eta8
2016
This review contains spoilers
Although the puzzles aren't as difficult as Ittle dew 1's final cave puzzles, the use of the wand helped spice up the grid style puzzles enough for me to enjoy myself throughout. Quite liked that I figured out the ability to diagonal push blocks with the wand using my own thought process via the puzzle giving me no other options. The grid based design of the floor combined with the 3d world gave me some dissonance and I never learned to making shortcuts when walking near edges surrounded by pits.
Favourite puzzle dungeon was the Exclusively stick and wand dungeon in the Dreamworld.
The game did not overstay it's welcome. My final time is around 14hrs. Includes the boss fight with you know who.
Enjoyed the fight with the Queen. Getting me into a pattern and dance was fun.
Most effective combat is constant dynamite placing and 2-3 slashes of the sword interspersed with dodges. Ranged attacks feel terrible on keyboard because of the inprecise turning of the whole player body to aim. I don't particularly care about the combat but that one instance above because I played this for the puzzles.
Story, music, art: All similar or slightly better than the first game — Serviceable.
Favourite puzzle dungeon was the Exclusively stick and wand dungeon in the Dreamworld.
The game did not overstay it's welcome. My final time is around 14hrs. Includes the boss fight with you know who.
Enjoyed the fight with the Queen. Getting me into a pattern and dance was fun.
Most effective combat is constant dynamite placing and 2-3 slashes of the sword interspersed with dodges. Ranged attacks feel terrible on keyboard because of the inprecise turning of the whole player body to aim. I don't particularly care about the combat but that one instance above because I played this for the puzzles.
Story, music, art: All similar or slightly better than the first game — Serviceable.
2022
A short atmospheric game with a great viewpoint (that of a cat).
Stray is great at what it does even if it doesn't do anything revolutionary. It is a safe enjoyment and the developers use the strength of this sort of game (basic gameplay and minor interactivity) to focus more on other aspects to make one think they are doing more than pressing "wasd and space bar".
The sound design, music, character noises, combat noises. These all give the illusion of a more alive and active world that interacts with the player and their actions, when they are just highly scripted moments.
Overall, this game is sold. The game may be too expensive for those on a budget and wish for a more meaty buy with their money. This game should be a #1 on ppl's sales wishlist.
3/5
Stray is great at what it does even if it doesn't do anything revolutionary. It is a safe enjoyment and the developers use the strength of this sort of game (basic gameplay and minor interactivity) to focus more on other aspects to make one think they are doing more than pressing "wasd and space bar".
The sound design, music, character noises, combat noises. These all give the illusion of a more alive and active world that interacts with the player and their actions, when they are just highly scripted moments.
Overall, this game is sold. The game may be too expensive for those on a budget and wish for a more meaty buy with their money. This game should be a #1 on ppl's sales wishlist.
3/5