By using this key, it’s possible to decipher all of the images and realize just how much emotion and effort was put into each single detail. If that’s the case, my suggestion is to go through the game again while listening to the exhaustive commentary track from the devs. As such, those awaiting a big narrative twist might, indeed, be let down by what is ultimately a personal tale, as opposed to an average horror narrative.
By doing so, the purpose of the Stranger’s journey will become clearer and ultimately reveal what the narrative’s relationship with the player was meant to be. I can’t share many specifics about the narrative for fear of spoiling such a brief experience, my impression is that some may feel – at times – like being led down an obscure path made up of broken images, with Strangeland requiring players to dig into the overall significance of every single reference, in order to get the most out of it.
STRANGELAND COM FULL
The puzzles are mostly straightforward (one of the more mysterious ones involves finding a phone number with minimal clues to go on) and the developers have done a great service by implementing a full hint system. It’s a short game that clocks in between five to six hours, which makes sense as it feels like a ‘smaller’ adventure with limited environments and only a handful of characters to talk to. This style of visual is among my favorite, so I was on board from the moment I glanced upon the trailer, especially with its ‘malignant carnival’ motif on full display throughout. Visually, Strangeland is heavily influenced by psychological horror adventure of the ’90s, such as Sanitarium and Darkseed, even though the lion’s share of inspiration comes from the latter and its overall Giger-esque look. The overall narrative touches on the inevitability of loss and death, coming to terms with one’s own limits, and trying to help the Stranger - the protagonist - come out of a malevolent, spiraling hole of depression and self-doubt. The writing employs rich classic (and some less classic) literary oeuvres and Norse mythology. It’s the second point-and-click adventure by Primordia developers Wormwood Studio, born out of a game jam, gone on to require almost four years of development. The tale of Strangeland, while not particularly difficult to decipher as a whole, does make use of allegories, most of which may not be entirely revealed through play. But can that same staying power in narrative also be found in games? Throughout history, masterpieces that use allegories in tandem with elegantly-woven narrative - like John Milton’s Paradise Lost or T.S. WTF Down to Earth by Ozzy Osbourne was a real inspiration! LOW Getting stuck at the end, despite a simple solution. HIGH Solving most of the puzzles without having to dial for help.
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