Software:Strange Brigade

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

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

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 Ammit, the Devourer of Souls. Seteki commands the beast 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

Strange Brigade 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]

Release

Strange Brigade was announced on 7 June 2017.[7] The game was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on 28 August 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. A Collector's Edition contained physical items such as an airship model and an artbook.[8]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic(PC) 68/100[9]
(PS4) 73/100[10]
(XONE) 75/100[11]
Review scores
PublicationScore
GameRevolutionStarStarStarStarStarStarStar[20]
GameSpot7/10[15]
GamesRadar+StarStarStar[14]
Hardcore Gamer3.5/5[17]
IGN7.5/10[12]
PC Gamer (US)68/100[13]
Push SquareStarStarStarStarStarStarStar[16]
Shacknews5/10[18]
VideoGamer.com6/10[19]

Critical reception

Strange Brigade received "mixed or average" reviews from critics for the PC and PlayStation 4 versions, while the Xbox One version received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[21]

In December 2018, Strange Brigade was featured as one of The Telegraph's "50 best games of 2018".[22]

Awards

Year Award Category Result Template:Reference column heading
2017 Gamescom 2017 Best Booth Award Nominated [23]
2019 National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards Art Direction, Period Influence Nominated [24]
Game, Original Adventure Nominated
The Independent Game Developers' Association Awards Heritage Award Nominated [25]

References

  1. Osborn, Alex (June 7, 2017). "Sniper Elite Dev Announces New Game, Strange Brigade". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/06/07/sniper-elite-dev-announces-new-game-strange-brigade. Retrieved June 18, 2018. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Strange Brigade hands-on preview and interview – Left 4 Mummies". GameCentral. September 1, 2017. https://metro.co.uk/2017/09/01/strange-brigade-hands-on-preview-and-interview-left-4-mummies-6896110/. Retrieved June 18, 2018. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 Sykes, Tom (June 18, 2017). "Here's a longer look at Rebellion's pulp co-op shooter Strange Brigade". PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/heres-a-longer-look-at-rebellions-pulp-co-op-shooter-strange-brigade/. Retrieved June 18, 2018. 
  4. Purchese, Robert (September 24, 2017). "Rebellion's Strange Brigade is a jolly refreshing romp". Eurogamer. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-09-24-rebellions-strange-brigade-is-a-jolly-refreshing-romp. Retrieved June 18, 2018. 
  5. Horti, Samuel (June 17, 2018). "Watch six minutes of Strange Brigade's co-op shooting, supernatural puzzles and branching levels". PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/watch-six-minutes-of-strange-brigades-co-op-shooting-supernatural-puzzles-and-branching-levels/. Retrieved June 18, 2018. 
  6. Lemon, Marshall (June 14, 2018). "E3 2018: Strange Brigade rewards you for exploring each map". VG 247. https://www.vg247.com/2018/06/14/e3-2018-strange-brigade-rewards-exploring-map/. Retrieved June 18, 2018. 
  7. S. Good, Owen (June 7, 2017). "Sniper Elite makers journey into mystery with Strange Brigade". Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/2017/6/7/15753898/strange-brigade-rebellion-xbox-one-ps4-pc. Retrieved June 18, 2018. 
  8. Kato, Matthew (April 24, 2018). "Co-op Adventure Strange Brigade Gets Release Date & Story Trailer". Game Informer. https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2018/04/24/co-op-adventure-strange-brigade-gets-release-date-and-story-trailer.aspx. Retrieved June 18, 2018. 
  9. "Strange Brigade for PC Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/strange-brigade/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  10. "Strange Brigade for PlayStation 4 Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/strange-brigade/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4. 
  11. "Strange Brigade for Xbox One Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/strange-brigade/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one. 
  12. Crowd, Dan (27 August 2018). "Strange Brigade Review". https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/08/27/strange-brigade-review. 
  13. Birnbaum, Ian (5 September 2018). "Strange Brigade review". https://www.pcgamer.com/strange-brigade-review/. 
  14. Avard, Alex (28 August 2018). "Strange Brigade review: "A few sandwiches short of a properly satisfying picnic"". https://www.gamesradar.com/strange-brigade-review-a-few-sandwiches-short-of-a-proper-picnic/. 
  15. Starkey, Daniel (28 August 2018). "Strange Brigade Review - Co-op With Style". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/strange-brigade-review-co-op-with-style/1900-6416977/. 
  16. Stinton, Alex (27 August 2018). "Strange Brigade Review (PS4)". https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/strange_brigade. 
  17. LeClair, Kyle (28 August 2018). "Review: Strange Brigade". https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-strange-brigade/310398/. 
  18. Chandler, Sam (29 August 2018). "Strange Brigade Review: Horrors untold". https://www.shacknews.com/article/106988/strange-brigade-review-horrors-untold. 
  19. Wise, Josh (28 August 2018). "Strange Brigade review". https://www.videogamer.com/reviews/strange-brigade-review/. 
  20. Leri, Michael (27 August 2018). "Strange Brigade Review – A Relic in Both Senses of the Term". https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/423133-strange-brigade-review-a-relic-in-both-senses-of-the-term. 
  21. "Strange Brigade Reviews" (in en). https://www.metacritic.com/game/strange-brigade/. 
  22. Hoggins, Tom (July 25, 2018). "The 50 best games of 2018 | Our guide to the top titles of the year". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gaming/features/best-games-2018/. Retrieved January 20, 2019. 
  23. Khan, Zubi (August 21, 2017). "Gamescom 2017 Award Nominees". CGM. https://www.cgmagonline.com/2017/08/21/gamescom-2017-award-nominees/. Retrieved February 13, 2019. 
  24. "Nominee List for 2018". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. February 11, 2019. http://navgtr.org/archives/3566/. Retrieved February 13, 2019. 
  25. Stephenson, Suzi (September 19, 2019). "TIGA Announces Games Industry Awards 2019 Finalists". The Independent Game Developers' Association. https://tiga.org/news/tiga-announces-games-industry-awards-2019-finalists. Retrieved September 25, 2019.