplay is further enhanced by gorgeous art design and a wonderful soundtrack.
Developer: BlueTwelve Studio
Genre: Puzzle Platformer
Release Date: July 19, 2022
Platform: PS4/5, PC
Price: $29.99
The robot city is plagued by darkness and completely isolated from the outside world, to which you’re trying to return. As you explore and meet various robot citizens, you help B12 regain memories of the past and piece together what happened and how to restore access to the outside. Unfortunately, parts of the city are also overrun by zurks, bacteria that look like a creepy mole with only one glowing eye and that consume all sorts of matter, cats and robots included. Luckily, your speed allows you to outrun enemies that would easily overtake your robot counterparts. Most of the enemy encounters rely on this speed or stealth to evade the zurks, or occasionally to lure them to a specific spot, rather than direct combat.
Most of the game’s puzzles require navigating the city, avoiding enemies, and retrieving objects. The puzzles are fun and satisfying to solve without being too frustrating, and the platforming only requires pointing at the next place you want to jump, so you won’t have to worry about falling over and over again as you try to get the timing perfect. The feline protagonist has a few advantages in navigating this world that the player can utilize. As a cat, you are able to fit in small spaces, jump across rooftops, and even travel in buckets meant to transport materials across the city. You can also slip under gates and in between cell bars. All of these skills will be incorporated into the game’s puzzles and platforming, but so will other behaviors you find compelled to do in your new cat form. For example: knocking things off shelves, scratching walls and rugs, walking across keyboards, and climbing into cardboard boxes. You can also nuzzle against robots, making robot faces display hearts, and there’s even a dedicated button to meow.
Other things won’t come as easily, like communicating with robots or operating electronic door locks. Fortunately, you have a sidekick on your journey - B12, a small robot drone that travels in your cat-sized backpack. B12 is able to give the player hints, translate written documents, and close doors behind you when you’re being chased. The combination of B12’s technological interfacing and your feline instincts cannot be stopped! It’s incredibly satisfying to traverse and interact with the world as this adorable duo.
The history (and future) of this world is delicately distributed to the player through the environment, collected memories, and dialogue. The narrative structure is excellent - the story has depth, but is scaled appropriately to the size of the game, and details aren’t relentlessly repeated to the player. The dialogue is charming but concise, so the player isn’t bogged down in expository conversations, and this doesn’t diminish the character development in any way (this is most evident in the emotional climax of the story).
Summary
I cannot recommend this game enough. The narrative, mechanics, and environment are all so meticulously crafted to complement each other for a very polished final product. The game is a beautiful masterpiece in every possible way.
