Strange Brigade

Last updated

Strange Brigade
Strange Brigade cover art.png
Developer(s) Rebellion Developments
Publisher(s) Rebellion Developments
Director(s) Tim Jones
Designer(s) Steve Bristow
Artist(s) Andy Pattinson
Writer(s) Gordon Rennie
Engine Asura
Platform(s)
ReleaseMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
  • WW: August 28, 2018
Google Stadia
  • WW: August 1, 2020
Nintendo Switch
  • WW: June 15, 2021
Genre(s) Third-person shooter
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Strange Brigade is a cooperative third-person shooter video game developed and published by Rebellion Developments. It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on August 28, 2018, on August 1, 2020 for Stadia, and on June 15, 2021 for Nintendo Switch. In the game, the player fights against different mythological enemies and solves puzzles.

Contents

Gameplay

Strange Brigade is a third-person shooter with a huge emphasis on cooperative gameplay. In the game, the player assumes the role of an adventurer in the 1930s and can team up with three other players to fight against different mythological enemies like mummies, giant scorpions and minotaurs. [1] The game's four playable characters, who can be customized, have different weapons and abilities. [2] Players have a large arsenal of weapons at their disposal. Each weapon has several upgrade slots, which can be used to enhance combat efficiency. Players can switch and upgrade their weapons at the workbenches found in a level. [3] They can also activate different traps, such as spinning blades and spikes, to kill enemies. [4]

The game features branching levels which encourage exploration. [5] By solving puzzles, players will discover new relics which can unlock "amulet powers". These powerful amulet powers can be activated by absorbing the souls of enemies. Players can also find treasure chests to unlock powerful prototype weapons, and collect gold coins to purchase new weapons. [6]

Premise

4000 years ago Seteki, an Egyptian Pharaoh, ruled tyrannically, using black magic. Wadjet, the Goddess of Time and Justice, opposed Seteki's barbaric rule, and along with her priests waged went to war against Seteki, eventually leading to Seteki's defeat. Her body was hidden in a nameless tomb and all record of her existence was erased, her name living on only in legend.

In 1930 after Several thousand years pass, The archaeologist Edgar Harbin releases Seteki's spirit after he opened her tomb to further his career. Veronica Brownage, an agent of the Department of Antiquities who was keeping an eye on Harbin, managed to send a distress message to headquarters prior to the release. The Department dispatches the Strange Brigade, a team of people experienced in defending the British Empire from supernatural threats to uncover what Seteki is after.

Searching a hidden valley leads to the group discovering a soul cage, which Seteki is using to harness the power of trapped souls. Destroying the cage results in Seteki's power being reduced. So the groups sets out to destroy the rest.

The Strange Brigade set out across Egypt to foil Seteki's plans and rid the world of her undead army.

After destroying the last Soul Cage, the Brigade are informed that they are not finished yet, and though the cages are destroyed, Seteki herself is still loose, and may have a plan for world destruction, by opening a bridge between the mortal realm and the Underworld. .

The Brigade sets out to finish Seteki off once and for all, following her into the underworld, finding her in control of the Ammit, the Devourer of Souls. Seteki commands thebeast to attack the Brigade, however they manage to break Seteki's control over the beast, and after sufficiently enraging the beast, it turns on Seteki and devours her, ending her threat to humanity once and for all.

The Brigade heads off to find the portal back to the mortal realm, sharing some light banter, comparing their fight with Seteki to their past adventures.

Development

The game was developed by Rebellion Developments. The gameplay was inspired by cooperative games such as Left 4 Dead and Rebellion's own Zombie Army Trilogy , [2] while the story and the game's tone were inspired by the adventure serials released in the 1930s. [3] Announced on June 7, 2017, [7] the game was released on August 28, 2018. Players who pre-ordered the game were given access to the "Secret Service Weapons" pack, while those who purchased the Digital Deluxe edition have access to the game's season pass and other post-launch content for free. There is also a Collector's Edition which contains physical items such as an airship model and an artbook. [8]

Reception

According to review aggregator Metacritic, the PC and PlayStation 4 versions received mixed reviews while the Xbox One version received generally positive reviews from critics. [9] [10] [11]

In December 2018, Strange Brigade was featured as one of The Telegraph 's "50 best games of 2018". [24]

Awards

YearAwardCategoryResultRef.
2017 Gamescom 2017Best Booth AwardNominated [25]
2019National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers AwardsArt Direction, Period InfluenceNominated [26]
Game, Original AdventureNominated
The Independent Game Developers' Association AwardsHeritage AwardNominated [27]

Related Research Articles

<i>Diablo</i> (series) Video game franchise

Diablo is an action role-playing dungeon crawler video game series developed by Blizzard North and continued by Blizzard Entertainment after the North studio shut down in 2005. The series is made up of four core games: Diablo, Diablo II, Diablo III, and Diablo IV. Expansions include the third-party published Hellfire, which follows the first game; Lord of Destruction, published by Blizzard and released after the second game; Reaper of Souls, which follows the third game; and the upcoming Vessel of Hatred, which will follow the fourth game. Additional content is provided through story elements explored in other types of media forms.

<i>Halo: Spartan Assault</i> 2013 video game

Halo: Spartan Assault is a twin stick shooter video game developed by 343 Industries and Vanguard Games. Part of the Halo media franchise, the game was released on July 18, 2013, for Microsoft's Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 platforms. The game subsequently released on Xbox 360, Xbox One, Steam, and iOS. Halo: Spartan Assault is set between the events of Halo 3 and Halo 4. Players control the human soldiers Sarah Palmer and Edward Davis as they fight a new splinter faction of the alien Covenant. The game launched with 25 single-player missions; an additional campaign released as downloadable content. The console versions also feature an exclusive cooperative horde mode.

<i>A Hat in Time</i> 2017 video game

A Hat in Time is a 2017 platform game developed by Danish game studio Gears for Breakfast and published by Humble Bundle. The game was developed using Unreal Engine 3 and funded through a Kickstarter campaign, which nearly doubled its fundraising goals within its first two days. The game was self-published for macOS and Windows in October 2017, and by Humble Bundle for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles two months later. A version for the Nintendo Switch was released in October 2019.

<i>Cuphead</i> 2017 video game

Cuphead is a 2017 run and gun game developed and published by Studio MDHR. The game follows its titular teacup-headed character and his brother Mugman, as they make a deal with the Devil to pay casino losses by repossessing the souls of runaway debtors. In the game, up to two players control Cuphead and/or Mugman to fight through several levels and boss fights; the game does not have a rigid narrative structure. As the game progresses, the protagonist acquires more power and abilities, eventually facing the Devil himself. Players, however, can only equip a limited number of these abilities at a given time.

<i>Hunt: Showdown</i> 2019 video game

Hunt: Showdown 1896 is a first-person shooter video game by Crytek. It was launched on Steam in early access on 22 February 2018 and for Xbox Game Preview on 29 May 2019. The full release of the game launched on 27 August 2019 for Microsoft Windows, it was also released on Xbox One on 19 September 2019 and PlayStation 4 on 18 February 2020. In the game, the player assumes the role of a bounty hunter who tries to kill mythical monsters in order to claim their bounties and survive long enough against other bounty hunters to reach an extraction point.

<i>Life Is Strange</i> (video game) 2015 episodic video game

Life Is Strange is an episodic adventure game developed by Dontnod Entertainment and published by Square Enix. The first installment of the Life Is Strange series, the game was released in five episodes periodically throughout 2015 for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. It was ported to OS X and Linux in 2016, and iOS and Android in 2017 and 2018.

<i>Shadow Warrior 2</i> 2016 video game

Shadow Warrior 2 is a 2016 first-person shooter game developed by Flying Wild Hog and published by Devolver Digital. The game is the sequel to 2013's Shadow Warrior, the reboot of the 1997 original. It was released for Windows in October 2016, and for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in May 2017. It received generally positive reviews from critics. A sequel, Shadow Warrior 3, was released in March 2022.

<i>Dark Souls III</i> 2016 video game

Dark Souls III is a 2016 action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows. The third and final entry in the Dark Souls series, the game follows an unkindled character on a quest to prevent the end of the world. It is played in a third-person perspective, and players have access to various weapons, armour, magic, and consumables that they can use to fight their enemies. Hidetaka Miyazaki, the creator of the series, returned to direct the game after handing the development duties of Dark Souls II to others.

Dark Souls is a dark fantasy action role-playing game series developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, the series began with the release of Dark Souls (2011) and has seen two sequels, Dark Souls II (2014) and Dark Souls III (2016). It has received critical acclaim, with its high level of difficulty being among its most discussed aspects, while the first Dark Souls is often cited as one of the greatest games of all time. The series had shipped over 35 million copies outside of Japan as of 2023. Other FromSoftware games, including Demon's Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring, share several related concepts and led to the creation of the Soulslike subgenre.

<i>Ashen</i> (2018 video game) 2018 video game

Ashen is an action role-playing game developed by New Zealand studio A44 and published by Annapurna Interactive.

<i>Life Is Strange 2</i> 2018–2019 graphic adventure video game

Life Is Strange 2 is an episodic adventure game developed by Dontnod Entertainment and published by Square Enix. Its five episodes were released between September 2018 and December 2019 for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One and later for Linux, macOS and Nintendo Switch. A main sequel in the Life Is Strange series, the game's plot features Hispanic American brothers Sean and Daniel as they travel along the US West Coast as fugitives from the police after the younger brother discovers his telekinetic abilities. In the game, which is played from a third-person perspective, Sean must make crucial decisions that will lead to different branches in the storyline, while serving as a surrogate parent for Daniel.

Enter the Gungeon is a 2016 bullet hell roguelike game developed by Dodge Roll and published by Devolver Digital. Set in the firearms-themed Gungeon, gameplay follows several player characters called Gungeoneers as they traverse procedurally generated rooms to find a gun that can "kill the past". The Gungeoneers fight against bullet-shaped enemies, which are fought using both conventional and exotic weapons. Enter the Gungeon features a permadeath system, causing the Gungeoneers to lose all obtained items and start again from the first level upon death. Between playthroughs, players can travel to an area called the Breach, where they can converse with non-player characters and unlock new items randomly encountered while playing.

<i>Aragami</i> (video game) 2016 video game

Aragami (荒神) is an action-adventure stealth video game developed and published by Lince Works for Linux, macOS, Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. The game was originally titled Twin Souls: The Path of Shadows. The players take the role of Aragami, an assassin with supernatural abilities. The player can teleport between shadows and faces an enemy army that goes by the name of 'Kaiho'. This opposing army is formed by mystical warriors with the power to control the light.

<i>Absolver</i> 2017 video game

Absolver is a martial arts-themed action role-playing video game developed by Sloclap and published by Devolver Digital for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. In the game, players control warrior characters who fight other players and computer-controlled characters across the fictional land of Adal to prove their worthiness of joining the Absolver peacekeepers. The game's story is focused on the human development of the characters as they fight to find their place in the collapsed empire. The character's fighting moves are customized in a "combat deck" of cards, with each card assigned to a move. Players earn cards, equipment, and weapons by progressing through the game.

<i>Dauntless</i> (video game) 2019 video game

Dauntless is a free-to-play action role-playing game developed by Phoenix Labs. The game initially launched in beta in May 2018 for Microsoft Windows. An early access version was published by Epic Games on May 21, 2019 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, including full support for cross-platform play, and was fully released for those platforms on September 26, 2019. A Nintendo Switch version was released on December 10, 2019. Versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S were released on December 2, 2021.

<i>Warhammer: Vermintide 2</i> 2018 video game

Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is a first-person action video game developed and published by Fatshark. It is the sequel to 2015's Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide. Vermintide 2 was released for Windows on 8 March 2018. It was released for Xbox One on 11 July 2018, free for members of the Xbox Game Pass. It was released for the PlayStation 4 on 18 December 2018. It also released for Xbox Series X/S on 3 December 2020. A spiritual successor, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, was released in 2022.

<i>Grip: Combat Racing</i> 2018 racing video game

Grip: Combat Racing, often shortened to Grip, is a racing video game developed by Canadian studio, Caged Element and published by Wired Productions for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Warp Digital ported the title to console, and was released for all four platforms on November 6, 2018.

We Were Here is a franchise of cooperative first-person adventure video games, created by the Dutch studio Total Mayhem Games.

Life Is Strange is a series of adventure games published by Square Enix's External Studios. Created by Dontnod Entertainment, the series debuted with the eponymous first installment, which was released in five episodes throughout 2015. It was followed by a prequel, Life Is Strange: Before the Storm, which was developed by Deck Nine and released in three episodes throughout 2017, with a downloadable content (DLC) bonus episode released in early 2018. The sequel Life Is Strange 2 and its spin-off The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit were developed by Dontnod and released between 2018 and 2019. A third main installment, Life Is Strange: True Colors, was released in its entirety on 10 September 2021. A fourth installment, Life is Strange: Double Exposure, was announced on June 9, 2024, set to be released on October 29, 2024. Additionally, a remastered collection of the original game and its prequel was released in February 2022.

<i>Tribes of Midgard</i> 2021 video game

Tribes of Midgard is an action role-playing survival video game developed by Norsfell Games and published by Gearbox Publishing. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on July 27, 2021, and was released for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on August 16, 2022.

References

  1. ↑ Osborn, Alex (7 June 2017). "Sniper Elite Dev Announces New Game, Strange Brigade". IGN . Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Strange Brigade hands-on preview and interview – Left 4 Mummies". GameCentral . 1 September 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  3. 1 2 Sykes, Tom (18 June 2017). "Here's a longer look at Rebellion's pulp co-op shooter Strange Brigade". PC Gamer . Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  4. ↑ Purchese, Robert (24 September 2017). "Rebellion's Strange Brigade is a jolly refreshing romp". Eurogamer . Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  5. ↑ Horti, Samuel (17 June 2018). "Watch six minutes of Strange Brigade's co-op shooting, supernatural puzzles and branching levels". PC Gamer . Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  6. ↑ Lemon, Marshall (14 June 2018). "E3 2018: Strange Brigade rewards you for exploring each map". VG 247 . Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  7. ↑ S. Good, Owen (7 June 2017). "Sniper Elite makers journey into mystery with Strange Brigade". Polygon . Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  8. ↑ Kato, Matthew (24 April 2018). "Co-op Adventure Strange Brigade Gets Release Date & Story Trailer". Game Informer . Archived from the original on 27 April 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  9. ↑ "Strange Brigade for PlayStation 4 reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  10. ↑ "Strange Brigade for PC reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  11. ↑ "Strange Brigade for Xbox One reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  12. ↑ "Strange Brigade for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  13. ↑ "Strange Brigade for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  14. ↑ "Strange Brigade for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  15. ↑ Leri, Michael (27 August 2018). "Strange Brigade Review – A Relic in Both Senses of the Term". GameRevolution . Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  16. ↑ Starkey, Daniel (28 August 2018). "Strange Brigade Review - Co-op With Style". GameSpot . Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  17. ↑ Avard, Alex (28 August 2018). "Strange Brigade review: "A few sandwiches short of a properly satisfying picnic"". GamesRadar . Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  18. ↑ LeClair, Kyle (28 August 2018). "Review: Strange Brigade". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  19. ↑ Crowd, Dan (27 August 2018). "Strange Brigade Review". IGN . Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  20. ↑ Birnbaum, Ian (5 September 2018). "Strange Brigade review". PC Gamer . Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  21. ↑ Stinton, Alex (27 August 2018). "Strange Brigade Review (PS4)". Push Square . Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  22. ↑ Chandler, Sam (29 August 2018). "Strange Brigade Review: Horrors untold". Shacknews . Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  23. ↑ Wise, Josh (28 August 2018). "Strange Brigade review". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  24. ↑ Hoggins, Tom (25 July 2018). "The 50 best games of 2018 | Our guide to the top titles of the year". The Daily Telegraph . ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  25. ↑ Khan, Zubi (21 August 2017). "Gamescom 2017 Award Nominees". CGM. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  26. ↑ "Nominee List for 2018". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. 11 February 2019. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  27. ↑ Stephenson, Suzi (19 September 2019). "TIGA Announces Games Industry Awards 2019 Finalists". The Independent Game Developers' Association . Retrieved 25 September 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.