I was really surprised when I heard about Strange Brigade only a day before its release. After watching the trailer, I was confused as to why no one was talking about the game. I knew I had to play the game when that trailer was over.
For those of you haven’t heard about the game yet, it is a third person adventure game. It feels like they blended up Uncharted, Indiana Jones, and Tomb Raider and ended up here. You play as one of a group of British secret agents known as the Strange Brigade. The goal of the game is to take down the spirit of Seteki, an evil queen who ruled the Sahara 4000 years ago.
The game offers both co-op and single in campaign, horde, and time trial modes. So far, I’ve only played co-op because it’s so freakin’ fun. The game offers fast paced combat where you’re fighting hordes of skeletons, ghouls, and more. But the game also provides a great number of puzzles allowing the Strange Brigade to accumulate some wealth for their troubles.
I can’t stop playing this game. The combat is fun and challenging without being overwhelming. The co-op reminded me of Dragon Age: Inquisition’s co-op at first except DA’s multiplayer got repetitive very quickly. Strange Brigade has managed to avoid repetition by being creative with the types of creatures you fight. The creatures change and advance as you do. You may start out fighting regular ghouls but soon enough you’ll find yourself being head butted by a Minotaur champion. Each member of the Strange Brigade also has their own special abilities and strengths. Whether you prefer magic wielding or brute force there’s a character for you.
The graphics and aesthetic of the game will hook you quickly too. The game is stylized like a classic adventure movie with its black and white cut scenes and dad worthy puns. The levels are laid out well to keep you moving forward but there’s no lacking in details.
The scenery is richly colored with intricate detailing. No level is the same and yet they all fit into the story’s premise perfectly. My favorite thing about the game is the narrator. The narration is witty and entertaining at all of the right moments. In many games the narrators get old and tedious quickly but that’s not at all true in this case. He some how breaks the fourth wall and sometimes in reverse. He gets annoyed with the brigade when they talk over him or insults you when you are being too slow or just standing around.
My only real complaint about the game is the camera angles when you’re going in for a melee kill. The camera angle shifts weirdly and it can be off putting. It mostly happens when you are in corners or with your back to a wall. It's not a game breaking problem by far, because melee isn't used often. The other problem that cropped up and it's another minor one because it doesn't really effect gameplay, there are only a limited amount of upgrades. Yes, I know it sounds lame but I have played through the entire campaign and have gotten a handful of stones but the other two haven't received one yet. It's all based on random chance, luckily it isn't needed to complete the game but it does allow you to make your weapons better and more effective.
Strange Brigade is a fun and quirky way to spend your time. If you’re into games that offer a new twist on an old school style then this game is perfect for you. The game has a real charm that I didn’t know I was missing in my life. With the great graphics, fantastic game play, and silly dad jokes you’ll have a great time whether you play on your own or with some friends.