Estranged: The Departure
- May 22, 2020
- Alan Edwardes
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.
Reviews
- The game features impressive graphics and a beautiful atmosphere, showcasing the capabilities of Unreal Engine.
- The storytelling is engaging, with a solid continuation from the first game, and the addition of intriguing elements like QR codes for deeper lore.
- Despite its short length, the game offers a fun experience with enjoyable puzzles and a nostalgic feel for fans of the original mod.
- The gameplay can feel linear and simplistic, with combat mechanics that are often unsatisfying and lack challenge.
- Many players found the story to be confusing and underdeveloped, with some plot points feeling rushed or lacking resolution.
- The game suffers from technical issues such as lag during transitions and inconsistent sound design, which detracts from the overall experience.
- story58 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its intriguing narrative and character development, particularly in relation to the enemy factions and the setting. However, many also noted a sense of repetition and confusion, especially for those unfamiliar with the first game, leading to criticisms of a lack of depth and coherence in the plot. Overall, while the storytelling is praised for its pacing and atmosphere, it is often described as inconsistent and at times lacking in substance.
“The storytelling is good too.”
“I wholeheartedly enjoyed this game due to the beautiful, fitting and diverse environments, the great slow-burn storytelling, and great production quality.”
“One of the best zombie-setting games I have played recently, the story plays out smoothly and tragically at the end when John wanders around the corner as a rotter.”
“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.”
“In reality, the story makes no sense, 'levels' make no sense, the whole thing doesn't make any sense and doesn't seem to have any purpose to exist other than... to demonstrate that this can be 'achieved' (? I've no idea).”
“A huge step down from act 1; the combat is terrible (I most of the time can't fire the gun), the story stops trying to make sense about an hour in, the direction for progression is mind-boggling, I'm so disappointed.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the significant improvements and impressive visual fidelity compared to the previous installment. While some players enjoyed the beautiful environments and lighting effects, others noted issues such as lifeless visuals and performance problems that detracted from the experience. Despite these criticisms, the graphics are generally considered a highlight, showcasing a leap in quality that aligns with modern AAA titles.
“The huge leap in graphics and gameplay tweaks are impressive; my favorite part is near the end - the shipwrecks and windmill farm, which is shown in one of the screenshots.”
“Estranged: The Departure's beautiful visuals and intriguing story make it well worth a playthrough for those that crave a new adventure.”
“All around, the graphics were very impressive considering a large majority of the work was done by one person.”
“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.”
“The graphics also look really uncanny.”
“Game feels a bit old, and also graphic, and the music is like from 80s horrors.”
- music23 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and immersion, particularly during key moments. However, some users noted issues with volume balance and occasional forgettability, while others found certain tracks overly dramatic or reminiscent of outdated styles. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing significantly to the emotional and immersive experience.
“One of the best things were perfect soundtracks to every scene!”
“The music and sounds will give you an adrenaline rush at certain points, and at other points, the music is just gorgeous.”
“The music is also well orchestrated and placed throughout the levels to really immerse you into the world the developer built.”
“The music for certain events is either too loud or goes on even when the event is already over.”
“Game feels a bit old, and also graphic, and the music is like from 80s horrors.”
“The music is alright, but badly balanced.”
- gameplay19 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as simple and linear, with some reviewers noting it retains elements from the original game while benefiting from improved graphics and minor tweaks. While some players appreciate the fluid mechanics and atmospheric design, others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking variety, leading to a mixed reception overall. Despite its engaging moments, many feel the gameplay does not offer enough depth or excitement to stand out.
“Although the gameplay is simple and linear, it does it well and efficiently.”
“Gameplay is solid, soundtrack is decent.”
“Retains, and improves upon the gameplay and atmosphere of the original source mod while being built on the Unreal Engine, something I'm sure was no easy task.”
“Both the gameplay and the storyline are pretty much more of the same thing you experienced in the first game, just with better graphics.”
“Sure, it's only like 6 bucks, the engine change from Source 1 to UE4 is amazing, but overall what you're getting is a bare-bones walking simulator with some mediocre FPS mechanics and boring enemies to fight.”
“The game is exceptionally boring; all the good technical aspects are overshadowed by very boring and insipid gameplay.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, enhanced by well-timed music and sound design that complements the mystery exploration and survival elements. While some players note issues with level design and pacing, the overall ambiance effectively engages players, making puzzle-solving and exploration enjoyable. The focus on atmosphere over constant action creates a tense environment that keeps players on edge, contributing to a memorable gaming experience.
“Like act one, Estranged: The Departure is great at creating a creepy atmosphere.”
“Perfect atmosphere for the mystery exploration/survival genres.”
“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.”
“I love the simplicity of linear gameplay, but the atmosphere, lack of music (music is in the game at appropriate times), world setting, etc., completely sells it for me.”
“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.”
“While there is action and shooting, the emphasis is on the atmosphere, not jumpscares or mindless shooting.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its impressive graphics and strong technical optimization, delivering great performance. However, players find that world navigation and combat mechanics detract from the overall experience.
“The graphics looked good and performance was great.”
“Not only is it very pretty, it's also very well optimized.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively incorporates humor to alleviate tension and horror, with clever puzzles that play on opposites, adding a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.
“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.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be exceptionally emotional, highlighting it as a source of some of the most touching moments they've experienced in gaming.
“This game is very special, and I had some of the most emotional and touching moments ever in a game.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or multiple attempts to progress effectively.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, while the game experiences some glitches, they do not significantly impact the main content, leading users to still recommend it as an exploration game.
“The game is plagued by frequent crashes that disrupt the experience.”
“I encountered numerous bugs that made it difficult to progress.”
“Stability issues severely impacted my enjoyment of the game.”