High Strangeness

About

High Strangeness is a hybrid of 8 and 16 bit games - a 12 bit adventure. The inspiration of the game comes from many Action-Adventure and RPG games of yesteryear. The game's core ability is to switch between 8 and 16 bit worlds and the player uses their generational differences to solve puzzles and explore the universe. Throughout the game your pixel art perspective of the world will be infused wi…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 22 reviews

story7 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game features a unique mechanic of switching between 8-bit and 16-bit graphics, which adds an interesting layer to gameplay.
The nostalgic visuals and music evoke fond memories of classic 90s games, providing a charming experience.
The story, while familiar, includes quirky twists and humorous dialogue that can be enjoyable.

The game is criticized for being too short and lacking in replay value, with many players finding it easy and not challenging enough.
Numerous bugs and technical issues can break the game, leading to frustrating experiences for players.
The combat system is often described as simplistic and unengaging, with bosses being defeated too easily and lacking depth.

story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
47%
16%
The story is a mix of familiar tropes, such as the "chosen one" narrative and outlandish quests, often infused with humor and quirky twists that keep it engaging. While some find the storytelling basic or two-dimensional, others appreciate its intentional silliness and nostalgic references to classic gaming. Overall, the narrative is seen as fun and enjoyable, despite some criticisms of pretentiousness and lack of depth.
- “Great pixel art, cool story and funny dialogue.”
- “The story is the standard 'your whole life was a lie and now you discover you're the chosen one' trope, but it has plenty of interesting quirks and twists to keep it interesting.”
- “Great game with a fun story - worth the price.”
- “The story and characters are, appropriately enough, completely two-dimensional.”
- “The dungeons and the story exposition were seriously that boring.”
- “Skip this one, do not look back, lest ye suffer the fate of Lot's wife: trapped in an endless chain of embarrassingly pretentious plot exposition cutscenes, alternating with mediocre gameplay and feeble attempts to remind you of Secret of Evermore.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
55%
27%
The graphics of the game are a nostalgic blend of 8-bit and 16-bit aesthetics, reminiscent of classic 90s titles, enhanced by watercolor artwork cut scenes that add charm and depth. While some may view the art style as generic, many appreciate the unique mechanic of switching between graphical styles, which complements the gameplay and storytelling. Overall, the visuals effectively evoke a sense of nostalgia while offering a fresh take on retro design.
- “Loved the watercolor artwork pan shots (like the coffee scene in EarthBound).”
- “Great story/suspense plot, gameplay are great (Zelda style), the graphics and sound fit 100% and bring you back to the 8-16 bit era.”
- “It's a cynical attempt at mimicking the feeling of games like Secret of Evermore, mixed with the whole generic 'retro 8-bit' aesthetic that's all the rage with the kids these days.”
- “Some may find the art style sort of generic, but overall I found it pretty cool; the story is told through some psychedelic type of artworks.”
- “What's unique about this game and its main feature is the mechanic to switch between 8 and 16-bit graphics as you traverse this strange land on your unwilling adventure.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The gameplay is heavily inspired by classic Zelda titles, featuring combat and puzzles that become easier with power-ups, though boss battles lack strategic depth. Players appreciate the unique mechanic of switching between 8-bit and 16-bit graphics, which adds a nostalgic touch, but some criticize the linearity and repetitive nature of the gameplay. Overall, while the game offers entertaining puzzles and a charming aesthetic, it struggles with pacing and depth in its mechanics.
- “Gameplay is reminiscent of old school Zelda (like NES Legend of Zelda and SNES Link to the Past) and includes combat and puzzles.”
- “Great story/suspense plot, gameplay is great (Zelda style), the graphics and sound fit 100% and bring you back to the 8-16 bits era.”
- “What's unique about this game and its main feature is the mechanic to switch between 8 and 16-bit graphics as you traverse this strange land on your unwilling adventure.”
- “Once you get used to the game mechanics and get a power-up or two, you'll breeze through the bad guys, and the boss battles (other than the final boss) don't require any particular strategy.”
- “Skip this one, do not look back, lest ye suffer the fate of Lot's wife: trapped in an endless chain of embarrassingly pretentious plot exposition cutscenes, alternating with mediocre gameplay and feeble attempts to remind you of Secret of Evermore.”
- “The gameplay clearly takes inspiration from the Legend of Zelda series, but even though it manages to have some entertaining puzzles, the game is absurdly linear, basically having you walking from room to room pushing blocks and turning switches or having a 'hub' room that connects several rooms with a puzzle each.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The music in the game is highly praised for its nostalgic quality, reminiscent of classic 90s titles, and is described as both relaxing and inspiring. Many users suggest that the soundtrack alone is worth experiencing, even if the gameplay may not be as enjoyable.
- “You know some of those old games like Silver Surfer for NES that were notoriously horrendous to play, yet were infamous for having excellent music that far outstripped the quality of the game it was written for?”
- “I'd seriously recommend just skipping the game and checking out the soundtrack.”
- “It has all the visuals, action, and inspiring music of the old 90s Square games.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of funny dialogue and pop culture references, particularly noted during the early stages before the first boss fight. However, opinions are divided, as some players find the humor enjoyable while others consider parts of it to be lacking or poorly executed.
- “Great pixel art, cool story, and funny dialogue.”
- “I was actually surprised by the bits of humor in the beginning before the first 'boss' fight - that seems to have been the only part I enjoyed.”
- “The dialogue is sometimes funny with some pop culture references.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Many users feel that the game is relatively short and lacks significant replay value, making it less enticing to revisit after completion.
- “A bit too short, not much replay value.”