Stray
Format: Video game.
Developed by: BlueTwelve Studio.
Published by: Annapurna Interactive.
Designed by:Mathieu Audrain, Alexandre Brodu, and Hugo-Dunas-Wald.
Directed by: Koola and Viv.
Where to play: Playstation 4, Playstation 5, and Windows computers.
Released: 2022.
Genre: Science Fiction.
Rating: PG for minor violence.
Trailer: In a world overrun by big, scary things (robots, pollution, corruption), one tiny cat must risk it all to keep itself safe.
Behold! The trailer for Stray. Beware: cuteness overload possible.
Stray follows a single cat as it navigates a dystopian underground world populated by robots and evil mutant bacteria called Zurks. The little cat is accompanied by B-12, a friendly drone who helps guide the cat through the hostile environment. Using cat-like reflexes like long jumps, climbing insane heights, and leaping from different platforms.. Using their naturally given intelligence and claws in tandem with specialized, cat-sized weapon technology the stray cat overcomes various obstacles. The game’s goal is to get the stray cat back up to the surface of the world out of the subterranean robot world. The conflict in this game arises because the robots in the subterranean world are not allowed up to the surface so the cat’s journey is not an easy one.
Analysis: Sam Machkovech of Ars Technica describes Stray as a blend of dark, creepiness like the 1998 classic game Half-Life and the “childlike whimsy of a classic Studio Ghibli film”(Machkovech, 2022). His praise is not the only that Stray has received, many video game reviewers have sung the praise of this incredible new game. In January 2023, Stray won the Steam Award for “Most Innovative Gameplay” (Stray, Wikipedia). Additionally, the British Academy Games Awards has nominated Stray for nine awards for its animation, music, narrative, and other elements including one for the “best game” (Stray, Wikipedia).
The graphic design of this game is absolutely mind blowing. Brooding dark, mechanical elements are juxtaposed by bright neon lights and organic greenery. This is a linear game opposed to an open-world game but the world feels robust and explorable like the latter. The narrative is captivating and emotional enough to keep players deeply invested. Gameplay itself is logical and easy to pick up. Even an inexperienced gamer could figure out how to navigate the controls. This game is in my top ten games of all time for a couple of reasons. First of all, the dystopian, eco-technical landscape is breathtaking. The use of lighting is particularly unique and provides a strong ambiance for the game. The narrative is effective in making the players want to follow through with the game. There is an emotional element to the game that ingratiates players to the playable character, the little orange cat, as well as the non-player characters the main character interacts with. Admittedly, I cried multiple times throughout this game due to rushes of unbridled joy and tumultuous fret. I think this game works well for teens because of the strong aesthetics and independent nature of the gameplay. Not only is this a single-player game, but it is about a precious creature taking what could be considered a self-love journey. The cat could just accept where it is and live out its life underground with the robots, but instead it fights for what it really wants. The message of perseverance and independence is important for young adults to synthesize before they enter the world in their own adventures.
Created by: According to the official website for Stray, "[it was] developed by BlueTwelve Studio, a small team from the south of France mostly made up of cats and a handful of humans" (Stray, n.d, Stray). There is not much information made available about who is on their team, but they report to only have about 28 human employees after the release of their first major game (Wikipedia).
Check out some more of the gameplay!
In the Library: In a perfect world a library would have many gaming consoles and games to loan out to people to play Stray. Alternatively, I would love to have an area of the teen section dedicated to gaming. The area would have multiple gaming consoles, comfortable seating, and headphones for teens to use. Teens could sign up to use the gaming area for hour long increments to ensure equitable sharing. Based specifically on Stray, I would love to set up an event that features robotics. Ozobot and Sphero Bolts could be used to complete Stray themed obstacle courses.
Potential Issues: There is some minor violence in this but not more than in other sci-fi materials. Any issues would be directed to the collection development policy and reminded that the game was purchased for its popularity and the community's desire to play.
Reason for Inclusion: This game is still making waves on TikTok and other sites with large young adult user bases. Not only is is super popular, it is a stunning game with major merit as a video game and narrative.
Sources: Emma McMurphy. (2022, August 5). Walking Around Midtown for 1 Hour - Stray (Video Game Ambience). Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F41dgN-mwrE
GameSpot. (2022, June 2). Stray Gameplay Trailer | Sony State of Play June 2022. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJawWyRUOBM
Machkovech , S. (2022, July 18). Game Review: Stray redefines the adventure genre with a cat's-eye view. Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/07/game-review-stray-redefines-the-adventure-genre-with-a-cats-eye-view/
Stray. (n.d). Stray. https://stray.game/
Stray. (n.d). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stray_(video_game)
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