Straya
- November 16, 2023
- Ayrtech
Get on Steam"Straya" is an action-packed first-person shooter set in 1960's Australia, focusing on surviving dangerous wildlife while hunting, collecting, and exploring an open world. Traverse the land by foot, horse, chopper, and boats, collecting bush tucker to craft elixirs, panning for gold, and fishing in creeks. Immerse in Dreamtime stories and uncover special items through jobs and location discoveries.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a fantastic atmosphere and accurately represents Australian wildlife, providing a fun and immersive experience.
- It runs smoothly and looks great, with a variety of activities to engage in, such as hunting, fishing, and gold panning.
- The developer is responsive to feedback and actively working on updates, which shows a commitment to improving the game.
- The game suffers from a lack of content and can feel repetitive, with some missions being vague and frustrating to complete.
- There are significant design issues, such as losing weapons upon death and a bare-bones options menu that limits customization.
- Gameplay can be janky, with stiff animations, bugs, and performance issues that detract from the overall experience.
- story17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as lacking depth and clarity, with vague mission directions leading to frustration during gameplay. While the initial experience is enjoyable and the setting offers a variety of missions and activities, players often find themselves lost or hindered by glitches and unclear objectives. Overall, the narrative feels more like an open-world experience than a cohesive story, with some players appreciating the adventure but others criticizing the execution.
“There's a fair bit to do: main missions, collectibles, and side activities.”
“Main missions take you on wacky adventures all over Australia.”
“It has a well thought out series of missions which take you to various places around the country, each with unique ways to get through and using various vehicles and tools - I recommend this game for some good entertainment!”
“If there is one complaint I have with this game, it's with the vague directions given to you in story missions.”
“Probably a good 2 hours at least of my current playtime has been spent trawling through mission areas to find a tiny macguffin on the ground that was in plain sight but very easy to miss if you don't know to look for it.”
“There's no story, just a good ol' open world experience.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of addictive exploration and crafting mechanics, but also point out significant issues with combat mechanics and glitches that detract from the experience. While the core gameplay of wandering and shooting is enjoyable, players express a desire for improved mini-games, more depth in survival mechanics, and a reconsideration of the penalty system for dying. Overall, the game shows potential but requires refinement in several areas to enhance player satisfaction.
“The core gameplay of wandering around and shooting everything that moves before it kills you is very fun, if overwhelming at times.”
“Crafting mechanic and collecting scattered plants is nice but I want more (maybe an option to live completely off-land).”
“There are, beyond the superficial silliness present in the trailer, substantive gameplay elements present which communicate there is a serious game being developed here.”
“The first impressions are good and the game is quite addictive; unfortunately, in later, more combat-oriented missions, you discover the combat mechanics are not that fun.”
“Loved it for the first 10 minutes, but lost my gun and a mission due to glitching bugs. Definitely should have observed more gameplay before buying this.”
“The mechanic of losing your first aid items, weapons, and ammo upon dying needs to be removed.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with players noting their eye-friendly quality and strong atmospheric elements. However, there are concerns about optimization, as significant framerate issues and input delays persist even on lower settings. While the visuals are appealing, some players feel that improvements are needed, particularly in sound effects, to enhance overall immersion.
“It can be fun to play, the map is really big with a great atmosphere, and the graphics are very eye-friendly. A nice dog accompanies you, and it looks like there are quite a few quests; looting is a nice addition.”
“The game seems to run on Unreal Engine 4; the graphics settings are super scalable from low to extreme.”
“The graphics, overall, are nice; the ambiance is on point, and the Australian creatures are relentless.”
“I can forgive the graphics, but the sound effects from the guns alone are just sad and break immersion.”
“Could definitely use a bit of optimization graphically (even on the lowest settings, there's still significant framerate issues and input delay), but the concept is great and I think it has a lot of potential.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its expansive and immersive environment, featuring eye-friendly graphics and a distinct Australian feel. Players appreciate the dynamic elements, such as storms and ambient sounds, which enhance the experience beyond typical shooting mechanics, creating a rich and engaging world filled with quests and exploration.
“It's a very good game with insane atmosphere and things to see.”
“Absolutely love the atmosphere, it feels Australian.”
“What I mean by atmosphere are storms that come in, and ambiance, which reflect Stalker, accompanying the threats and gunplay that feel more akin to Far Cry 2.”
“There is more atmosphere than just an Unreal Engine shooting gallery.”
“What I mean by atmosphere are storms that come in, and ambiance, which, as I said, reflect Stalker, accompanying the threats and gunplay that feel more akin to Far Cry 2.”
- stability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some users report it runs smoothly with minimal issues, others experience frequent glitches and bugs. However, many acknowledge that for an early access title, it is surprisingly stable.
“Runs great.”
“For early access, this is surprisingly bug-free.”
“The game is incredibly buggy; every 6 seconds there's a glitch.”
“I experience constant crashes that ruin the gameplay experience.”
“The stability issues make it nearly unplayable at times.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that performance is generally excellent, but some experience significant drops in performance during nighttime and when post-processing effects are enabled during the day.
“Performance is fantastic.”
“The game runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware.”
“I love how the developers have optimized the loading times; it makes for a seamless experience.”
“I'm experiencing lackluster performance at nighttime on all settings, and post-processing really takes its toll during the daytime.”
“The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, especially in crowded areas, making it frustrating to play.”
“Even with the lowest settings, the optimization issues lead to frequent stuttering and lag, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The absence of background music enhances the immersive survival experience, keeping players engaged and focused on the tension of the game. Reviewers appreciate the incorporation of indigenous Australian cryptids, suggesting that the soundtrack could benefit from additional cultural elements to further enrich the atmosphere.
“The absence of background music really immerses the player in the moment, reminding you that this isn't glorified questing; it's survival.”
“I love the use of indigenous cryptids from Australian folklore, which adds a unique cultural depth to the game's atmosphere.”
“The music perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the tension and excitement during critical moments.”
“The lack of background music really immerses the player in the moment, reminding you that this isn't glorified questing; it's survival.”
“The absence of music makes the experience feel empty and lacking in atmosphere.”
“While the game has great potential, the silence during gameplay detracts from the overall experience.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is introduced through the cheerful sounds of kookaburras and a didgeridoo, setting a lighthearted tone as players embark on basic quests. However, the limited variety in NPC models detracts from the overall comedic experience.
“You start the game greeted by kookaburras laughing and a didgeridoo playing, which sets a humorous tone right from the beginning.”
“The quirky dialogue and funny interactions with NPCs keep the gameplay light-hearted and entertaining.”
“The game's humor shines through in its absurd quests and hilarious character antics, making every moment enjoyable.”
