After sinking a solid two hours into the Stray Gods demo, I’m totally blown away. It’s absolutely unlike any game I’ve ever experienced before. And honestly, would we expect anything less from BioWare’s genius storyteller, David Gaier?
Background
David Gaier is known for taking storytelling to new heights. As the chief wordsmith behind Dragon Age games and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, he left his job at BeamDog behind and an idea sprouted. A game with an intricate narrative and dialogue-driven gameplay, appealing to unique storytelling and aesthetics. And thus Summerfall Studios came into existence. The team promptly began exploring the idea of designing a game inspired by musical themes, resulting in what we now know as Stray Gods.
What is Stray Gods?
Stray Gods is an immersive narrative game that sings to the rhythm of music, where your choices spin the tale. You step into the shoes of Grace, a bright-eyed 20-something who’s traded college life for uncertainty. Then things take a wild twist when a Greek deity takes her last breath in Grace’s arms and bestows her powers onto our protagonist. Suddenly, it’s up to you, as Grace, to convince Olympus’ high gods of your blamelessness while untangling the mystery surrounding the slain goddess.
Gameplay
In this game, the entire experience centers around your choices – who you align yourself with, how you handle situations, and the decisions you make. Right from the start, you’re faced with a crucial decision: what kind of person will Grace be? You have three options to choose from:
Clever – “Sometimes you need to think your way out of a problem right? This Grace is sneakier, smarter, and witty.”
Kickass – “In your face! This Grace is very punk rock and not afraid to get reckless when it’s called for.”
Charming – “This is Grace with soul and charisma! She tries to do the right thing, and everyone likes her more for it”
When I opted for Clever Grace as my character choice, I gained access to exclusive dialogue options that added an extra layer of depth to the gameplay. It felt great to outsmart the surrounding characters while ensuring things unfolded according to my desires. For instance, when accused of murdering the Goddess, instead of resorting to yelling or crying, I chose a more strategic approach by arguing my innocence—a delightful treat that empowered me as a player. I relished playing Grace’s character but with the freedom to shape her responses based on my own decisions rather than being limited by pre-determined traits.
Undoubtedly, the most challenging aspect of the gameplay lies in making split-second choices during duets and musical performances. These quick-timer choices require players to select from three dialogue options within 10 seconds—an endeavor that may prove difficult for slow readers. Fortunately, the creators have mitigated this issue by keeping the options succinct so players can swiftly make their decision without sacrificing precious reading time.
Romance
It looks like there will be four different romance options for you to explore. You have the option of whether to engage in these romantic storylines – it’s entirely up to you. Interestingly, who you decide to have a romance with will impact the outcome of the overall story. How cool is that? I didn’t see any actual romance in the Stray Gods demo, except for a cheeky line directed at my best friend Freddie. However, from what I gather, it seems like your potential love interests include Freddie, Pan, Apollo, and maybe even Persephone. While I didn’t get too much time with them in the Stray Gods demo, each one seemed intriguing and promised to bring a unique twist, especially considering their LGBTQ+ friendly nature.
A Rockstar Aesthetic
In terms of this video game’s artistry, it was the hand-drawn illustrations that truly caught my attention – particularly the character designs. Each character embodies the essence of a different music genre’s lead vocalist. Apollo gives off an 80s rock band vibe with his wavy blond hair and unbuttoned shirt. Pan possesses sleek style and exudes coolness like a jazz group leader would. Freddie dons a wide-brimmed hat and skinny ripped jeans that scream indie breakout star in waiting. What enhances their whimsical appeal even further is how their singing style aligns perfectly with their image. Beyond the character designs lies an overall stunning aesthetic; the artwork could easily adorn an album cover or music poster art. Even the menu for the Stray Gods demo mimics posters plastered on walls for added effectivity.
The Music
The game’s emphasis on music’s role in narrative, aesthetics, and gameplay brought immense pressure to create outstanding tunes. Fortunately, they made a wise choice in selecting a composer who possessed the necessary expertise. Austin Wintory boasts an extensive track record in composing music for video games and he certainly rose to the occasion for this particular project.
The game’s extensive choices meant Wintory had double the workload to compose music, evident in its rich variety. However, his compositions are nothing short of breathtaking. With lyrics like “But if I build a (sail), can I trust the wind to guide me?” the personal journeys of the characters deeply resonated with me.
Furthermore, having an exceptional vocal ensemble only adds to their overall success. Laura Bailey voices Grace, known for Abby in The Last of Us Part II and Jaina Proudmoore in World of Warcraft. Apollo is famous for Joel in The Last of Us and Booker DeWitt in BioShock Infinite. The rest of the cast adds their wealth of experience to the up-and-coming studio’s remarkable lineup.
Should I Buy It Though?
Absolutely. As long as it stays within a reasonable price range for its playtime such as $20-$25, I am all about it. The game is obviously an impressive feat and deserves the money it gets from its launch. I’m fascinated by what the game will do to the gaming world and if it will be successful enough to launch its own new genre. And of course, I want to see if the narrative aspect will have the payoff I hope it does.
Edit: Upon release of Stray Gods, it has come to my attention that the game is only about 3 hours long with a $30 price tag. With that in mind, I would change my suggestion to buy it when it’s on sale.
As always, please wishlist the game on Steam as this always helps creators.
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