Strife: Veteran Edition

About

"Strife: Veteran Edition" is a remastered version of the 1996 FPS-RPG game, featuring updated graphics such as high resolutions, dynamic lighting, and widescreen support. The game includes new features like rebindable controls, Steam achievements, and trading cards. It also completes missing options from the original game, such as the 'Capture the Chalice' multiplayer mode and special HUD for the Torpedo weapon. Immerse in this intense quest filled with role-playing adventure and 3D action.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 483 reviews

story89 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Strife combines FPS gameplay with RPG elements, offering a unique experience that was ahead of its time.
The game features a compelling story with interesting characters and voice acting, enhancing immersion.
The Veteran Edition includes modern enhancements like improved graphics, objective markers, and multiple save slots, making it accessible for new players.

The level design can be confusing and maze-like, leading to frustration in navigation.
Some weapons feel underwhelming or ineffective, and the combat can become repetitive.
The game can be punishingly difficult, especially on higher difficulties, with scarce health and ammo at times.

story
305 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
70%
1%
The story of "Strife" is a notable departure from typical first-person shooters of its time, featuring a rich narrative that intertwines with gameplay through quests, character interactions, and branching choices. Set in a dystopian world, players engage in a mission to combat an oppressive regime, with the plot unfolding through immersive dialogue and voice acting, enhancing player investment. While some aspects of the story may feel dated or simplistic by modern standards, it remains a compelling and engaging experience, particularly for fans of the genre.
- “When I went on a quest, it advanced a story – giving me a level of immersion I hadn’t yet experienced with a game like this.”
- “Strife is a remarkable game that pushes Doom's primitive engine to its absolute limit, featuring some gigantic maps, a complex mission-based structure, and a compelling setting.”
- “The story is strong, with maybe two dozen voiced characters.”
- “The story gets a pass because shooters back then basically didn't have one at all, while Strife has NPCs with dialogue and an actual plot, which isn't terrible, but nothing to write home about either.”
- “If you're expecting side quests a la Deus Ex or even a branching story, you'll be disappointed.”
- “The story is, for the most part, well told, even if it's not always well paced.”
gameplay
107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
59%
4%
The gameplay of "Strife" is a notable blend of classic first-person shooter mechanics reminiscent of "Doom" and light RPG elements, offering a unique experience for its time. While the game features fluid movement, a variety of weapons, and some innovative mechanics like stealth and dialogue choices, many players find the execution to be clunky and the RPG components underutilized. Overall, it remains an interesting historical title that showcases ambitious design, though it may not fully satisfy modern expectations.
- “The gameplay is awesome, and surprisingly modern FPS games could learn a thing or two about level design and mission structure from Strife.”
- “Strife delivered an amazing gameplay experience that, to my mind, was unmatched at the time.”
- “It's really kind of elegant how the game combines straightforward FPS gameplay with an actual engaging plot and minor RPG elements like dialogue choices, a single cohesive world, and even an economy that allows you to use gold on things like healing, weapons, items, etc.”
- “The shooting mechanics are some of the worst out there.”
- “It could've been groundbreaking for the time, but it's just not enough to make up for the clunky gameplay.”
- “Many of its ideas are ones I enjoy a lot in other FPS games, but the execution just isn't there in Strife; its RPG mechanics are a rarely utilized side feature and it's hard to even call its stealth... stealth, given your lack of options and ways to stay concealed.”
graphics
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
69%
3%
The graphics of "Strife" are generally considered dated, reminiscent of the original Doom, but have received some enhancements in the veteran edition, including improved resolutions, dynamic lighting, and customizable effects. While some players appreciate the nostalgic pixelated aesthetic and comic-style artwork, others note that the visuals do not compare favorably to contemporary titles. Overall, the game maintains a unique charm with its retro graphics, appealing to fans of classic FPS and RPG genres.
- “The graphics are amazing for 256 colors; the mugshots are perfect for the cartoonish and comical feel of the game, and the art is good while in action too.”
- “Strife has a dark and intriguing story full of great characters and amazing voice acting for the time, along with good music and an awesome art style.”
- “The updated graphics are great, with FOV options no less.”
- “The graphics are old as dirt, but believe it or not, the game still holds up and this port adds much-needed modern improvements like controller support and key rebinding.”
- “The game was criticized for not having equivalent graphics to its competitors, like Duke Nukem 3D, therefore seeming outdated, and never getting the chance it deserved, ultimately being forgotten about.”
- “While Strife didn’t wow with graphics, it gave us a game that made you think and shoot.”
music
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
44%
13%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its catchy and atmospheric qualities, while others criticize it for being repetitive and poorly executed, often due to its reliance on MIDI technology. Many players appreciate the nostalgic feel of the soundtrack, noting that it enhances the gameplay experience, despite some tracks being described as annoying or bland. Overall, while the music has its highlights, it is often seen as a product of its time, with varying quality throughout.
- “The game runs and looks great, and the excellent soundtrack is reproduced perfectly.”
- “A few other great things that Strife has include good weapon variety, lots of brutal gore, decent voice acting (for the most part), brilliant comic book style art, challenging enemies, and a fantastic soundtrack.”
- “The music is pretty enjoyable, but the music for the town or the power plant and the voice acting is fun in a hammy way.”
- “The music is terrible.”
- “The only bad thing about this game is the soundtrack, as it just sounds very bland and put together with very little effort.”
- “The music is a failed blend of classical and electronic, though this is at fault of using MIDI for the soundtrack.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
8%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by a rich blend of futuristic-medieval elements and a post-apocalyptic setting that evokes a sense of both humor and oppression. Players appreciate the detailed environments, immersive world-building, and well-executed voice acting, which contribute to a compelling mood that enhances the overall experience. The game successfully balances exploration and narrative, making it a standout choice for fans of atmospheric shooters with RPG mechanics.
- “This game has a great mood and atmosphere and excellent voiced dialogue.”
- “Strife walks the line between dark humor and oppressive atmosphere perfectly.”
- “The game takes us to a world that is somewhat futuristic-medieval, which, at certain points, reminds one of Star Wars, in an atmosphere characterized by a typical post-apocalyptic situation where humans find themselves facing invaders ready to reshape and subjugate them.”
- “Strife has more of an RPG atmosphere, and features a persistent semi-open world with stores to shop at, people to talk to, voice acted dialogue, and even a few side quests.”
- “What's new to this version of the game is it supports multiplayer, new atmosphere, still got more to see.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in Strife is a mix of dark comedy and nostalgic cheesiness, with players appreciating its 90s vibe and amusing moments. While some find the humor to be a bit outdated, others enjoy its quirky style and the blend of gameplay elements reminiscent of classic titles. Overall, the game successfully balances oppressive themes with lightheartedness, making it a unique experience.
- “Strife walks the line between dark humor and oppressive atmosphere perfectly.”
- “It had me laughing, and I love how cheesy it is.”
- “It's got the movement and shooting of Doom, the hub world of Zelda games, the humor and style of Comix Zone.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
The game offers significant replayability, with multiple endings and different routes to explore, encouraging players to experience all variations. Additionally, the inclusion of achievements and Steam cards enhances the incentive to replay, making it more engaging for players seeking to maximize their experience. However, some users noted a lack of replay value despite the presence of multiple endings.
- “There are 3 different endings, so there is replayability to see all of them.”
- “No replay value despite having multiple endings.”
- “Achievements add some replay value.”
- “It's even got replay value; you can take different routes and get different endings.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience, with some maps feeling tedious and overly complex, leading to frustration during navigation and extended gameplay. Despite the challenges, the engaging story helps maintain motivation to push through the grind.
- “I have to reiterate this isn't a typical FPS, and this comes with the baggage of some over-ambition and frustration along the way, as I feel some maps are downright tedious to navigate and some just drag on forever to finish.”
- “But get ready for some maze-like maps with tedious switch hunts.”
- “By the end, the game does get a little crazy with the number of enemies set against you, which seems a bit tedious, but the story is compelling enough to keep you moving forward.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Overall, users report mixed experiences with stability; while some have encountered persistent issues despite troubleshooting efforts, others note that the updated version has successfully resolved many of the original's bugs and glitches, resulting in a smoother experience without crashes.
- “No glitches or crashes so far.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any interruptions.”
- “I've experienced consistent performance throughout my playtime.”
- “Apparently I'm not the only one having this issue, but none of the troubleshooting tips worked.”
- “It's essentially an updated version of Strife that fixes the many bugs and glitches the original had.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players highlight the emotional depth of the game, particularly through the supportive relationship with a radio companion, which enhances the experience and resonates deeply, often leading to strong emotional reactions. The improvements made to the game have also contributed to a more polished and engaging emotional journey.
- “Here, you are one man against many, but you have friends to support you. Most importantly, you have your friend over the radio, giving you emotional support. Listen to her words well!”
- “It didn't and I cried like a baby.”
- “They've smoothed out many of the rough elements of the original Strife, added some useful and cool new features, and generally done a great job at making Strife look and play better without really touching the game itself.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
The game's optimization has been criticized for choppy textures, inconsistent level design, and poor aiming mechanics with projectile weapons. Additionally, players report issues with the multiplayer mode and subpar performance on Steam, with some unable to achieve a stable 60fps despite solid controller functionality.
- “Performance-wise, I can't run 60 FPS, but the controller works solid.”
- “The optimization in this game allows for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the settings to enhance performance without sacrificing quality.”
- “The negatives I have are some choppy textures, occasionally confusing level design, shoddy aiming with projectile weapons, a dead multiplayer mode, and bad Steam overlay performance while playing.”
- “Performance-wise, I can't run 60fps, and the controller works solid.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect has been criticized for being overly promotional, with users noting that it primarily serves as a link to advertise a new System Shock port rather than enhancing the gaming experience.