Since its release in 2022, the part platformer, part traditional adventure video game “Stray” has certainly continued being the cat’s meow. After playing the game myself, I find it no surprise that the game has been nominated for multiple BAFTAs in the past, along with winning two Game Awards.
Published by Annapurna Interactive and developed by BlueTwelve Studios, “Stray” allows you to see the world through the eyes of a lost and lonely orange cat. After befriending a small flying drone known as B12, the cat is able to learn the mystery of the long-forgotten cybercity it has found itself in.
As the player runs through the 12 chapters of the game, they can be as stealthy or annoying as they want with the strange robotic inhabitants of the beautiful and extremely detailed neon-lit cybercity, which just about summarizes everything I loved about the game.
The graphics, details, and overall atmosphere of the game were absolutely incredible. In different chapters like “Antvillage” or “The Slums,” I would find myself searching for a good spot to look around and admire the amount of time that clearly went into the world design. It actually looks and feels like a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world with its realistic visuals. There is a clear presence of advanced artificial intelligence despite the technology not appearing as such to the player.
This helped make the wild chase scenes and light puzzle-solving moments into something more fun and exhilarating, especially as we are quickly introduced to the Sentinels and Zurks in order to maintain tension. For added context, the Sentinels and Zurks are considered some of the main enemies within the game.
The soundtrack deserves its own recognition, constantly fitting symbolistically with whatever was happening on the game screen. Throughout the game, the audio was so immersive that you could even hear the cat land onto its feet after jumping from a tall place.
While taking the point of view of an animal is not a new experience for the gaming community, “Stray” stood out to me because the lovable main character was a completely normal cat–especially when compared to the overall futuristic setting of the game.
Including the main story, achievements, and collectables, “Stray” offers up to 11 hours of compelling gameplay. Earning the majority of these achievements means allowing the orange cat to just be, well, a cat! This includes scratching up a lot of different objects, “meowing” over 100 times, and taking a nap for an hour.
In terms of feedback, I definitely wish that there could be more information regarding the now-extinct humanity within “Stray”. We know from different pieces of dialogue and memories that the humans–”the soft ones”– were wiped out by a plague that infiltrated “Walled City 99.” They lived in the city, isolated from the inhabitable outside world, alongside the companions who would learn to adapt and preserve their heritage after their passing.
Walled City 99, the name of the city where the game takes place, suggests that there may be up to 98 other underground cities being run by robots–or even by the last of humanity (doubtfully). The beginning of the game and the ending cutscene indicate that the earth has found a way to survive once again. This moves aside whatever set humanity up for extinction, leaving the player to wonder what that calamity could have been. The way the story is told in the game is absolutely phenomenal, don’t get me wrong; though, perhaps a DLC (additional downloadable content) or even a simple developers note explaining how the events of “Stray” came to be would be really interesting.
To avoid spoilers, I will keep it brief when I say that I absolutely adore how the ending is left up to the player’s interpretation. It tugs at the heart mournfully, making it really special and unique.
When I played the game for the first time, I had the joy of sharing that experience with Panorama High School senior Martin Segovia, who watched me play through the whole thing from start to finish. With this, I would love to include below a special interview with him and his opinions on the game:
What is your overall opinion on the game?
Segovia: “It’s a great game, I like that you play as a cat who is basically exploring an underground world with all these robots, and the story is great.”
Would you ever want to play the game again, or is one time enough?
Segovia: “I personally think one time is enough for me because games like “Stray” are typically meant to only be played once, unless you are trying to get 100% completion.”
Did you enjoy watching the game being played on a console? Do you think it would do well graphically on a mobile platform?
Segovia: “I enjoyed watching it, though it would definitely not work on a mobile platform. The game is way too advanced for something like that, unless you are using a phone from another world.”
Any other thoughts?
Segovia: “If you have the money, definitely try out the game, or just watch someone play. It’s fun watching a cat take a nap while a robotic companion plays some music in the background.”
I would love to recommend “Stray” to all gamers and cat-lovers; the story is told incredibly, the visuals are great, and personally, I definitely plan to play it again.
