Stray - You Play As A Cat

Copyright: Annapurna Interactive

I played Stray not too long ago (which is an indie adventure/puzzle/platformer) and I have some thoughts about the game. Stray was the second recent video game I remember getting some publicity in gaming circles where you play as an animal since Untitled Goose Game. The whole gimmick of this game is that you play as a cat, which leads to some interesting gameplay mechanics and content that was briefly refreshing to see, even if these mechanics got boring quickly.

I think the best thing about Stray as a game is that the developers nailed the mechanics, natural movements, and personality of your cat character. Things like walking, running, and climbing obstacles as a cat felt natural and perfect. The simple controls complemented the movement of the cat as well, which was well-executed. You can even do things considered part of a cat's personality, such as knock over things from shelves, and nuzzle yourself on the legs of the robot non-player characters.

I also like the overall environment and presentation of the game as well. The visuals and general art design looks stunning, and the cyberpunk/post-apocalyptic setting of the various towns and cities you explore pop and stand out. I also appreciate the choices made with the music and sound effects, which accompany the setting of the game well.

With that said about the graphics and visual presentation, it had a negative side-effect for me. I enjoyed the grandeur of the environments and exploring every nook and cranny, but this also made me hyper-focus on the imperfections of the game as well. It is clear to me that Stray does lack some refinement. When your cat climbs stairs, for example, you do not see your cat's paws touch the stair. It looks like the cat is walking up a ramp whenever it goes up some stairs. I sometimes see the cat not-so-gracefully go around sharp corners on a ledge like a human would, rather than a cat. There is also a fair number of things (whether it be robots or things) go through walls, which was weird to me.

Overall, the gameplay experience felt average to me. Even though it was initially cool to run and leap around as a cat, it did get dull quickly. Both the action and the stealth sequences felt tiring to go through, and the puzzles could use some more difficulty. Stray tried to do this whole emotional story of trying to go through the underground cities to reach the surface while making friends along the way. I can see this story's themes of hopefulness and friendship be touching to some gamers, but it did not affect me in the same way. I think Celeste did a better job of conveying an emotional story for me (different strokes for different folks I suppose).

I paid $30 CAD for Stray, and I beat this game in about five hours. I understand supporting an indie developer, but no matter how you slice it, Stray is a terrible value for money (and I bought this game at a 20% discount). This game would have been more of an attractive sell at $20 or less. Even though there are things to like about this game, the whole game felt average, even with the gimmick of playing as a cat.

One last thing, and this is wishful thinking on my part. I think creating your own cat at the start of the game would have been a great feature to add to this game. Maybe this gets added in an update. Who knows?