STRAFE really does feel like an old school shooter at its heart, from the frantic running and jumping to escape the enemies that appear from each nook and cranny, down to the eerie calm that descends in the spaces between levels. Having just played a marathon session of Quake and STRAFE back-to-back, I can definitely say that STRAFE stays true to its roots, even if the sheer number of enemies creates a unique and frantic pace compared to the cautious probing that often wins you these old school shooters. There are certainly a few bugs to be worked out, and hopefully the developers are willing to tweak existing values and listen to their fans. STRAFE isn't a classic right out of the box, but it certainly has the potential, especially with a couple of layers of polish and bug testing. If you find yourself reading the reviews for this game, and are having a difficult time deciding whether or not to purchase, allow me to try and help. 1. STRAFE is psychotically fast. Faster than Doom. Faster than Quake. Faster than Serious Sam. Probably even more hectic than Painkiller. Enemies leave monster closets on frequent flags, which means you often find yourself surrounded. Methodically clearing a level is often a no-go. 2. Procedural level generation. If you haven't played a game with procedural levels, I suggest you try it out in a free to play game first. Some people are perfectly content seeing the same rooms multiple times, and some are not. As a general rule, if you still play the original doom maps, you're probably fine. 3. Bugs. This is a big one. I've already had multiple playthroughs end due to irreversible glitches, and in most runs, I end up suffering at the hands of a jagged experience. With no guarantee these issues will be fixed, if you can't handle losing to bad luck, wait a while before more work is done. Overall, fantastic game with some seriously fun mechanics. Just be prepared to lose. A lot.
