Stranger Things 3 The Game Review - Series of Button Stomping

in #gaming5 years ago (edited)

Publisher: Netflix
Developer: Next Games Oyj, BonusXP
Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Android, iOS
Genre: Isometric Action, Adventure

Show based videogame license don't mostly do well, which is why I guess Netflix hired a more than run-of-the-mill studio to create an indie-game based on the show with the same title.

Their first game released for season 1 was for Android and iOS. The devs behind it had earlier experience with various mobile games but this release is their first on consoles and PC.

ST3 carries the same 2D pixelated style its predecessor did albeit with more depth to the graphical details. While trying to own up to the fact it's nothing out of the ordinary besides being a novelty to 80's classic games. But playing this game was nothing short of excitement, transgressing through each level only increases the stakes while leaving new discoveries along the way. Though this is a short experience considering it's priced 20 USD on Steam, that doesn't diminish most of the fun aspects of it.

Story

If you've watched the show by now, well there's nothing really different in terms of the main plot. Some aspects were adjusted while the story becomes a little shuffled around. But mainly, you play what was derived from season 3 of the show itself.

The game put itself on its own pedestal, as the same charm and wit comes back in from the show while having this more cheesy vibe to it.

Some of the stuff is nonsensical but I never put my expectations there considering how in its nature, it's obscene yet funny and it mostly works. Besides what the show gives, there's not much else besides few subplots about non-canon characters that are there for side-quests.

Gameplay


ST3 is an isometric 2D action game. You play a collection of all the various characters from the show, either solo or co-op. You collect money and items to build for enhancing your stats while finishing your objectives. That's pretty much it.

Each of them has various attacks like Lucas with his slingshot or Joyce with her bolt cutter. They also have unique abilities that helps with difficult combat situations as well as getting passed certain walls on exploration. Finding certain items or crafting them helps boost your stats like hitpoints, attack damage or ability damage.

You spend most of your time scouring areas one after the other, finishing objectives or literally doing errands as much as the game had no problem putting that into writing.


There are intuitive, thoughtful puzzle sections that breaks the pacing from the mundane combat. But these factors don't justify much for the game's price of admission. Which is where the novelty stuff comes on in. Most of the time you're playing this game, it feels like a good homage to late 80's classics.

The levels are intricately designed in somewhat labyrinth fashion. Hiding components, items and Gnome collectibles.

Even though you'll collect them by doing main quests or errands, it takes long before they actually come into really good use as more enemies are thrown onto the screen, different and tougher enemies deviate the norm and change the flow of combat, requiring you to make best use of your repertoire.

Production Value

Let me start off with the music, it's very synth based. Moody, intense and harmonic rhythms creating good atmosphere getting you fully into the theme of the show as well as the game.

The sound design pays tribute to classic games as much as the whole other aspects of the title do. You hear sprites making basic grunts from 2-3 small sound files. I mean I get the novelty reasons I just wish somethings had more variety than something you've heard years ago and sounds a bit like cliche these days.

Well there's nothing left to say about graphics, the game filesize is 70MB. There's nothing else besides the 2D-esque pixelated design. Need I repeat the same shtick about novelty?

Verdict


Besides this being a pretty short review? All I can say is, if you're part of the fandom, you'll enjoy this game but not as much as you would playing other good indie games.

Especially ones that are priced much lower than what this game asks of you, 20 USD is little too much. It took me 7hrs to finish the game without replay value.

ST3 doesn't change anything in the genre, nor does it make a significant mark. But it's fun most of these criticisms notwithstanding.

6.5



Sort:  

This post was shared in the Curation Collective Discord community for curators, and upvoted and resteemed by the @c-squared community account after manual review.
@c-squared runs a community witness. Please consider using one of your witness votes on us here

Wow!! This sounds pretty cool - I didn't even know there was Stranger Things game available. Thanks for sharing this with the community, @trave160! We love the detailed review, though judging by how things sound, I think that $20 USD is definitely a bit steep for a game that doesn't have replay value. Are you a fan of Stranger Things? And out of curiosity, how did you come across this game? Looking forward to reading future posts from you! You’ve just got a full upvote from us :)

Best Regards,
Blue Baikal
https://www.bluebaikal.io/en

Image of Blue Baikal Logo

Your post was upvoted by the @archdruid gaming curation team in partnership with @curie to support spreading the rewards to great content. Join the Archdruid Gaming Community at https://discord.gg/6yD2Emr. Good Game, Well Played!

Coin Marketplace

STEEM 0.35
TRX 0.12
JST 0.040
BTC 70810.22
ETH 3571.29
USDT 1.00
SBD 4.73