Stranded is like no other game you’ve encountered before.
Peter Moorhead brings us Stranded. I have never experienced a game like Stranded, and so it’s a little more difficult to review. It is a point-and-click exploration game with heavy emphasis on the beautiful, nostalgic pixelated artwork of the environment. There is no dialogue. There are no puzzles. You cannot interact with your environment. There are no other characters in the game. There is just you, a crash-landed astronaut, and this lonely planet world which you must explore. That’s it. If you come to Stranded expecting a game, if the definition of a game is a challenge or some kind of interaction, you will be disappointed. What Stranded is, is art. It is an experience; the experience of being marooned, and being forced to explore with no direction or instruction to speak of. This lack of instruction helps to simulate the experience of the astronaut; for a few moments, I hovered around objects with my mouse wondering what I was supposed to do. It took a few bewildering moments to realise the sheer simplicity – click and go – and this feeling of confusion fits perfectly with the theme of the game.
Forget next-gen graphics and high-budget visuals. Stranded is composed of pixels, from the beautiful soft grey of the walls of ancient temples, to the delicate shafts of pixelated sunlight dappling the floor from cracks in the ceiling. What has been achieved with the most minimal of graphics is astounding. When the entire point of Stranded is to explore, taking in the surroundings becomes the foremost goal of the game, allowing you the time and luxury of marvelling at such intricacy and beauty. There isn’t even any user interface to obscure your view. You can click on your astronaut protagonist to bring up a very basic map of your area, but otherwise, clicking on the map to move is the only action you may take. Now is the time to reflect on ourselves and our expectations. I realise as I play that I don’t need incredible, expensive graphics, or a million action commands or a complicated interface to fully enjoy and appreciate a game. Here is charming simplicity, and I love it.
There is no history for your astronaut character. You aren’t given a sob-story, or even an explanation for their crash landing. You step out of the spaceship, alone with your pixelated character, and here a bond forms. As you walk slowly through the landscapes together, you could be stepping your last step, breathing your last breath. Man, woman, it doesn’t even matter who this character truly is. You are in this together. Loneliness is what binds you on this alien world. The Stranded website begs the question, ‘Do you know what it is to die alone, and so far from home?’ After playing with Stranded, you begin to get the idea. Stranded is the experience of aloneness, of loss and the imminent threat of death in a strange place. Your breathing cuts over the beautiful, soft and mesmerising soundtrack playing as you explore. The astronaut is otherwise completely silent, drinking in their surroundings in fear, awe, or a mixture of both. Your footsteps ring out, each a reminder that you are a lost wanderer. This soundtrack couples with the delicate visuals to create a relaxing experience. Stranded is a game you come home to after a long day’s work. Plug your earphones in, grab your mouse and curl up for half an hour of completely aimless exploring, with no expectations from you what-so-ever.
Although the play time is very short, the alien world is reset every time you quit and begin playing again. The possibilities for exploration are multiplied, and a new experience awaits. There are sixteen locations which you can explore, including buildings and a cave. Locations can only be visited when you have already visited other locations. The amount of time you put into exploring therefore unlocks the ability to explore some more, and so your time is rewarded.
Conclusion
Stranded is completely unique. It barely even qualifies as a game, which makes for a moment of reflection on what it is that I truly expect from a game. I find that I am disappointed with myself. HD graphics, grand storylines and hyper-interactivity have taken centre stage in the game world, and Stranded tells us that this is a crying shame. Where is the imagination, the emotional connection, the self-discovery and the journey? When the experience is spoon fed to us, do we really experience it? Stranded is a chance to remind ourselves that pixelated art is beautiful, that we can deduce a story for ourselves, and that true fear doesn’t come from zombies or man-eating aliens, but in the base fear of death and of the unknown. Stranded is a beauty. If you are looking for a game, then I wouldn’t recommend this and that is the only reason for its score. For anyone who is seeking a harrowing experience, ignore the stars and get on Stranded.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/295250/
Disclaimer:All scores given within our reviews are based on the artist’s personal opinion; this should in no way impede your decision to purchase the game.
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