Strangeland

Strangeland is a hauntingly beautiful game that drops you into a nightmarish landscape of doomed souls resigned to their fate, antagonistic doppelgangers who torment you at every turn, tortured victims held behind bars or in glass jars, and masked characters blissfully indifferent to the horrors around them. Every scene in the game is lovingly crafted, with detailed writing, atmospheric music, and rich imagery. The variety, attention to detail, and fresh dialogue kept the game engaging even as you loop back though these scenes time and again while solving puzzles. The gameplay benefits from a recent trend away from dead ends, while the puzzles themselves will keep casual adventure gamers engaged. I suspect seasoned adventure gamers will speed-run through the game in just an hour or two, but more casual gamers like myself will still find a substantial game to enjoy. I do sympathize with those that found some of the writing a little self-indulgent. Some characters seem to exist for the sole purpose of throwing as many classic literary and video game references into a single sentence as possible. This does fit with the theme of the game, where everyone seems to have a deep understanding of Stangeland, but only share just enough to let you take the next step. But I also suspect these characters exist to scratch a personal itch by the designers to draw connections between as many works of art as they can, like the quintessential TV detective creating a web of red strings between photos and newspaper clippings pinned to the wall. However, the annotation mode provides anyone interested with a detailed explanation of the dialogue references. Fortunately, Strangeland includes a phone operator, and by dialing zero on the easily accessible payphone, you get a clue as to the next path to take or be given the answer to more complex riddles. Overall Strangeland provides a rich story through the lens of an accessible and enjoyable adventure game.

A really intriguing, unconventionally structured experience. Possibly too alienating/abstract for some? Though don't get me wrong, I think the game is great and I'm thrilled to see hard themes and nonlinear/obscure storytelling in a commercial game, especially handled well. I suspect this will age well. I mean this is probably the first time I've heard Lawrence Ferlinghetti referenced in an adventure game! But it is an obscure nightmare come to life (Wormwood Studios said one goal was to "make meaning through metaphors of inarticulable grief"), and that's important to note if you're going into this otherwise blind. My first instinct was to call it experimental, but that's all in the loose narrative approach. It's not experimental in playstyle, which is very player friendly aside from a handful of less-than-clear objectives. But even then, there's a built-in hint system that keeps you from getting too stuck. As long as you're paying attention, this game won't lose you. Impeccably grotesque style. Crisp, oozing graphics. The mood and approach is a mix of Sanitarium, Planescape, Silent Hill 2, and, remarkably, Monkey Island 2. Abe Goldfarb must have had a blast voice acting like half the cast.

What first caught my eye about the game was the aesthetic – it goes for a “weird” “unsettling” kind of imagery – there’s some of the H.R. Giger-y biological shennanigans going on at one point, and prior to that you go around a crazy carnival setting of sort. The graphics do well to compliment the story and setting of the game in my opinion. But what is the game about? It’s difficult to talk about it in detail without spoilers, but let’s just say it’s the kind of story that delves into the mind of the protagonist and how his lived experience transforms into dreams and visions that reference what he has lived through. The game is essentially one giant metaphor and it generally works okay in that regard – there’s definitely joy to be had in trying to guess what the various elements allude to and what they represent inside the protagonist’s mind. That being said – it seemed to me that there’s just a bit of annoying pretensiousness about some elements of the game which seem to not be linked to anything in particular in the story, but seem like they serve the need of the developers to highlight their favourite motives or low-key brag about how well read they are. The puzzles are all rather easy to follow, so if you expect challenge in that regard you might be disappointed. That being said, I kinda appreciate as a general idea incorporating hints straight into the game. One of the most impressive features of Strangeland is a full on commentary and annotation mode that you can enable. It elaborates on all of the references, foreshadowing etc. in the game as well as providing voiced interviews with the developers, talking about their vision for the game. If you want to check out how it starts before you decide whether to pick it up, you can watch a bit on my channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9c4mxekQ1c&list=PLp4TpsJ7HUWXrode2At1bignPx3OTmOK3

I've played all of Wormwood Studios games, and while they're not the best in the business, they're always high quality and never lacking in heart. The story does get a bit cuckoo bananas throughout, but I never felt like they were just throwing stuff in to be weird. Everything felt very grounded in terms of the world, as bizarre as it could be. As always, the voice acting is top notch with at least one voice you'll certainly recognize from other Wormwood/Wadjet games. I didn't necessarily feel like the story was wrapped up as well as I'd hope, so I'll take off half a star. 4.5 stars and I'm looking forward to whats next.

Strangeland will not be for everybody. The game is VERY short & surprisingly easy. Expect to spend no more than three hours on a first playthrough. If you're looking for an adventure game that has a significant challenge, you may be disappointed. While the game is reminiscent of games like Dark Seed, the difficulty is not comparable. For those seeking the kind of game where you spend weeks agonizing over a puzzle, Strangeland may not be for you. Even without utilizing a walkthrough, the game can be played through in a single sitting. Thanks in part due to the complexity of the puzzles & a VERY generous hint system. There are no Dead Man Walking scenarios here. You can and will die often, not unlike The Nameless One in Planescape: Torment. Strangeland is a game that WANTS you to experience its story through to completion. Despite the game's often grotesque art, it feels very approachable. In some regards, for those new to the genre, the game is an excellent introduction to point & click adventure mechanics - as long as you're not put off by the aforementioned art. While puzzles are a critical aspect of the game, Strangeland is primarily about its story, art & its atmosphere - all of which create a very specific tone and aesthetic. Strangeland is at times repulsive to look at, utilizing some truly horrific body horror - something I feel is worth the purchase alone. Strangeland is unquestionably a psychological horror game. It should appeal to fans of Silent Hill or Sanitarium, though it is most definitely NOT a Silent Hill game. More unsettling than frightening, Strangeland also feels much more allegorical in nature. There is absolutely more than one way to read what is happening. Though it treads similar territory, there is much more to be gleaned from the environment and what is implied in the game's text. That being said, however divisive the game may be, I think it's well worth checking out for any fan of psychological horror & point and click adventures.