Another year, another Stray drop on another system. Don’t worry, I’m not complaining. At any given point in life, when you can play a video game as a cat, then you should always play that video game. And even though I have played this on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, when the opportunity to play it again on the Nintendo Switch came up, I just couldn’t resist. Can you tell that I’m a cat owner?
Stray is a game that puts the player in control of a cat that is adventuring through a bleak and robot-populated world that survives on distant memories of what it was rather than what could be. It’s a cautionary tale of sorts and one that echoes the sad sentiments that we’re living through right now with climate change and possible extinction.
Dark future aside, Stray has now made it to Nintendo’s portable. The Nintendo Switch version of this game still delivers the same good gameplay as the bigger console versions but doesn’t quite achieve the graphical level due to the limitations of the Switch’s hardware. If you can live with that and ignore the tiny Joy Cons that aren’t as comfortable as the other console controls, then you’ll find a wonderful game waiting for you.
So, let’s stretch out those claws and dig right into this review.
Still a great story
While journeying through the story of Stray, I never found comfort in what is assumed to have happened in the world once cybercities started showing up. There are remnants of the past everywhere, and it just adds to the entire ambiance of separation that the story perpetuates around every corner. The underworld of cybercities seems separated from the world above. The robots inhabiting those cities are continually looking for someone they have lost. The main character, our wonderful cat, is separated from his family at the very beginning which just piles this reoccurring notion higher and higher. It’s such a heavy theme of separation that the story forces you to watch, look, and emotionally attach yourself to the experience. It’s as haunting as it is breathtaking.
The game doesn’t do anything special that we haven’t seen in other stories of its type. Your hero is separated from friends and family, and they must go through a series of trials before they can potentially make it home. This screams The Odyssey on so many levels that it’s easy to compare it to Homer’s magnum opus. It’s a journey for the cat with a series of trials and puzzles laid before them, and they must overcome it all before they can even hope to see their clowder. Having said that, the shoe fits with the story structure and you walk away from this game feeling that you went on a worthwhile journey.
I enjoyed the story as far as I could. There was a heavy amount of sadness and dread that came with it, and a hearty amount of sorrow for all the robots left behind or mistreated. Being the cat in this story was the safest and happiest bet you could make to finishing the journey when compared to everyone else involved with it. Because of the dread, the sorrow, and the little bit of hope from the cat, the story built from those bones easily became attached to me – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Anyway, this story is good, yet it is nothing special, but that journey is wonderful, even in its clouded sadness.
Gameplay that you knead
The gameplay in Stray is easy in its design. You walk around like a cat, try to figure out how to get to places, and you encounter puzzles and danger when it calls for it in the story. The additional robot buddy acquired at the beginning of the game helps to connect the cat to the cybercities and its inhabitants, which also helps build a solid bridge between the feline adventure and the robot interactions.
Starting with the basic gameplay, moving the cat from place to place is not at all difficult. You jump with the cat, you navigate through tight spaces, and you do whatever a cat would do given the sci-fi scenario. The cat’s actions are ground-level and easy to pick up on. The maneuvering is simple, and nothing is particularly questionable about ‘if a cat can do ‘whatever it is the game asks you to do. You’re a cat through and through. This does include knocking shit off shelves and scratching up floors, walls, doors, and even furniture. Again, you’re a cat. The game simulates this well.
Basic cat controls aside, what makes the cat complicated is when they find their robot buddy, who brings a few tricks to the table. The robot translates robot text and talk, scans hidden secrets that seem to lie everywhere, and can even go as far as repel baddies with UV rays when the time calls for it. The robot also collects items, can reveal and store memories, and can barter with robots. The robot truly does all the work when it comes to interactive moments or resolutions to perilous situations. That’s not to say that a cat running and jumping isn’t going to save both their butts, but for the most part, the robot buddy is your key to success with a lot of the puzzles, and trials and tribulations. Both characters balance each other out beautifully during gameplay, and both connect like you would want them to connect. I loved this about the gameplay and felt like the balance complemented both character designs as it relates to the gameplay.
As for the puzzles, the game doesn’t try to stump you. It wants you to experience what it is like being a cat and doesn’t want your gameplay to be brought down by overly complicated puzzles or mysteries. It also has a story to tell and a journey to complete, so you’re not going to find any stumping moments in the puzzle portion of the game. For example, there is a sewer stage early on, where the cat must traverse a nasty sewer while repelling Half-Life-like creatures. The puzzle is to find an exit to create an entrance to allow for another robot to progress. While the puzzle is somewhat time-consuming, it isn’t so complicated that it puts the brakes on the journey. It might feel a little difficult, but it never truly blooms into frustration. When this portion of the gameplay was wrapped, it did feel just a tad too long, but the progression of the story was a solid reward for the time and effort spent on the puzzle. That stage was gorgeous as it was horrifying and respectful of the journey.
The gameplay with Stray is simple and satisfying. The story leads it, but the immersive experience of being a cat in a worn-down world pushes it all along at a good pace. Adding a lovely robot buddy helps bring purpose and connection to the game’s world. The puzzles in that world and along that journey create road bumps but never form roadblocks. Overall, this is great gameplay that delivers an Annapurna Interactive expected level of intrigue and entertainment.
Nintendo Switch version
The graphical prowess of Stray has certainly taken a hit when it made it to the Nintendo Switch, as you won’t get rich textures, detailed cat models, or the bells and whistles that come with the bigger, more powerful consoles. Honestly, that’s okay, as you still get that same gameplay that makes Stray fun and engaging. The presentation of this game, while certainly a huge plus, doesn’t weigh too heavily on gameplay or enjoyment.
My biggest issue with the Nintendo Switch version is how the Joy Cons feel. The controls just aren’t comfortable, as they are sensitive, tight, and just not quite as reassuring when you’re moving the cat around the broken world he lives within. You’ll feel that from the get-go, as you run away from enemies and will tend to overcompensate with precise movements. That’s not to say that someone who plays their Switch non-stop won’t feel that at all in the game, but for me, it wasn’t the most comfortable Stray experience I’ve had.
Beyond that single complaint, I’m still in love with this game, and I think its portability is a huge plus. Getting Stray going on the go is a fun way to play it.
Conclusion
The Nintendo Switch release of Stray from BlueTwelve Studio features the same great gameplay and challenging puzzles that were featured on prior console releases. While the Switch certainly takes a hit with its graphical limitations and far from comfortable controls, it is still a blast to play Stray at the end of the day.
