Strata
- May 29, 2014
- Graveck
Get on Steam"Strata is a single-player action game with stunning graphics and awesome music, offering a unique puzzle experience. The goal is to layer colored ribbons in a specific pattern, with hundreds of challenging levels to solve. Players can aim to perfect each grid by completing it without pulling a ribbon back, in this simple yet addicting game for all ages."
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
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Windows
Linux
Mobile Platform
Reviews
- Strata offers a unique and relaxing puzzle experience with beautiful visuals and calming music, making it a great way to unwind.
- The game features a wide variety of puzzles that gradually increase in difficulty, providing a satisfying challenge without becoming frustrating.
- Players appreciate the simple yet engaging mechanics that encourage strategic thinking and creativity in solving puzzles.
- Many players find the gameplay repetitive, as the core mechanics do not introduce new techniques or variations as the game progresses.
- There are several bugs reported, particularly in the menu navigation and achievement tracking, which can detract from the overall experience.
- Some users feel that the puzzles can become too easy once a strategy is established, leading to a lack of challenge in later levels.
- music25 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and relaxing qualities, featuring minimalist piano melodies that enhance the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the ambient soundscapes that dynamically respond to their actions, creating a soothing atmosphere perfect for puzzle-solving. While some find the musical notes can become overwhelming during fast-paced play, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack beautifully complements the game's aesthetic and promotes a zen-like state.
“The music in the game is very beautiful and calming, and the shapes and colors really are nice to look at.”
“The music/sound is minimal, but pleasant, consisting of ethereal piano flourishes in time with your choices of moves.”
“The music is minimalist but peaceful.”
“Strata is very relaxing: I'm not sure if it's the music (you hear a piano chord play each time you roll out a ribbon and a gentle tune when you finish a puzzle).”
“Each little action results in relaxed musical riffs which set a peaceful tone.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist and elegant aesthetic that enhances the meditative experience, with many users praising the simplicity and beauty of the visuals. While the art style is generally well-received, some players noted issues with bugs that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the combination of pleasing visuals and ambient sound design creates a relaxing yet engaging atmosphere for players.
“Pleasant and simple graphics with a minimalist feel that add a meditative feel to the game.”
“Everything from the graphics to the music, to the gameplay is incredibly zen and gives you peace of mind while still managing to engage you.”
“The underlying puzzle in this game is great, and the aesthetic is pleasing, but it's all let down by the sheer number of bugs that the developer is unwilling to fix.”
“Strata is aesthetically minimalist but still manages an elegant beauty.”
“Very reasonable price, and simplistic yet endearing gameplay and artwork.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally enjoyable and elegant, offering a zen-like experience that keeps players engaged despite some repetitiveness and a lack of new mechanics as the game progresses. While the interface has notable bugs, the simple and beautiful art style enhances the overall experience, making it appealing even if the gameplay can become monotonous over time. Overall, players appreciate the low price and find the gameplay satisfying, though it may not evolve significantly.
“Then it hit me, there is a simple mechanical strategy to solve literally every puzzle of this format regardless of the size or number of colors.”
“From a year ago when it started on Greenlight, it has come out as something truly zen without sacrificing gameplay for its simple and beautiful art style.”
“Everything from the graphics to the music, to the gameplay is incredibly zen and gives you peace of mind while still managing to engage you.”
“While I've never had much issue with the gameplay (aside from what I think is fat fingers on my part, but I could be wrong), the interface is bugged to hell.”
“I kept hoping that in the later sets the game would throw in some new spin or twist on the mechanics; unless it appears in the final 6x6, it never comes.”
“Strata was fun for the first ~5 minutes while I still got to know the game mechanics and figured out how it works, but then it fell into a state where the levels got bigger and bigger, but I just kept repeating what I did before, again and again.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game exhibits stability issues, including a buggy menu system that can freeze when navigating too quickly and occasional glitches where achievements are incorrectly awarded. Users recommend waiting before pressing the escape key to avoid further complications.
“The menu system is a bit buggy (wait a second before pressing the escape key) and overlong.”
“The game is a bit buggy at times; for example, it sometimes freezes when you move around menus or levels too quickly, and some achievements pop up when you haven't rightfully earned them yet.”
“Glitches and bugs are prevalent throughout the game.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players note a moderate level of replayability, primarily driven by the desire to perfect puzzles, though some express a belief that once completed, the game may not warrant further play.
“There is some replayability since you'll want to go back and try to 'perfect' some of the puzzles.”
“The game is highly replayable; I have a feeling that once I finish it, I will want to play it again.”
“Some replayability too since you'll want to go back and try to 'perfect' some of the puzzles.”
“Replayable = 4 (I have a feeling that once I finish the game, I will be done with it).”
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story is appreciated for its calming and puzzle-oriented nature, providing a relaxing experience for players. However, some users have reported minor bugs related to menu navigation, such as overlapping text and interface issues, though these do not affect the overall game state.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find that grinding in the game is relatively easy on a 2x2 size but becomes more tedious and challenging as the size increases, leading to a more impressive but potentially frustrating experience.
“The game is pretty easy while playing on a 2x2 size, but it becomes more tedious and impressive with a wider size.”
“Grinding feels like a never-ending chore that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay engaged and motivated to continue playing.”
