Stray Nintendo Switch review

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As a gamer with a soft spot for both gaming and furry companions, I must say that Stray on the Switch has been quite the unexpected treat. With my real-life cat Maven always causing chaos at home, it’s a delight to control another feline protagonist in this post-apocalyptic world.

In terms outside of gaming, what consumes most of my spare time is pet care. Our home has hosted a variety of rescued creatures, from ducks to millipedes, over the years. However, my affinity lies primarily with cats. These furry companions offer the perfect balance of independence and affection for me, and despite Maven, our troublesome one, giving occasional nips and scratches, my love for them remains unwavering. Two years ago, the game Stray was launched, delighting fellow cat enthusiasts, and accurately portraying those pesky feline traits we’re all familiar with. I was taken aback when it became available on the Switch.

In Stray, you assume the role of a ginger feline, coexisting with fellow furry companions in a post-apocalyptic setting. Regrettably, this peaceful existence is short-lived as your character ends up trapped within a walled city inhabited solely by robots. These mechanical friends were initially designed to cater to humans and turned this desolate and decaying city into their home. Over time, without human guidance, these bots have developed self-awareness and generally coexist harmoniously.

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows in robot world though (and not just because no sunlight can reach the city) as a deadly bacteria called Zurks is threatening to devour all organic and non organic life. Only by teaming up with AI drone B12 can our kitty hero save the day by letting the daylight into the city to wipe out these germs, but it won’t be an easy task.

In essence, Stray is primarily an adventure game emphasizing exploration, with a blend of both open and structured areas. The game doesn’t require traditional platforming skills; instead, you navigate the environment by identifying jump points and executing jumps when needed. While finding paths to your destination isn’t always obvious, you’ll need to shift barrels to create routes, discover electronic gadgets to unlock doors, and occasionally dodge annoying bacteria to save the day.

In Stray, you’ll frequently find yourself fleeing danger from the Zurks during the tranquil moments. Essentially, you’re sprinting past these almost endearing blobs as they chase after you and try to attack. When they catch up, you need to get rid of them by tapping or pushing a button (the method depends on your accessibility settings). These parts aren’t primarily meant to assess your reflexes and gaming prowess, but rather to inject an intense element of excitement into the gameplay, offering a change from the main storyline.

In essence, my time in the game Stray was predominantly spent exploring scenic locations, with occasional glimpses into the game’s story through documents and conversations with robots. The setting is exceptionally distinctive and captivating for a video game, but it’s worth noting that playing on the Switch may diminish your experience due to potentially reduced visual quality compared to other platforms.

Before diving into analyzing the visuals of this Switch version of Stray, I’d like to acknowledge that it runs smoothly on this rather aged hardware, albeit not always perfectly smooth. Despite some occasional frame rate hiccups, the game remains playable and enjoyable in its current state. However, when compared to home console versions, Stray stands out as one of the most visually stunning games I’ve ever encountered. Each cityscape is a work of art that could grace any gallery wall, and every apartment is meticulously detailed, offering an immersive urban exploration experience. Regrettably, subpar environments detract significantly from the game’s allure, as the quality of these environments falls short of expectations.

From a fervent admirer’s perspective, Stray offers an immersive gaming experience, but it’s not without its challenges – particularly the stealth segments. Evading scanning drones in off-limits areas isn’t exactly thrilling, and can become quite aggravating at times. Thankfully, these sections aren’t extensive, and once you figure out the right path, they’re relatively easy to navigate.

Although the Switch version of Stray isn’t the best way to play the game, it does still enable you to see the best moments of Stray in all their glory: the silly cat interactions. As a cat you are well versed in cat behaviour, and can interact with the environment accordingly. Scratching on walls and carpets is pretty basic, but all cat owners will be used to kitty keyboard typing and the annoyance of your beloved pet knocking every single item off a shelf. Playing as a cat means you can finally be the one who is a typical cat (for no reason other than it’s amusing) and Stray does this perfectly.

Although it might not offer the best gaming experience for its visuals, Stray remains an exceptional game, even when played on the Switch. You’ll certainly miss out on some stunning graphics by opting for Nintendo‘s handheld console, but the convenience of being able to play Stray anytime and anywhere makes up for it, providing a unique and enjoyable gaming experience.

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2024-11-18 21:16