Strafe

About

"Strafe" is a single-player Science Fiction Shooter game with amazing gameplay, awesome graphics, and a delightful soundtrack. The game boasts phenomenal atmosphere, exceptional replayability, and permanent damage effects with über-gore technology. Levels are randomly generated and constantly change, providing an endlessly challenging and violent deep space experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

+21

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,625 reviews

gameplay204 positive mentions

optimization24 negative mentions

Fast-paced gameplay with satisfying gun mechanics and movement.
Great retro aesthetic and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the experience.
Tons of secrets and easter eggs to discover, adding replayability.

Procedurally generated levels can lead to confusion and repetitive gameplay.
Limited health and ammo pickups make the game feel punishing and frustrating.
Some bugs and performance issues can disrupt the gameplay experience.

gameplay
866 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
70%
7%
The gameplay of "Strafe" is a mixed bag, with many players praising its fast-paced mechanics and nostalgic retro aesthetic reminiscent of classic shooters, while others criticize its reliance on roguelike elements that can lead to frustrating experiences. The movement mechanics, including strafe-jumping, are highlighted as enjoyable, but the inclusion of a reload mechanic and limited weapon variety detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the procedural level design and enemy AI have been noted as repetitive and lacking depth, leading to a gameplay loop that can feel tedious over time.
- “Seriously, this obscure game has better movement mechanics than any FPS I have ever played. Once you figure out how to stack strafe jumping, double jumps, and acceleration, you will be flying through levels.”
- “This is a very solid roguelike shooter with a surprising amount of depth and playtime on offer, owing to a gratifying level of difficulty, many ways of playing, and gameplay that feels great at a base level.”
- “The gameplay is fast-paced and satisfying, the art and music ooze style, and there is a brilliantly dark sense of humor throughout.”
- “The gameplay is just so weak, which for a roguelike shooter with basically no atmosphere, exploration, or story is a disaster.”
- “The tutorial is just a funny joke and does nothing to teach you about the mechanics of the game, enemies, or what to expect in general.”
- “However, it's hard not to notice the lack of content compared to other roguelites available, giving the impression that the development team prioritized design elements over gameplay mechanics and content depth.”
music
549 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
44%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its energetic and nostalgic soundtrack that evokes the feel of classic 90s gaming. Composed by Toytree, the soundtrack features a mix of powerful guitars and driving synths, enhancing the fast-paced gameplay and creating an engaging atmosphere. However, some users noted issues with audio mixing, including abrupt transitions and occasional track cutouts, which detracted from the overall experience.
- “The soundtrack feels like a great throwback to the golden era of PC gaming soundtracks, powerful guitars and driving synths giving you a rhythm to your murder.”
- “The soundtrack alone is one of the greatest things my ears have experienced.”
- “The music gives the game a unique personality and works extremely well with the flow of action and suspense, without becoming too overbearing.”
- “The music is slamming, but audio mixing is terrible; songs will cut out randomly and music transitions are abrupt and very off-putting.”
- “First thing I noticed was how terrible the music was but thought that's okay, I can turn it off and have my own running in the background but no! You can't - it's either all sound off or rubbish euro ultra-camp high energy disco music 'written' by someone who hates music and probably hates video games.”
- “I didn't realize it at first, but the reason for this feeling is because the game is grating on multiple levels; the music is kinda yucky, the levels kinda suck, art is frankly ugly, enemies are dumb and cheap at the same time, and worst of all the combat dance is almost non-existent.”
graphics
486 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
5%
The graphics of "Strafe" evoke a nostalgic 90s aesthetic, blending low-poly visuals with a retro color palette that appeals to fans of classic shooters like Quake and Doom. While some players appreciate the charm and style, others criticize the technical performance, noting issues like stuttering and graphical glitches that detract from the experience. Overall, the game's visuals are seen as a mixed bag, successfully capturing the essence of retro gaming while also facing modern performance challenges.
- “The game's most redeeming quality is its art style, which masterfully captures the essence of 90s gaming aesthetics.”
- “The graphics are an effective, fun throwback to 1990s low-poly shooter aesthetics--not something you see often, let alone done this well.”
- “I love the presentation; the 90's themed graphics are spot on and have a certain charm.”
- “Overall, Strafe likes to present itself as a shooter from 1996, claiming to have 'cutting edge graphics' etc. While an amusing advertising gimmick, it's important to note that 1996 is the year that Quake, Duke3D, Terminator Skynet, Strife, and Final Doom were released, and candidly, Strafe is not in that league.”
- “The game runs surprisingly poorly for the visuals it outputs.”
- “This is unacceptable in a game that looks like this graphically.”
optimization
140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
74%
17%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting frequent performance issues, including severe frame drops and stuttering, even on high-end hardware. While some patches have improved performance, many still experience significant slowdowns, particularly during intense moments or level transitions. Overall, the game is seen as having considerable potential but is hampered by its poor optimization and persistent bugs.
- “I run the latest version on 100 fps even on Linux drivers, and I can confirm that there are a bunch of optimizations in place by now.”
- “Strafe is my go-to pick-up-and-play game on my GPD Win and it runs pretty well now after all the performance improvements in this patch, even without low spec mode on.”
- “Since then, multiple patches have ensured that the game runs smoothly since its rocky start and that the player has a bit more survivability.”
- “Horribly optimized, I thought I had gained some sort of slow-motion power-up during the 'final boss' but it was just the game failing to keep up with spawning the exact same 3 enemy types over and over again.”
- “I'd rate the game a 7/10; the thing that keeps it from being an 8.5 or even a 9 for me is the amount of bugs, from very minor inconveniences (like a crate box that's stuck and can't be opened, or a graphical glitch) all the way to totally game-breaking stuff: I had quite a few playthroughs ended by getting stuck in place and unable to move; getting shot by an enemy through a wall or an obstacle; or having serious performance issues escalating during the course of several maps, plummeting my framerate from a solid 60 down to a slideshow of 3-5 fps or so in the final area, resulting in me getting splattered.”
- “How a game like this has such appalling performance issues is beyond me.”
stability
132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, with many players reporting game-breaking issues that significantly hinder the experience. Despite some patches aimed at improving stability, a substantial portion of gameplay is still marred by softlocks, environmental glitches, and AI pathfinding problems. While some users find enjoyment in the core gameplay, the overall consensus is that the game's stability remains a major concern, making it feel unfinished and frustrating.
- “Runs great, looks great, feels great.”
- “The music is freaking incredible, and the game runs great!”
- “On the other hand, even with the developers making a bunch of patches and major gameplay updates, I would say at least one in four runs end due to some sort of bug/softlock, whether that be the consistently buggy final boss's homing rocket turrets continuing to fire even after being destroyed, or getting stuck in a train during a level transition, or--the specific incident that broke me--a super rare easter egg room overwriting the normal level generator and softlocking me in the first area of the zone.”
- “It's horribly buggy with enemies clipping through walls and floors, doors sometimes refusing to open, you can fall through the floor of the level, and it just goes on and on.”
- “Totally unfinished buggy mess at launch, still doesn't even run properly for me after 5 patches, I won't waste any more time on it, just wished to god I could get my money back, never felt quite so ripped off.”
story
131 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
74%
9%
The game's story is largely considered minimal and vague, with many reviewers noting that it lacks depth and traditional narrative elements, focusing instead on gameplay and aesthetic reminiscent of classic shooters like Doom and Quake. While some appreciate the environmental storytelling and the simple premise of a scrap collector navigating a chaotic setting, others express a desire for more substantial narrative content and character development. Overall, the consensus is that the game prioritizes fast-paced action over a coherent story, making it appealing primarily to those who value gameplay over narrative.
- “For a procedural game, it does a really good job telling a story with the play space.”
- “The progression through the zones paints a clear non-verbal picture of the story you're playing through.”
- “There are no walls of text or any cutscenes throughout the whole adventure; the entirety of its story is told wordlessly through gameplay, and I found it one of Strafe's most underrated aspects.”
- “Story: incomprehensible, I have never wanted an audio log more in my damn life.”
- “The story and plot of Strafe is incredibly simple, unoriginal, and not expanded upon at all.”
- “There is no progression whatsoever, no world story building, no experience, nothing; it is only fun for the first 10 minutes.”
replayability
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
44%
8%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its high potential due to random generation, various modifiers, and engaging core gameplay, making it enjoyable for multiple runs. However, some critics point out a lack of depth and content, leading to limited replay value after initial playthroughs. Overall, while it offers fun and varied experiences, the replayability may not satisfy everyone, especially those seeking more substantial endgame content.
- “Each run will only take a few hours, but if you enjoy the core gameplay loop, Strafe offers a lot of replay value.”
- “Solid varied FPS action, many awesome secrets, near infinite replayability with lots of weapons, gadgets, and mutators made this an instant classic for me.”
- “Overall, Strafe is an incredibly fun fast-paced game with high replayability, and I would highly suggest it to either fans of roguelikes or fans of the 90s FPS classics.”
- “The game is way too short and easy for its original price, and there isn't much replayability and diversity.”
- “It features problems such as a general lack of replayability, odd level design, enemy design that alternates between being annoying or dull, and unexplained mechanics.”
- “Not a lot of room for replay value after you beat the game; the only way to play the game differently is to choose a different primary weapon or to handicap yourself in some way (like not using the missile upgrade for the MG).”
humor
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a tongue-in-cheek style that often elicits laughter, particularly through its clever tutorials and various Easter eggs. While some players find the humor to be hit or miss, it generally serves to alleviate tension and adds to the overall enjoyment of the fast-paced gameplay. The game's absurdity and nostalgic references contribute to a fun atmosphere, though some critiques mention that the humor doesn't always align with the game's execution.
- “The gameplay is fast-paced and satisfying, the art and music ooze style, and there is a brilliantly dark sense of humor throughout.”
- “It's a lot of fun, has a very funny, tongue-in-cheek style throughout the game, and a ton of secrets to find, explore, and combine.”
- “The aesthetic is extremely successful -- the tutorial video is hilarious, the corridors look exactly like they should, and the action is visually distinct.”
atmosphere
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
37%
9%
The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its engaging sound design, pixel graphics, and a soundtrack that enhances the experience, creating a spooky and immersive environment reminiscent of classic titles like System Shock 2. However, others find the atmosphere forgettable and undermined by weak sound effects and repetitive gameplay, leading to a disconnect between the intended ambiance and the actual experience. Overall, while the game captures a nostalgic vibe and has moments of atmospheric brilliance, it struggles to maintain that depth throughout.
- “Great soundtrack, creates great atmosphere.”
- “Sound design nails the atmosphere that the Icarus and its corrupted inhabitants want nothing more than to kill you and surprise you when you least expect it, such as the creepy growls and screams of the different enemy types.”
- “The game actually has a really good atmosphere; it even gets kinda spooky later on.”
- “Atmosphere is very forgettable and the sound barely exists.”
- “The campaign has no story, it's ultra repetitive and lacks atmosphere.”
- “But once you're done noticing all that went into the atmosphere and you focus on the gameplay, Strafe immediately starts to fall apart.”
monetization
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy for "Strafe" involved a successful Kickstarter campaign that provided substantial funding, which appears to have been primarily allocated to marketing rather than game development. While the game's advertising, particularly its live-action ads, received praise for their creativity and appeal, many players felt that the actual product did not live up to the expectations set by the marketing, leading to disappointment regarding its gameplay experience. Overall, the emphasis on marketing over substance has left a mixed impression among users.
- “This game was kickstarted, and while they didn't exactly rake in the money, they did get a pretty substantial amount for this game. Yet it would really seem like they spent most of it on marketing and their 'edgy retro ads.' This game has a few hours of fun to offer until you find yourself getting bored.”
- “Very disappointed that the advertising was 100 times more appealing than the actual product.”
- “And, as much as I loved Pixel Titan's marketing for this game, I don't believe it was made very clear from advertisement alone what this game really was, and it shows.”
grinding
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the procedural generation offers unique runs with varied enemies and weapons, the repetitive nature of the levels can lead to tedium and a sense of chore-like gameplay. Some appreciate the skill-based progression over traditional grinding mechanics, but many still feel that the game becomes monotonous and frustrating over time, particularly in familiar areas. Overall, the enjoyment of grinding is heavily dependent on individual player preferences and tolerance for repetition.
- “This means that the gameplay can actually get really tedious... really fast.”
- “It's just the same things over and over for 12 levels, so grinding through all of that again and again makes the game feel more like a chore than a joy.”
- “A roguelite old school FPS game sounds like a lot of fun, but this game is just way too tedious and boring to be played for extended periods of time.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that despite some graphical issues and bugs, the game successfully evokes strong emotions, particularly a sense of exhilaration and speed, which has been a refreshing experience for them.
- “Look, this game isn't perfect; there are bugs here and there, but damn, it's been a while since a game made me feel so emotionally invested.”