Summary
One of the smaller, but no less crowd-pleasing, announcements from the recent Nintendo Direct was the reveal of theStraySwitch port.Strayjoined the ranks of other beloved animal-centric gamesback in 2022, quickly becoming a favorite among casual and hardcore players alike, with proponents citing atmosphere and charm as its greatest strengths. These strengths are part of what landedStrayits Game Award for Best Independent Game, beating out hits likeSifuandTunic.
Once locked toPlayStationconsoles and PC,Strayeventually slinked over to Xbox, making it available to a wider audience and further growing its influence. The widespread popularity of the title shouldn’t come as a surprise—people love cats, after all—butStray’s feline premise is far from the only reason it’s so beloved. Arriving relatively early in the ninth console generation,Straywas considered by many to be proof positive of the power of modern gaming hardware, boasting impressive, detailed visuals without sacrificing performance. But while the world-building and gameplay ofStraywill likely shine just as bright when it arrives on Switch, its high-fidelity, next-gen presentation will take a serious hit.
Stray Is Perfect for Switch Culture, Less so For Switch Hardware
The Switch Is the Ideal ‘Cozy’ Gaming Device
Though it may not hit all the same notes as the most seminal cozy games, likeStardew ValleyorAnimal Crossing,Stray’s lack of combat, fast-paced action, and complex mechanics certainly lends it a comfortable, relaxed-fit feel. Despite its dystopian cyberpunk world,Strayis remarkably peaceful, and playing through its short campaign can often be a meditative experience, more about soaking in the sights and sounds of its world than mastering various systems or overcoming challenges.
This makesStraya natural fit for the Switch, which has proven to be something of ahaven for cozy and casual gaming experiences. This could be due to a number of factors, such as the Switch’s portability and accessibility, in addition to the fact that it’s the home of easy-to-grasp party games likeMario KartandSuper Smash Bros. Make no mistake, there’s no shortage of tough games on the Switch, but Nintendo’s hybrid system does seem to lean into more laid-back experiences, andStrayis a great addition to that repertoire.
The Switch’s Aging Hardware May Kneecap Stray
It’s no secret that theNintendo Switch falls behind other consoles and PCswhen it comes to graphical fidelity and performance. This usually isn’t an issue, as the console remains competitive with great games that rise above hardware limitations thanks to their mechanics. For many, Nintendo proves that the graphical arms race isn’t necessary to produce powerful gaming experiences, as Switch exclusives likeTears of the Kingdomcan go toe-to-toe with many of the best games on PS5 and Xbox Series consoles, in spite of objective technical shortcomings.
But this isn’t quite the case with a game likeStray.Straydoesn’t have deep or ingenious mechanics for the player to mess around with: it excels by the strength of its visual splendor and detailed environments. In other words,Stray’s visual presentationisn’t just a shiny coat of paint, it’s the whole experience. Exploring virtual environments and taking in every well-realized detail is the point ofStray, and these strengths will have to be greatly compromised for it to run on the Switch.
Again, this isn’t as big a deal for other games, where graphics are just part of the greater whole. But withStray, presentation is the linchpin for immersion, which is a crucial factor in a game of this kind. Then again,the power ofStray’s art directionmay transcend technical limitations. In that case, the Switch could very well be a great venue for the game.
Stray
WHERE TO PLAY
Lost, alone and separated from family, a stray cat must untangle an ancient mystery to escape a long-forgotten city.Stray is a third-person cat adventure game set amidst the detailed, neon-lit alleys of a decaying cybercity and the murky environments of its seedy underbelly. Roam surroundings high and low, defend against unforeseen threats and solve the mysteries of this unwelcoming place inhabited by curious droids and dangerous creatures.See the world through the eyes of a cat and interact with the environment in playful ways. Be stealthy, nimble, silly, and sometimes as annoying as possible with the strange inhabitants of this mysterious world.Along the way, the cat befriends a small flying drone, known only as B-12. With the help of this newfound companion, the duo must find a way out.Stray is developed by BlueTwelve Studio, a small team from the south of France mostly made up of cats and a handful of humans.
