Strife: Veteran Edition

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Strife: Veteran Edition is a single player and multiplayer role playing game. It was developed by Rogue Entertainment and was released on December 12, 2014. It received very positive reviews from players.

The Original Strife is back! Hailed as the original FPS-RPG game that spawned countless imitators, Strife: Veteran Edition is a love letter to the classic from 1996. New Features Include: Support for high resolutions, with proper aspect ratio. OpenGL for video backend to provide portability and support for vertical sync. Dynamic lighting and bloom Widescreen support. Ability to freely rebin…

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 515 reviews

story95 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Strife: Veteran Edition successfully modernizes the classic 1996 game with improved graphics, controls, and quality of life features while preserving the original gameplay and story.
The game combines FPS mechanics with RPG elements, offering a unique experience with quests, NPC interactions, and multiple endings that enhance player engagement.
The voice acting and comic-style cutscenes add personality and charm to the game, making it an enjoyable narrative experience.

The level design can be confusing and maze-like, leading to frustration in navigation and progression, especially in areas like the sewers.
Some weapons feel underwhelming or ineffective, and the combat can become tedious due to the high damage output of enemies and limited ammo availability.
The RPG elements are relatively shallow, with limited character progression and choices that don't significantly impact gameplay beyond a few key moments.

story
330 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
70%
1%
The story of "Strife" is set in a dystopian future dominated by a fanatical religious organization, where players assume the role of a mercenary joining a resistance movement. It features a well-paced narrative with engaging characters, voice acting, and a blend of RPG elements that allow for player choices and branching paths, although some aspects may feel dated. While the plot is not groundbreaking, it effectively immerses players in its world, making it a notable example of early narrative-driven shooters.
- “The game’s story is set in a dystopian future controlled by a fanatical religious organization known as 'the order.' Players take on the role of a mercenary who joins a resistance movement to overthrow the oppressive regime.”
- “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.”
- “This is a story-focused shooter with light RPG elements, something that seemed to me like the Doom engine would not be capable of—the player's stats increase as they progress, memorable characters and locations are visited and often revisited, and the player can even make some limited choices that lead to different outcomes in the end.”
- “The story is pretty basic, but it gets the job done, and the voice acting injects a lot of character.”
- “The story is just sort of normal, nothing to write home about.”
- “If you're expecting side quests a la Deus Ex or even a branching story, you'll be disappointed.”
gameplay
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
63%
3%
The gameplay of "Strife: Veteran Edition" is a notable blend of classic first-person shooter mechanics reminiscent of Doom, enhanced with light RPG elements such as exploration, dialogue choices, and a hub world. While the game introduces innovative features for its time, including stealth mechanics and interconnected levels, some players find the execution lacking, with dated RPG elements and clunky gameplay detracting from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the remastered version retains the engaging core gameplay and atmosphere that contributed to its cult status, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of retro FPS games.
- “As the last commercial game built on the Doom engine, Strife was ahead of its time in merging traditional FPS mechanics with role-playing elements, creating a unique hybrid experience that distinguished it from its contemporaries.”
- “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.”
- “All the guns other than the assault rifle suck, the game feels like a chore and slog, the stealth mechanic doesn't even make sense and barely seems to work, and I'm 2 hours into the game and now the devs thought an endless maze of sewers with environmental poison hazards would be a fun thing to navigate.”
- “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
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
70%
3%
The graphics of "Strife" maintain a nostalgic pixel-art aesthetic that effectively conveys its dystopian setting, though they are often described as dated compared to contemporary titles. The game features a mix of 2D animated sprites and comic-style artwork, which some players appreciate for its unique charm, while others note that the visuals can feel blocky and simplistic. The recent veteran edition offers enhanced graphics and modern controls, allowing players to experience the game with improved visuals while still retaining the original's retro appeal.
- “Visually, Strife retains its classic pixel-art aesthetic, which evokes a sense of nostalgia while effectively conveying its dystopian setting.”
- “Strife is a very interesting FPS classic when it comes to the environments; it's a mixture of futuristic and renaissance art styles that are just beautiful to look at.”
- “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.”
- “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
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
48%
12%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its catchy and atmospheric qualities, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth. Many users note that the MIDI soundtrack, though nostalgic and occasionally enjoyable, can feel artificial and inconsistent in quality. Overall, while some tracks enhance the gameplay experience, others detract from it, leading to a varied reception of the game's musical elements.
- “The soundtrack and ambient sounds contribute to the immersive mood, heightening tension during combat and adding weight to quieter narrative moments.”
- “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 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 variable in quality, with some tunes adding to the intensity of combat, and some becoming incredibly repetitive after a while; the music in the sewer levels is especially grating.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
15%
21%
The atmosphere in the game is highly praised for its careful design, offering a variety of environments that evoke a rich, immersive experience, from industrial settings to post-apocalyptic landscapes. Reviewers highlight the engaging mood, effective voice acting, and a blend of dark humor with oppressive themes, creating a unique ambiance reminiscent of both futuristic and medieval elements. Overall, the game successfully captures a compelling atmosphere that enhances its storytelling and gameplay, making it a standout choice for fans of classic shooters with RPG mechanics.
- “The environments, though limited by the original engine, are carefully designed to provide variety and atmosphere, from industrial complexes to desolate wastelands.”
- “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 funny moments that balance the game's oppressive atmosphere. While some find the humor outdated, others enjoy its quirky charm and comic style, likening it to classic titles. Overall, the game elicits laughter, though opinions on its music vary.
- “Strife walks the line between dark humor and oppressive atmosphere perfectly.”
- “It's got the movement and shooting of Doom, the hub world of Zelda games, the humor and style of Comix Zone.”
- “It had me laughing and I love how cheesy it is, but the music is bad xd.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the multiple endings and different routes that encourage replay, others feel it lacks significant replay value. Features like Steam cards and achievements enhance the experience for some, but opinions vary on how much they contribute to overall replayability.
- “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 repetitive nature of certain tasks and overwhelming enemy encounters, the engaging story helps maintain player motivation to continue.
- “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.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
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 a non-functional multiplayer mode and subpar performance on Steam, with some unable to achieve 60fps despite solid controller support.
- “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.”
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 overall experience. Many express that the narrative and character connections evoke strong feelings, with some even reporting tears during impactful moments. Overall, the improvements made to the game have successfully preserved its emotional core while enhancing gameplay.
- “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.”
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 project rather than enhancing the gaming experience.
- “And it's just a link to their site advertising their new System Shock port.”

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Strife: Veteran Edition is a role playing game.

Strife: Veteran Edition is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

Strife: Veteran Edition was released on December 12, 2014.

Strife: Veteran Edition was developed by Rogue Entertainment.

Strife: Veteran Edition has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

Strife: Veteran Edition is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Star Wars: Dark Forces, Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster, System Shock, Doom 64, Quake and others.

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