Review | Stray – PlaySense

Review | Stray – Playing with a cat as the main character in a game is not something that is very common. This is the case in the game Stray and from the announcement the game has received a lot of attention. It’s something different for once, the cat does virtually exactly the same as a real cat and of course it has some charm. Stray is now out on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC. There is also a great success, as the game is extremely popular. Of course we were also curious about this title and in this review we tell you why Stray is worth it.

Separated from your friends

Stray is more than just a platformer in which you play with a cat, the game has a real story that is captivating from start to finish. You start in a dilapidated area, where you live with several other cats. Like every other day, after a night’s rest, you go out with your friends again, looking for food. However, an unfortunate event separates you and leaves you in an unknown and foreboding territory. Sitting still is not an option and this makes you stumble along and from there an interesting situation unfolds.

The game takes place in the future and this also means that you encounter individuals that you do not see in the streets today. It would be unnecessary to elaborate further on the story, you can discover that for yourself. The fact is that it is interesting from start to finish, partly because you get to know characters who help you and because they also come up with their own story. This in turn is linked to memories that function as collectables in Stray. This also means that you have another reason to explore the levels again after completing the game, which can extend the playing time somewhat.

Short but sweet…

And speaking of playtime, Stray is far from a long game. When we reached the credits we had less than four hours on the counter, which stretches a bit if you start collecting the collectables via chapter select. The total playing time is then at most five or six hours, so it is a somewhat compact game. This is also a point of criticism, because the price of € 29.99 is on the hefty side for the playing time. That said, the adventure is short, sweet and rewarding. This is in the story, but also the gameplay, which is very well cared for, where the developer has tried as best as possible to translate the life of a cat into a digital experience.

You even have a real meow button, which you will regularly press because you can. In addition, you will also regularly encounter places where you can scratch to sharpen your nails. If you stand on a shelf and see an object along the edge, press the button and you throw it off. If you decide to take a rest, you will hear the purring of the cat through the speaker in the controller. A cat lover knows exactly what we mean by this, it is the typical behavior of a cat. Everything is in Stray and if you didn’t know any better, you would think you were watching a video of a cat.

Puzzle and Platforms

Because we now play with a cat, we have four legs and the size of the animal is also different than the average protagonist in a game. This provides a different approach to the gameplay, as you can go through things much more easily, as well as climb on things. And that’s the platform gameplay you’ll find in the game. You are walking from A to B most of the time and it is then up to you to find the right route. This involves a bit of pressure at times, because you also encounter enemies. As a cat, however, you are nimble and you jump from object to object without too much effort. It sounds as simple as it is, but it works very well and makes the gameplay more than fine in that respect. The only point, however, is that it hardly presents a challenge, because it is mainly a matter of timing in addition to good steering. So it will never be difficult.

To add more variety to the gameplay, you will regularly be sent on a kind of mini-quest. This can be collecting certain potions to unlock something else, as well as distracting characters to get something. These kinds of quests are explained through the story, which makes it feel very natural and appropriate. You won’t be bored for a moment and some of these quests are optional, giving you other things to complete in addition to collecting collectables if you haven’t got around to it before. Because it is optional, it does not yield much except Trophies, but given the game plays so well, there is a good chance that you will still tackle this to enjoy the game longer. Add to that a few puzzles here and there and the gameplay feels like a solid piece with enough variety to stay interesting.

Beautiful environments

In terms of gameplay, Stray has plenty to offer, the same goes for the story. To complete all this, you can also expect an excellent audiovisual presentation. In terms of voice acting, a real cat has been used, just like for the motion capture of the animations, so that the most important part in audiovisual terms is perfectly fine. But the accompanying music is also subtle, exciting and at times a bit frightening, so it fits in very well with the atmosphere. That alone shows that the developer has worked on the game with a lot of love.

And we’re not there yet, because the visual presentation is really top-notch next to the animations mentioned. You’ll visit a variety of locations throughout the adventure, including cities, sewers, factories, and more. Per location you will find all kinds of indoor environments, such as cafes, houses, shops, laboratories and so on. Each location has been designed with care and has a detailed and atmospheric appearance, which you can enjoy in a razor-sharp 4K resolution. At the same time, you experience the adventure in 60 frames per second without any dip, which makes Stray’s performance top notch. It’s the proverbial icing on the cake and all those elements together make Stray an excellent game.

Played on: PlayStation 5.
Also available on: PlayStation 4 en pc.