Stray, the cat game

[vriddy]

(Crossposted to my journal and i_love_games)


Content notes for (virtual) animal death, which is basically my whole issue with the game as I thought I was buying an exploration game. And the exploration parts and puzzles are wonderful!! I had an absolute blast in the safe zones, it was so fun to explore and jump around and talk to robots and find little items and complete little quests. I loved all of these parts so much. The settings are a mix of beautiful, intriguing, colourful, always interesting.

I don't know why but I really didn't expect the cat to die - and the deaths are so gruesome, too? I searched online whether the game was meant to be horror and the articles all say "no" - but I think it's a case of not enough horror elements to be called horror by fans of the genre, and too many of them for those of us who struggle with it.

I also didn't expect it would affect me so much since I can laugh at over the top deaths in games like Skyrim but a virtual cat? Apparently, not so ok (to be fair, I'm not sure I'd be chill about the death by Zurk with human characters either. The first 10 seconds of this video show the kind of scene you need to prepare yourself for if you're not fast enough - and that's after the game's done a great job of getting you emotionally attached to the cat!) So I probably still would have bought the game, and been surprised, haha.

All of this made the game way more stressful than I anticipated though, and after dying maybe 90 times before the end it kind of numbed me to the emotional impact of the story, which is unfortunate. I wish there was a story mode where you can't die, just get slowed down or something. I missed a couple of things in the not-safe zones that I'd love to go back and find, but I don't have the stomach for going through these levels again. It's like there are two games: the exploration one, and the run-fast-and-think-fast-or-DOOM!!! parts. I am good at one of these 😂

Still a delightful concept! May an easy/story mode be added someday, haha. I'd love to see more cat games with that kind of exploration and puzzles. Walking on keyboards, pushing objects off ledges, tripping up walking characters, etc: this was like living the cat high life and quite a rush to experience :D Has anyone else here played it?

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJawWyRUOBM

Comments

[autumndaze]

Yeah it's one reason I've avoided buying it. I think it'd be too horrifying for me.

[littlewolfteeth]

I've played it and that's the reason I avoided a trophy in particular. I just can't handle doing that on purpose. D: I tried not to dwell too much if I messed up and died.

But the ending! Oh my goodness. I never thought I would cry over a robot but I cried. Man, that ending was heavy for me. I spent so long in the game getting attached and to have that happen. It was the worst. I cried some more when it let me lay down next to my friend for however long I wanted to. :(

I do hope the ending hints at something more to the future! Maybe it will be a brighter game if they do continue this story.

[dorchadas]

The cat can die?? I was not expecting that based on all the marketing material/articles I've seen about it.

I was recommending this game to my fiancée based on the "look, you play a cute cat exploring robot world!" premise but maybe I'll have to warn her if she does think of buying it.

Just digging down to this...

[dauntless_heart]

Couldn't wait for this game to come out and loved playing it! I think you and I might be a good fit otherwise if you're in the mood to add me. :) Feel free!