Estranged: The Departure

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Estranged: Act II is a first-person adventure game that continues the story of Alan Edward's survival on a mysterious island. Players will encounter new characters, discover the truth behind the island's inhabitants, and solve intricate puzzles to progress. The game features a rich, immersive environment and a gripping narrative that will keep players engaged.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 928 reviews

story102 positive mentions

stability14 negative mentions

The game features impressive graphics and beautiful environments, showcasing the capabilities of the Unreal Engine.
The atmosphere is engaging, with a good mix of suspense and exploration that keeps players intrigued.
The story builds on the first act, providing a sense of continuity and depth to the narrative.

The gameplay can feel linear and lacks significant enemy encounters, leading to moments of boredom.
Some puzzles are overly simplistic and do not provide much challenge, making the game feel less engaging.
The combat mechanics are underwhelming, with AI behavior being predictable and not very challenging.

story
316 mentions
32 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its intriguing elements and atmospheric presentation, while others criticize it for being confusing, underdeveloped, or lacking depth compared to its predecessor. Many noted that the narrative feels disjointed, with some plot points not effectively contributing to the overall experience, leading to a sense of frustration for those unfamiliar with the first installment. Overall, while the game offers moments of engaging storytelling, it often falls short of delivering a cohesive and compelling narrative.
- “The story is incredibly immersive and well-written.”
- “I wholeheartedly enjoyed this game due to the beautiful, fitting and diverse environments, the great slow-burn storytelling, and great production quality.”
- “The game has such a captivating story following up from act 1, and it kept me interested throughout!”
- “The whole game feels like the dev had a bunch of cool ideas and just slapped them all together to try and salvage a congruent story with them.”
- “The story is confusing, same as act 1, but I guess it's okay.”
- “For a plot that involves a zombie outbreak, I only saw like 6 zombies the entire game.”
graphics
189 mentions
59 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise, with many reviewers highlighting the significant improvements made since the previous installment, particularly due to the switch to the Unreal Engine. Players noted the stunning visuals, impressive lighting effects, and overall aesthetic quality, often comparing them favorably to AAA titles from recent years. However, some critiques mentioned inconsistencies in visual quality and performance issues, suggesting that while the graphics are generally excellent, they may require high-end hardware to run smoothly.
- “The graphics have been updated and are gorgeous.”
- “The graphics, visuals, lighting, and art style of the game got significantly better.”
- “The graphics look better than many AAA games I've seen come out recently, the audio is immersive, I truly loved the voice acting, and the level design was excellent.”
- “It's clear that the developer only really planned out the mod and the first act of this game because everything else seemed rushed as hell or just poorly implemented; the story goes nowhere, the combat is way too easy, and the visuals remind me of a business email in how lifeless they look.”
- “Yes, the graphics are way better but everything is so shiny it's like everything is made from plastic and you end up in Mirror's Edge at one point and I don't understand it.”
- “The graphics in the starting area look incredibly nice but the impression sort of fades as you get bizarre fog, pop-in, LOD changes, Z clipping, lighting coming out of random corners, etc.”
gameplay
125 mentions
33 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it either boring and insipid or enjoyable and fluid. While some appreciate the atmospheric design and puzzle mechanics, others criticize it for being overly simplistic, linear, and reminiscent of a walking simulator with minimal combat. Overall, the game seems to struggle with balancing engaging gameplay and storytelling, leading to a divide in player experiences.
- “Great eerie atmosphere, fluid gameplay with no bugs and nice graphics.”
- “The huge leap in graphics and gameplay tweaks are impressive, the arcade modes such as warehouse horde offer addictive detours, and the shorts are profound; but my favorite part is near the end - the shipwrecks and windmill farm, which is shown in one of the screenshots.”
- “The gameplay is fun, but the game lacks a variety of guns.”
- “The game is exceptionally boring; all the good technical aspects are overshadowed by very boring and insipid gameplay.”
- “There's barely any gameplay left; it's now mostly a walking simulator. After finishing the game, my stats said I killed 16 zombies and 6 human enemies in the entire game.”
- “The gameplay is mostly walking forward through a semi-linear path, blocked by moderately easy puzzles, usually of the type 'bring an item nearby to another location' or 'break through the obstacle.'”
music
101 mentions
47 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to evoke strong emotions, ranging from adrenaline during intense moments to a calming beauty in quieter scenes. While many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the overall atmosphere, some note issues with volume balance and timing, particularly during key events. Overall, the music is considered a significant asset, contributing to the game's immersive experience.
- “The music and sounds will give you an adrenaline rush at certain points, and at other points, the music is just gorgeous.”
- “The music in the last chapter is fantastic!”
- “The music is consistently excellent.”
- “The music for certain events is either too loud or goes on even when the event is already over.”
- “The music is also well orchestrated and placed throughout the levels to really immerse you into the world the developer built.”
- “In addition, most areas lack any particular background music and feel dull.”
atmosphere
97 mentions
51 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience with well-crafted visuals and sound design. While some players appreciate the focus on exploration and ambiance over constant action, others feel that the non-combat sections can drag on, potentially losing engagement. Overall, the game successfully creates a captivating environment that resonates with fans of atmospheric and mystery-driven gameplay.
- “Great eerie atmosphere, fluid gameplay with no bugs and nice graphics.”
- “The writing was great, the world was beautiful, and the mystery and atmosphere kept us on the edge of our seats for the entire game.”
- “It packs in a great deal of atmosphere which sets the tone wonderfully, and makes spending time as you try to figure out the puzzles more enjoyable.”
- “As at times the non-combat sections where you're breathing in the atmosphere do stretch on for a bit too long to the point where it starts to lose your attention, and the reveal of the zombies was a decidedly lackluster affair.”
- “The atmosphere isn't scary at all, the gunplay is somehow worse, and beyond that it's just boring to play.”
- “At first I didn't like the game because I thought it was a horror game, and while it is a creepy atmosphere there are 0 jumpscares; playing without audio also helps remove the amazingly creepy atmosphere.”
optimization
22 mentions
77 % positive mentions
9 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its impressive graphics and strong optimization, with many users noting that it runs smoothly and allows for adjustable settings to enhance performance based on hardware capabilities. However, some players express dissatisfaction with gameplay elements like navigation and combat, suggesting that while the technical aspects are solid, the overall experience could be improved. Minor bugs are mentioned, but they do not significantly detract from the game's performance.
- “Nice game, well optimized.”
- “Not only is it very pretty, it's also very well optimized.”
- “Graphics options allow windowed and borderless full screen modes with adjustable resolutions with many advanced detail settings to tune if needed to adjust quality/performance based on the hardware capabilities of one's computer.”
- “Insufficient experience, I would add, especially concerning optimization (if that's even possible in Unreal).”
- “Part 2 is not quite finished yet, and has some performance and crashing issues.”
- “- The engine itself seemingly affects the game's performance and overall gameplay.”
humor
15 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game effectively alleviates tension and horror, providing a lighthearted contrast to its darker elements. Players appreciate the witty voice acting, amusing puzzles, and humorous achievements, which contribute to an overall enjoyable experience. The blend of comedy with engaging gameplay elements enhances the game's atmosphere, making it a standout feature.
- “It also has an element of humor that breaks up the tension and the horror.”
- “Funny enough, one of the first puzzles in the game is the opposite.”
- “I highly recommend it to everyone who looks for a game with a good ambiance, atmosphere, and some funny achievements with great plot twists throughout!”
stability
14 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with users reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly towards the end and in specific builds like GNU/Linux. While some players experienced minor issues that required reloading checkpoints, others noted that these did not significantly detract from the overall experience, especially considering the game's early access status. Overall, the game is deemed playable and enjoyable, but potential players should be aware of the existing stability concerns.
- “The end of the game is totally buggy.”
- “Now to the negatives, I have encountered some glitches and bugs in the game where I had to reload to the nearest checkpoint, which can be a bit annoying for some. At one stage, a bunch of enemies should have come out shooting me, but nothing happened—just the dramatic fighting music and nothing else.”
- “Then it just crashes or freezes again.”
emotional
9 mentions
89 % positive mentions
-22 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly polarizing; while some players find it to be a deeply touching and nostalgic experience that evokes strong feelings, others criticize its storytelling and voice acting as lacking depth and professionalism, leading to a disengaging experience. Overall, it elicits a range of emotions, from heartfelt connections to disappointment.
- “This game is very special and I had some of the most emotional and touching moments ever in a game.”
- “A very wholesome experience.”
- “I cried.”
- “The storytelling is dull and fails to evoke any real emotions.”
- “Gameplay lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “The level design is uninspired, which detracts from any emotional engagement.”
grinding
6 mentions
17 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding in the game to be excessive and tedious, often requiring significant time investment that can feel monotonous and frustrating. Many describe the gameplay as sleep-inducing, with mechanics that can be unresponsive, further exacerbating the grind.
- “A lot of grinding is required.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Sleep-inducing gameplay and tedious puzzles.”
- “It's tedious to pick up stuff when this mechanic does not work half the time.”
replayability
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find value in pursuing achievements and engaging in arcade modes, others feel that the lack of substantial content limits replay potential. The low price is seen as appropriate given the minimal replay value unless aiming for 100% completion.
- “Infinitely replayable with multiplayer options.”
- “Nice to see quality sound and some interesting achievements for replayability.”
- “Although I got this for free (through early access, I think), I will say it's worth its full price, with great support in language, very up-to-date graphics, and a polished experience with little bugs or game-breaking glitches. It is a bit short, but it has some replay value with the achievements and the two arcade modes.”
- “The low price tag does feel right, given that there is no replay value (unless going for 100% achievements).”
- “Although I got this for free (through early access, I think), I will say it's worth its full price, with great support in language, very up-to-date graphics, and a very polished experience with little bugs or game-breaking glitches. However, it is a bit short, but it has some replay value with the achievements and the two arcade modes.”