STRIDE: Fates

About

STRIDE: Fates is a single player platformer game. It was developed by Joy Way and was released on May 16, 2024. It received negative reviews from players.

Enhancing everything players love about the freerunning nature of STRIDE, the full-fledged sequel 'Fates' pushes the parkour action formula even further with new story-oriented gameplay. MEET YOUR FATE Raised in the slums of dystopian Airon City, at the very bottom of food chain, you got a golden ticket out. To survive and climb the ladder in elite police forces of SkyChase, you will have to de…

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Single-Player

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39%

Audience ScoreBased on 241 reviews

gameplay26 positive mentions

story17 negative mentions

The parkour mechanics are smooth and enjoyable, providing a fun sense of movement.
The level design offers a variety of environments to explore, enhancing the gameplay experience.
The game has potential for improvement and could become a solid title with future updates.

The voice acting is poor and often feels AI-generated, detracting from the overall experience.
The combat mechanics are clunky and unresponsive, making encounters frustrating.
There are numerous bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, including issues with grabbing objects and navigating the environment.

story
172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
82%
10%
The story in "Stride: Fates" has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing it as generic, poorly executed, and filled with uninspired dialogue and voice acting that feels amateurish or AI-generated. Reviewers noted that the narrative lacks coherence and fails to engage, often feeling like a disjointed collection of missions rather than a cohesive storyline. Overall, the game's storytelling is seen as a significant disappointment, detracting from the gameplay experience.
- “The story is okay and so is the voice acting, but every level is super fun and feels really thought out.”
- “I appreciate the attempt for an indie studio to make a cool story VR game, but this is just poorly executed; I like the idea though.”
- “The plot hasn’t fully captured my interest, although I'm curious to see how it plays out.”
- “Was promising in the first mission, then it dropped off a cliff.”
- “The story that exists isn't really coherent; it forces you into combat instead of playing to its strengths.”
- “Stride: Fates is a deeply embarrassing hodgepodge of amateur hour level design, AI-generated assets and voices, clunky unpolished parkour mechanics, a story and dialogue so genuinely terrible that it's hilarious and a big middle finger to the PCVR market.”
gameplay
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
57%
13%
The gameplay in "Stride: Fates" features strong parkour mechanics that many players find enjoyable, reminiscent of the original game, but is marred by numerous bugs, clunky controls, and frustrating AI interactions. While the combat and movement systems have potential, they are often hindered by poor design choices and repetitive elements, leading to a disjointed experience. Overall, the game struggles to deliver a polished and engaging gameplay experience, leaving many players disappointed.
- “The parkour mechanics are the best I've seen in any VR game, hands down.”
- “Fates has really evolved into a high-quality game with smooth movement and parkour mechanics.”
- “The realistic movement mechanics make running and jumping feel incredibly authentic, especially when perched on the rooftops – it really feels like you're teetering on the edge of a precipice.”
- “Besides, from a gameplay standpoint, when you're stuck in a tedious level for ages, the same soulless AI voices with no emotion or variety going off every five seconds to lore dump some AI-generated spiel becomes one of the most obnoxious experiences imaginable.”
- “It has it all from janky mechanics to cringey dialogue, non-existent enemy AI, and atrocious player funnelling.”
- “The gameplay overall feels sloppy and buggy, and there are a couple of spots you can get soft-locked in.”
graphics
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
65%
21%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the lack of customization options and comparing the visuals unfavorably to mobile graphics, particularly on PC. While some users appreciate the charm and fluidity of the visuals, others describe them as outdated and buggy, with significant discrepancies between promotional screenshots and actual in-game performance. Overall, the consensus suggests that while there are moments of decent visual appeal, the game's graphical fidelity is hampered by technical issues and a lack of options for enhancement.
- “The visuals are solid.”
- “I want to commend the graphics and level design; it's evident that a lot of work went into them.”
- “Graphics are actually pretty nice, looks modern.”
- “The screenshots are in no way representing the real in-game visuals, which have terrible and non-customizable lighting and antialiasing.”
- “The graphics suck - the game looks identical to the Quest and has no settings to change the graphics.”
- “I stopped playing the game after around 1 hour because the mechanics were janky and the graphics on PC are comparable to the Quest One.”
stability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with many users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that significantly impact gameplay, such as issues with climbing mechanics, weapon functionality, and AI behavior. While a few players noted minimal problems, the overall consensus is that the game feels "buggy" and "janky," leading to frustrating experiences and immersion-breaking moments. Many reviewers suggest that the game's current state does not justify its price, as it remains a "buggy mess" that detracts from its potential enjoyment.
- “The climbing is all buggy; my hand always fits in the wrong place on the wall. Normally, I don't care about this kind of thing in games, but in this game, there are times when it doesn't even appear, and it reaches the level of breaking the immersion.”
- “The gameplay overall feels sloppy and buggy, and there are a couple of spots you can get soft-locked in.”
- “Keep in mind this game is £25; this is nowhere near worth £10 with how janky and buggy this game is.”
humor
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
94%
17%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional comedy stemming from poor design choices, clunky mechanics, and subpar voice acting, which some players found amusing despite the overall lack of polish. While certain moments and quirky elements elicited genuine laughter, the game's amateurish execution often led to a more cringe-worthy experience than a comedic one. Overall, players noted that the humor could be entertaining, particularly in its absurdity, but it often felt overshadowed by the game's flaws.
- “It's got lots of funny and creepy stuff, like the level with the vents.”
- “The quirky items, funny voiceovers, it's just... epic!”
- “This game is hilarious!”
- “This game is so clunky it's not funny; there's barely any polish compared to the original Stride.”
- “The attempts at humor fall flat and feel forced, making the experience more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
- “I expected a lot of laughs, but the jokes are stale and the delivery is awkward.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
28%
27%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its quality and ability to enhance realism, while others find it repetitive and underwhelming compared to previous installments. Notably, certain tracks, like the slum jungle music, are highlighted as standout pieces, but overall, the experience is marred by a lack of excitement and engaging gameplay elements.
- “Good music.”
- “The music is also really good.”
- “They've done a great job with the music and sounds, which enhances the realism.”
- “My major issue is the relaxed music and feel are underwhelming compared to the first one's emphasis on speed and pattern recognition, and I find fates less exciting.”
- “- music is repetitive and annoying”
- “The music is just okay.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
10%
30%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and high frame rates on capable hardware, others experience significant issues such as stuttering, visual glitches, and poor AI behavior. Some users noted that the game runs well on lower-end systems, but the lack of graphical settings and intrusive culling detracts from the overall experience.
- “The developers have optimized the game well, ensuring it performs beautifully even on my 2060.”
- “Noticed everything runs smoothly and loads seamlessly.”
- “Performance is great, I'm getting 120 - 144 fps with an insane index res 500% using RTX 3090 and i9 10900k.”
- “No graphical settings exist to make the game look better than it does on Quest, nor to even disable the Quest 3 enhancements for people with performance issues.”
- “- decent optimization effort”
- “My rig has about the same performance in TFLOPS as 15 Quest 3s running in parallel.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The monetization strategy of the studio is widely criticized as exploitative, with many users feeling that their games are mere cash grabs lacking ongoing support or updates. Players express disappointment over the abandonment of previous titles and the focus on cosmetic microtransactions rather than meaningful improvements, leading to a tarnished reputation for the studio. Overall, the sentiment reflects a growing distrust towards the studio's commitment to quality and player satisfaction.
- “Ever since Stride initially became a success back in 2020, Joy Way has slowly tarnished the reputation of the game and themselves as a studio by first constantly delaying updates for (albeit understandable) reworks, but then pushing it to the side to add a lackluster multiplayer mode to try and cash in on cosmetic microtransactions.”
- “All of their games seem to be a quick cash grab. Every game they have made is released and then completely abandoned. I've purchased their other games, and they've received zero bug fixes or quality of life updates in years, which is very much needed for the state they are in.”
- “Ever since Stride initially became a success back in 2020, Joy Way has slowly tarnished the reputation of the game and themselves as a studio by constantly delaying updates for (albeit understandable) reworks, but then pushing it to the side to add a lackluster multiplayer mode to the original Stride to try and cash in on cosmetic microtransactions.”
- “Joy Way had so much potential as a VR studio, but now they have fully shown themselves to be a cheap, lazy, cash-grabbing, untrustworthy, potentially mismanaged bunch of hacks that seemingly cannot take criticism.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly in late-game levels, where repetitive gameplay and uninspired AI dialogue contribute to a negative experience. Additionally, frequent crashes exacerbate the annoyance, making the grind feel even more burdensome.
- “But quickly devolves into a tedious mess, especially in late game levels. Then there are the constant crashes; in one playthrough, the game crashed no less than a dozen times for no reason.”
- “From a gameplay standpoint, when you're stuck in a tedious level for ages, the same soulless AI voices with no emotion or variety going off every five seconds to lore dump some AI-generated spiel becomes one of the most obnoxious experiences imaginable.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users noting its strong visual elements that evoke a sense of immersion similar to that of "Mirror's Edge." Additionally, the overall ambiance complements the engaging combat, climbing, and shooting mechanics, enhancing the player's experience.
- “The visual atmosphere is reminiscent of Mirror's Edge, creating a unique and immersive experience.”
- “Yes, the combat, climbing, shooting mechanics, and atmosphere are all very good.”
- “The visual atmosphere is reminiscent of Mirror's Edge, but it lacks the depth and immersion that made that game so captivating.”
- “The game tries to create a unique atmosphere, but it ultimately feels flat and uninspired.”
- “While the graphics are decent, the overall atmosphere fails to evoke any real emotion or connection to the game world.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
The original Stride is praised for its varied and fast-paced level design, which enhances replayability, along with well-executed pistol combat that adds to the overall experience.
- “The original Stride offers much more varied, fast-paced level design and replayability, along with well-done pistol combat.”
- “The game's replayability is impressive, with different strategies and paths to explore each time you play.”
- “I love how each playthrough feels unique, thanks to the diverse choices and outcomes available.”
- “If anything, buy the original Stride, which offers much more varied, fast-paced level design, replayability, actually well-done pistol combat, and much more.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players expressing frustration over gameplay mechanics that disrupt their intended actions, while others convey a strong aversion to certain AI interactions, highlighting a desire for a more immersive and less jarring experience.
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is noted for its depth and complexity, with players appreciating the intricate backstories and evolving relationships among characters. The design of characters is complemented by the map design, which enhances the narrative experience and allows for meaningful interactions. Overall, the combination of well-crafted characters and immersive environments contributes significantly to the game's storytelling.