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Classroom Facts
Stranger’s
Wrath does not focus on classroom facts. Some basic math is used in
conserving ammunition and in purchasing goods.
A
radar indicates the locations of nearby enemies, and even indicates their range
of vision, allowing Stranger to keep just enough distance to avoid being
spotted.
Creativity & Imagination
By the Player:
The
most notable of Stranger’s Wrath’s mechanics, in this sense, are its
weapons. A few types of ammunition in particular allow players to experiment
with placing traps and toying with foes. One is a type of angry fuzzy little
guy that can be fired onto floors and walls to spring onto passing enemies.
Another is a squealing chipmunk that attracts enemies to its location. Still
others knock enemies backwards, tie them up, and incapacitate them with nausea.
The
nice thing about the game is that its level design tends to encourage players
to sneak around while never making things impossible for players that get
caught. Even in more straightforward combat players will find ways to use the
trickier weapons, and there are always standard machine gun hornets, rocket
bats and even hand-to-hand combat to fall back on.
Branching
paths and small secrets tucked away in the game’s world add to the depth that a
curious player will dig into.
By
the Developer:
Stranger’s
Wrath has a truly unique aesthetic sense, from its distinct, outlandish
character design to its crazy twist-filled plot. Many of its mechanics also
show a real creative spark, from the live ammunition that looks at you while it
sits on your crossbow to the strange combination of third-person action and
first-person shooting.
The
game’s world is also really remarkable. The dusty wild-west setting introduced
in the game’s first half is distinctive enough, but the shift in focus -
aesthetically and otherwise - in the second half of the game is bold and
memorable.
Stranger’s
Wrath is visually beautiful and it has plenty of great ideas, and it’s not
afraid to mix them all up to get new results as the game progresses.
Business Skills
Players
collect money from defeating foes, searching the environment and particularly
for bagging the local bounties that act as the game’s bosses. Stranger’s
ultimate goal is to save up $20,000 for his life-saving operation, though he
has plenty of opportunity to spend it on ammunition, armor upgrades and other
oddities throughout his adventure.
One
of the game’s more interesting mechanics involves capturing enemies alive.
Stranger can use a strange vacuum item to gather defeated foes in order to turn
them in for extra cash at the bounty store. Using certain weapons will allow
him to knock them out instead of killing them, which increases their value.
This also applies to the game’s boss battles; knocking out one of these bosses
is particularly difficult, but the increase in reward money is substantial.
People Skills
Stranger’s
Wrath is exclusively single-player, and players have little means of
interacting with the game’s characters in any meaningful way. If Stranger
attacks townspeople, whatever money they were carrying is scattered on the
ground. If he does this enough, local citizens will run inside their homes as
an alarm sounds, and Stranger will be fired on by local authorities. This has
no lasting effect on the game, however, and is more a novelty than anything
else.
Problem Solving
Stranger’s
Wrath has solid level design throughout, and because of this it is able to
explore most of its mechanics thoroughly. Underneath its impressive art and
character design, Stranger’s Wrath is an action game. A few segments of
the game focus on platforming or exploration, but these are secondary to
combat.
Most
of the game’s levels are split into defined sections filled with enemies, and
as players get their bearings in each they’ll begin to figure out what their
viable options are. Some areas are conducive to long range sniping, while
others ask for a more direct approach.
There
is a distinct risk/reward balance in any given battle. Gunfights are always
frantic, especially as more enemies become involved, and players have to decide
whether to capture enemies alive - which nets more money - or to let them
perish. Depending on their intentions they need to use different weapons, and
trying to capture unconscious outlaws also leads to the risk of them recovering
before they can be scooped up. Bosses in particular are considerably more
valuable if captured alive, but their recovering stamina bars make it a much
greater challenge.
Simulation
Stranger’s Wrath
is not a simulation game.
Popularity
Stranger’s Wrath
has been praised for its unique platforming and FPS ideas, as well as for
its weapons and other quirky mechanics. This new remake has also been praised
simply for making the game more accessible to audiences that don’t have access
to an original Xbox, which until now has been the only way to play the game.
Controls & Options
Stranger’s
Wrath offers three difficulty levels, as well as standard audio, visual and
control options. A collection of artwork and some particularly interesting
concept videos are unlocked as the player makes progress in the game.
Tips
Oddworld:
Stranger’s Wrath HD was rated Teen by the ESRB with descriptors for Blood
and Gore, Strong Language and Violence.
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