High Strangeness

About

High Strangeness is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Crystal Labs and was released on May 6, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

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

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76%

Audience ScoreBased on 25 reviews

story8 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game features an interesting concept of switching between 8-bit and 16-bit styles, enhancing the gameplay experience.
Great pixel art, a cool story, and funny dialogue contribute to an enjoyable atmosphere.
The game is a nostalgic throwback to classic titles, reminiscent of old-school Zelda games, and offers a fun, albeit short, adventure.

The game is criticized for being too short and lacking in replay value, with many finding the difficulty level too easy.
Some players experienced bugs that hindered progress, leading to frustration and a lack of recommendation.
The story and gameplay can feel linear and uninspired, with some mechanics poorly executed, making it less engaging than other titles in the genre.

story
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
The game's story features a mix of familiar tropes, such as the "chosen one" narrative and quirky twists, while balancing serious themes with humor. Although some reviewers found the plot to be predictable and characters two-dimensional, others appreciated its silliness and engaging elements, likening it to classic adventure tales. Overall, the storytelling is seen as enjoyable, with a nostalgic art style that complements the narrative.
- “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 story/suspense plot, gameplay are great (Zelda style), the graphics and sound fit 100% and bring you back to the 8-16 bits era.”
- “This has been a story done many times and this game kind of pays homage to the outlandish quests of teenage 'heroes' out to save the world.”
- “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 evoke nostalgia for 90s titles, featuring a blend of 8-bit and 16-bit aesthetics alongside watercolor artwork cut scenes that enhance its charm. While some may view the art style as generic, the unique mechanic of switching between graphical styles adds depth to the gameplay and complements the engaging story. Overall, the visuals successfully transport players back to the retro gaming era while offering a fresh twist.
- “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 fresh twist, but some criticize the linearity and repetitive nature of the gameplay. Overall, while the nostalgic elements and engaging puzzles are praised, the execution may not satisfy all players due to its simplistic design and reliance on cutscenes.
- “Gameplay is reminiscent of old school Zelda (like NES Legend of Zelda and SNES Link to the Past) and includes combat and puzzles.”
- “The idea of changing between 8-bit and 16-bit graphical/physics/mechanical style is one I'd thought about before and has a lot of potential.”
- “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.
- “It has all the visuals, action, and inspiring music of the old 90s square games.”
- “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.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “It has all the visuals, action, and inspiring music of the old 90s Square games.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by witty dialogue and pop culture references, which some players found enjoyable, particularly before the first boss fight. However, opinions are mixed, as not all dialogue hits the mark, with some users describing parts as lacking in quality. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the experience, though its consistency varies.
- “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
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Many users feel that the game is somewhat short and lacks significant replay value, suggesting that once completed, there isn't much incentive to play again.
- “A bit too short, not much replay value.”
- “Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to play again.”
- “The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel redundant.”