It's not every day that video game fans get to play an adventure title as a cat, but that's precisely what Stray offers. Cats and other animals are often relegated to the role of supportive characters, mere pets who players cannot interact with at worst, but Stray changes that by having a nameless cat as the game's protagonist. Playing as a cat is not entirely a new concept, but regardless, Stray manages to make it both interesting and fun because of how the game progresses and what players can do throughout their journey in a cyberpunk city inhabited by humanoid machines.
One recurring sight when it comes to animals and pets in video games is that players sometimes can't actually pet them, offer them food, let them warm by the fire, or anything of the sort. Stray does the opposite, as the player's character can go and request some cuddles from the machines or even sit on comfy pillows and listen to street musicians. That's what makes Stray truly unique, as the story and the world become immersive because the protagonist is a very accurate representation of a cat who also blends in well with the sci-fi narrative of the game.
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As one would imagine, the cat protagonist in Stray also happens to scratch a couch and make a mess of items that players can interact with to solve puzzles and platforming challenges. A new gameplay trailer for Stray was released a few days ago during the Annapurna Interactive showcase, and it includes sequences where the cat protagonist can move and throw objects around, like pushing a bucket into an air conduction fan to block it and get safe passage through pipes. That's something cats actually tend to do in real life as well, with some of them learning how to open doors, reach places up high, or simply fit into tiny bowls.
The way Stray portrays the cat and a cute little drone named B-12 makes for an innovative experience, and progression also makes the feline's temper more credible. The furry protagonist doesn't seem to fully understand how the machine people live their lives, and just goes around doing whatever floats its boat. Regardless of the objective, the cat can always ask someone for cuddles or speak to the machine humanoids, and then be done with them once they no longer bear any interest. This is typical cat behavior, and Stray nails it.
As such, completing quests and helping NPCs is what it takes to see Stray's story through, but it also offers a different take on how cats perceive and relate to people and the world around them. In Stray, the feline initially struggles when attacked by a swarm of creatures that seem to also be a relevant threat to the inhabitants of the city. The cute protagonist has to be agile to escape from these enemies, but this soon changes as the cat obtains some sort of laser that is able to quickly dispose of the swarm creatures.
Lastly, because of the way the game is seemingly set to work, it's very likely that Stray will also be an incredible title to play on PS5 thanks to the DualSense controller. Haptic feedback, 3D audio, and adaptive triggers could all prove to be invaluable assets to a game that already seems to pack something new and entertaining for animal lovers and general video game enthusiasts alike.
Stray will be released in early 2022 on PS4 and PS5.
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