Wayward Strand Review – Go Where the Wind Takes You

Wayward Strand on PS5

Wayward Strand is, certainly, the hardest recreation to overview out of any I’ve performed in latest reminiscence. This isn’t as a result of it’s a poorly written recreation, or as a result of it’s a technical mess that made it unplayable.

On the opposite: Developer Ghost Pattern‘s writing is simple yet effective, and there aren’t any main technical points to be discovered. Instead, the problem stems from the proven fact that it’s much less an pleasurable gaming expertise and extra of a story expertise with a transparent message.

This is as a result of the recreation doesn’t sort out a typical theme or subject, even for an indie title. Set in the Seventies, the recreation takes place on an airship that was refurbished right into a hospital after it drifted right into a coastal city a number of years again.

Players take the function of Casie, a 14-year-old lady who has been introduced onto the ship by her mom to assist out whereas the hospital is short-staffed. She has been tasked with helping in the care of the aged sufferers aboard the ship for the subsequent three days, although no particular directions on how to take action are offered.

As a end result, the participant is left to determine how greatest to assist every resident – and even who to assist – on their very own time. And I do imply their very own time; gamers are subjected to a consistently ticking clock that limits how a lot they’ll do in a given day. They can solely be with so many individuals in the three days they’re given, and sure key occasions will solely set off if one is with a given affected person at the proper time on the proper day. As a end result, the tales gamers will expertise can differ broadly from one playthrough to a different.

Adding to all that is Wayward Strand’s dialogue system. When interacting with the completely different sufferers aboard the ship, gamers shall be compelled to decide on how they react to sure conditions and what to ask characters about. Their selections will influence what they find out about any given individual, whether or not they’re in a position to assist them correctly, and what tales they see to their conclusion.

It’s an attention-grabbing conceit and gameplay loop, to make certain, but additionally an anxiety-inducing one. This is as a result of nearly each character gamers can work together with feels totally fleshed-out and attention-grabbing to have interaction with. One will need to be taught extra about them and spend as a lot time with them as doable to learn the way their tales play out.

Even after solely an hour or two with them, I cared about each affected person and wished to optimize my time spent with them in order that I may see all of them as a lot as doable. Even then, it was clear I solely noticed a fraction of every thing that might be gleaned from their tales because of the selections I made in dialogue, and I knew I’d must do one other playthrough or two to expertise every thing the recreation affords.

It’s one thing that Wayward Strand ought to positively be counseled for, and different titles may be taught loads from the approach it forces gamers to worth the time they spend in it. This stays true all through the recreation, too, making it a uncommon instance of a title that nails its design conceit all the approach by way of its quick however candy playtime.

And but, it isn’t a recreation that everyone would discover pleasurable. This is much less due to the gameplay and extra due to the matters tackled in the story and dialogue, particularly, these round empathy and the way folks deal with the aged.

While there’s loads of calm interactions and gradual reveals of bigger tales enjoying out, there are additionally different moments which might be tense and stress-inducing. Not solely that, however their extra grounded portrayal makes them hit residence all the extra successfully. More than a couple of left me prepared to show the recreation off and take a break, not as a result of they had been graphic or irritating however as a result of they hit too near residence on matters that the majority anybody has most likely skilled.

This leaves the recreation in that awkward place of being a worthwhile expertise but additionally not a enjoyable one to play. Likewise, this could make it tough to replay the recreation, understanding one must undergo these moments once more, operating counter to the necessity of replaying the recreation to see its many various story branches and snippets.

Fortunately, every thing else that makes up Wayward Strand is serviceable sufficient to make the expertise pleasurable. The graphics are clean and steady, whereas the artwork design lends every thing a tender and heat feeling. The characters and environments are designed to appear like they’re a part of an image guide in movement, and when all these components come collectively, it serves to make the recreation visually pleasurable it doesn’t matter what’s occurring between the characters.

The identical might be stated of the audio and sound design. The voice performing is all solidly accomplished and totally conveys the feelings of every character superbly. While this could make terser exchanges extra devastating, it additionally makes the happier and extra tender moments hit in simply the proper approach. This is all the extra true when paired with the mild and stress-free music that wafts by way of the air throughout each gameplay phase or with the mild, sound results used to make the airship really feel energetic and alive.

When all is claimed and accomplished, Wayward Strand is a good narrative expertise however not a recreation for everyone. The lack of clear course and rewards could make its easy gameplay loop really feel overwhelming, and the grounded themes it tackles aren’t at all times simple to get by way of. For these keen to offer it a glance, although, it’s a recreation that gives characters who gamers received’t be capable to preserve from falling in love with, and the expertise it affords will stick to whoever performs it lengthy after the credit roll.