The third person camera is so sluggish it hurts. It feels like very few changes were made to the controls for the new platform, and it can't be understated how unfortunate that is. The controls are the most glaring issue with Stranger's Wrath, and being on the Switch does them no favors. One thing, however, prevents these mechanics from holding up fifteen years after they were thought up: the controls. Tilt controls can also be used to aim more finely in first person, but in practice it does not help much. Even the more mundane mechanics for sprinting, shaking off damage, and platforming feel satisfying and polished. Ammo collection and varying ammo types are pretty fun and interesting mechanics, especially considering how long ago they were introduced. This rewards creativity, as capturing enemies alive (by stunning them then sucking them up ghostbusters style) results in a bigger payoff upon return to the bounty office. Players can load two types of critter into their crossbow at a time, and use them to strategic effect to clear each area of enemies. Each type of "ammo" has its own use, from a rabid furball proximity mine to a skunk smoke bomb. To dispatch foes, players must collect different small creatures within the environment around them, then save them for later use. Areas usually consist of some traversal puzzles, light obstacles, and arrays of enemies that must be taken out with a bit of planning and ingenuity. Meanwhile, subtle touches like red flowers placed in the foliage near important parts of each level display the attention payed to each stage. There is a good amount of variety in the dusty desert, from crumbling temples to barren gulches and dark caverns. Thanks to the HD PSN release from 2011, the game still looks pretty good for what it is. That being said, every level is very polished, with purposeful design and great pacing. The pattern of getting a bounty, going through a linear level, beating a boss fight, and then coming back for another bounty can get pretty repetitive. Those who are used to the modern standard of multiple ongoing narratives at a time and branching level design may find this boring. Players receive one task at a time, complete it, and move on to the next. The story and levels are almost completely linear. This is nothing new for those who are familiar with the storytelling of other Oddworld games. There is no need for spoilers here, but suffice it to say that Stranger's Wrath tells a story that is oddly mature for a game with such crude humor and cartoonish character designs. The tale takes some surprisingly dark turns for its goofy facade, with genuinely intense, shocking, and even saddening moments. However, when the twists come, they come hard and fast. The story is slow to start off, lulling players into a false sense of monotony. This characterization might come off as bland at first, but it becomes charming with time and an appreciation for a stoic old-west gunslinger attitude in the context of the brightly colored, loud, and energetic character designs of the time the game first released. Stranger comes across as a gruff, brooding answer to classic mascot platformers like Spyro and Crash Bandicoot. It has a nostalgic Oddworld flair, with wacky, over the top characters and voice acting. It joins the roster of several other Oddworld games, but it is the only one with a first person shooting mechanic. The characters, setting, and story are a big part of what makes Stranger's Wrath unique. RELATED: Playstation Classic Runs Some Games at 50Hz The story and worldbuilding are the primary attractions, while decent third-person platforming and a unique first-person-shooting mechanic based on different ammo types make up the majority of gameplay. Stranger starts his journey on a quest to make enough money for a life-saving operation, but the tale becomes embroiled in betrayal, secrets, and an evil plot as Stranger gets closer to his goal. Stranger's Wrath follows the eponymous player character, Stranger, as he bounty-hunts his way through an old-west inspired setting filled with anthropomorphized animals as townspeople, bandits, and other NPCs.
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