A cat exploring a neon-drenched futuristic city? Welcome to the curious world of Stray, a well-received 2022 adventure featuring, as the name suggests, a stray cat that’s looking for a way home. On paper Stray sounds like a contemporary Homeward Bound tale, but it’s certainly not a colourful Disney-like romp. Far from it. Dark, foreboding and with a slightly sinister underlying thread, the world of this post-apocalyptic city is devoid of those pesky humans.
After a solid attempt at running on the original Switch, Stray now pounces onto the Nintendo Switch 2. With extra power behind the hood, just how well does this feline fantasy run on the newer console? A worthy upgrade or a quick cat cash grab?
Stray starts with a pack of cats that navigate a decaying, overgrown, yet stunning structure. Run across smaller ledges, pounce onto corroding pipes and bask in the sunshine that trickles through the foliage. The opening of the game is an excellent way of setting the scene, as it should, with a sense of scale and showcasing just how tough this fluffy protagonist is.
There’s something effortlessly freeing about running about as a four-legged friend, with tight platforming inviting that freedom. There’s even a dedicated “meow” button. Purrfect. Those newfound feline skills? They will come in handy for later.
The playful cat party is, sadly, short-lived. After a miss-timed jump, the protagonist ends up falling into a grim, underground metropolis below. The only light here is the neon buzz and glow of computer screens. It’s dark, it’s wet. Just what exactly happened here? Roaming through the cold halls, the poor, limping cat is not alone. Flea-like parasites called Zurk have found something fresh to nibble on. Yes, it’s you. You’re the meal. Fortunately, the cat finds some energy to evade and sneaks into a protected part of the city. Inhabitants include humanoid robots and a handy AI drone companion. Not a Zurk in sight. Phew.
Roaming the robot residencies are the biggest highlight in Stray. These areas may not be huge by any means, but discovering what this agile cat can leap onto is a lot of fun. The snaking alleyways, tight spaces, the futuristic remnants of humanity, the bold neon signs. A kitty Cyberpunk set-piece that’s ripe for experimentation. There is a light scatting of puzzles to drive forward the narrative, but nothing too taxing. It is a shame, though, that there isn’t more emphasis on the exploration side of Stray beyond the key story points – sure there are collectibles, but some missed potential to really drive the NPC lore further.
With a rich palette of lighting and intense shadows, it can be an indicator of whether the hardware can keep up. Fortunately, with the Nintendo Switch 2, there is a consistent 30fps throughout – even the more graphically intense areas. Sure, there is minor pop-in on occasion, and some robot folk in the distance can sometimes drop below, but this doesn’t detract from the cat sleuthing.
Arguably what is more jarring is a lack of character shadows, most notably the protagonist. Environments may look striking, but characters end up sitting a little flat. Not so much an issue with a robot bloke having a bevvy in the bar but can make navigating some spaces feel off. What is even more odd is that the original Nintendo Switch does have shadows. Perhaps a decision to trade shadows for higher fidelity textures and a more consistent framerate overall, but a strange one at that. A shame, because visually the game does lean closer to the striking PC version of Stray – it’s gorgeous. But takes a step, or pounce, back in ways.
After diving into the robot narrative, the mission becomes clear: Find a way out, or more so, up. It’s not a case of simply finding a staircase and ascending. Nope. Those pesky Zurk plague a route up to safety and they’re hungry. Hungry for a meal. Cravings for flesh. Basically, if it moves, it signifies a buffet for the parasite. The solution? Run. Run, little kitten, for safety. Eventually there is a weapon that gets rid of these pesky creatures, though limited to short bursts. Quite simply, it’s not fun, nor satisfying. Finicky, fiddly and repetitive. The calmer, robot-driven segments of the latter half of the game do offer a bit of respite, but these bugs certainly do outstay their welcome.
Stray is a curious, futuristic tale that's full of striking set pieces and the neon glow of a post-human world. Bar an odd decision to remove shadows, the Nintendo Switch 2 is a striking upgrade in texture and consistent framerates. Free for those who own the original Nintendo Switch edition, too. Is it good fun taking on the paws of a curious cat? A resounding yes. Is it fun evading a constant army of unrelenting bugs? No. That said, Stray is a compact, charming tale that is worth a go for feline lovers and cyberpunk aficionados.
