Hello, gaming enthusiasts! I’m Lewis! Welcome to the XPN Network! "PARKOUR!" If you missed that reference, consider yourself officially shamed. Now, let me introduce you to Stride Fates, the VR game that will have you sweating bullets—LITERALLY! Picture this: if John Wick and Mirror's Edge had a baby, it would be named Stride Fates. As the sequel to the popular game Stride, this instalment takes everything you love and turns it up to eleven.
Below you will find where the reference comes from. The series "The Office US" honestly this episode cracks me up!
Want to pull off a 360-degree headshot while leaping across rooftops? Go for it! Do you feel like swinging off a drone-like Spider-Man? Call me Spider-Cop! Get ready for close-quarters combat where your pistol is your BFF and the only thing keeping you from becoming the gang's next casualty. Strap in and get ready to leap headfirst into Joy Way's new parkour adventure, this is Stride Fates!
WARNING: THE VIDEOS SHOWN ARE AWESOME!
Story
Step into the combat boots of a Spec-Ops cop, known as a Chaser, born and bred in the gritty, unforgiving slums of dystopian Airon City. In this high-octane adventure, your new gig with the elite SkyChasers Police Force is your golden ticket out of the gutters and into the high-stakes world of justice. But hold onto your helmet—this isn't a leisurely stroll. It's a climb-or-die scenario, battling against ruthless gangs and corrupt corporate overlords. Your legs? They're your best asset. Speed is your superpower.
In Airon City, it's not just about survival—it's about dominating. As a Chaser, you have full control over your destiny. Navigate your path, decide your takedown tactics, and choose your arsenal with precision. Fancy a pistol for those clean, precise shots? Got it. Prefer the thunderous boom of a shotgun? Absolutely. How about the relentless spray of a machine gun? You bet! And if you’re feeling particularly daring, there's nothing like the visceral thrill of up-close-and-personal action with a knife, hammer, or baseball bat. Channel your inner Negan and recreate that infamous scene from Season 7 of The Walking Dead... If you know, you know.
The cityscape is your playground, and every corner holds potential threats—or opportunities. Need to get up close? A stealthy approach with a silencer might be your style. Want to make a statement? Go in guns blazing and show them who’s boss. And if you ever run out of ammo in the heat of battle, fear not! Simply "borrow" a weapon from your freshly dispatched foes—they won’t be needing them anymore. Consider it your civic duty to lighten their load.
Every enemy you face is a new challenge, a new test of your agility and wits. Dress your adversaries in a stylish new bullet jacket, courtesy of your impeccable aim and unerring resolve. Each takedown brings you one step closer to cleaning up the streets of Airon City and securing your place in the big leagues.
So, gear up, Chaser. The slums were just your training ground. Now, it’s time to show Airon City what you're made of. In Stride Fates, your journey is as thrilling as your destination, and every stride you take is a step towards your fate.
Gameplay
I had way too much fun making clips for this review, and guess what? All the action-packed, adrenaline-pumping chaos happened right in the game! Picture this: it’s a cold day, and you’re standing on top of an old, crumbling building, the wind blowing through your hair. You're just minding your own business when—SUDDENLY—bullets whiz past your head! OMG, NO! Our new "friends" have arrived, eager to return our warm welcome with a barrage of bullets. So, what’s your first move? Do you:
A. Wave and say, "Hey guys, please be careful! You could've killed me!"
B. Jump off the roof and hope you land on something soft… Aim for the bushes? Aim for the bushes!
Or C. Show them who's boss?! I chose C!
If you chose A: Stop it. Get some help. If you chose B: You’re Samuel Rock Dead Son, and should be ashamed you thought that would work. If you chose C: CONGRATULATIONS, YOU’RE A GAMER!
Now, what happens if all your ammo is depleted, Chaser? Do you have shells for your shotgun? Rounds for your machine gun? No? Well, the enemies you’ve shot earlier can be more helpful than you thought—they’ve conveniently dropped a lovely present for you to use their guns! So, pick one up and make your peace. Are your current guns starting to feel a bit disappointing? Hoping to upgrade, right? Good news!
At the level select or end of the mission aboard the lovely SkyChaser helicopter, while exploring, you can find upgrade packs of three different varieties: green, pink, and gold. These packs let you pimp out your guns with extended magazines, lasers, or even a Deagle!
Some of these packs are hidden in crates or behind doors you’ll need to find a way around. For the crates, you'll need to hack them using your handy phone on your left wrist. This unlocks a small puzzle, reminiscent of those buzzer games you played as a kid at school fairs for a packet of sweets, or a "complete the shape" puzzle. Once unlocked, you’re granted everything in the chests—packs, ammo, and more.
And let’s not forget style! You can give your gun a fancy new paint job, unlocked through gameplay.
If you’re familiar with games like Mirror’s Edge or the prequel Stride, you know you’ll need to sneak, run, swing, and climb like never before. Spider-Cop would be proud! This can be tricky at times, as you might lose your grip and fall. Always stay alert, or you may feel like you’ve woken up from a nightmare, plummeting from a ridiculously frightening height only to restart from the last checkpoint. There are ladders and multiple ways to climb, so always scout for the best path to your enemy before anyone spots you. Speed is a huge factor in Stride Fates, and it could save your life. Although, a sprinting mechanic without having to swing your arms would’ve saved my life a thousand times. This game can get your heart pumping, so try your best to stay calm. Once you get the hang of it, you can do what I do and push yourself up and climb one-handed. Like magic!
Enemies aren’t the most intense to deal with, but the mini-bosses are a real pain. They have a knack for getting back up after you knock them down, but the snipers... Those guys are ruthless, so be careful. Regular enemies are like those clown punching bags that bounce back up, so a nice bullet to the dome will put them out of commission permanently. Jumping can be effective, but sometimes you might misjudge your jump and dive straight off the building, so always be strategic. One helpful tip: use the environment to your advantage. From wall-running to flying off buildings' air vents, there are also weapons, knives, and even explosives scattered around. You can throw them or just shoot, depending on your preference. One blast and all your troubles will go away.
In some parts of the game, you’ll be in a sort of AR level where you need to run, shoot, and climb to the exit. It’s like Ghostrunner by 505 Games, and I dig it! It’s fun, sometimes you learn something new, and it also reminds me of the Superhot franchise. So, get ready, Chaser. Airon City needs a hero, and you’re the one to deliver justice—one bullet at a time! And if that doesn’t work, throw a flash grenade and get the drop on them. Oh, and did I mention you can slow down time to get the best shots like in an action movie? It's your own personal bullet-time extravaganza!
Graphics & Audio
Okay, let’s be real here—the graphics and audio in Stride Fates might not win any Oscars, but they’re like a good pizza: even when they’re not the best, they’re still pretty enjoyable.
The visuals in Stride Fates are a mixed bag. On one hand, the dystopian Airon City is brought to life with enough gritty detail to make you feel like you need a shower after playing.
The slums and towering skyscrapers create an atmosphere that's both breathtaking and mildly concerning like you're always one step away from stepping into something questionable. The character models are decent, and while they won’t have you confusing this game with a Hollywood blockbuster, they do the job well enough. Explosions and gunfire are visually satisfying, even if sometimes they look a bit like they came out of a late-night CGI factory. Think of it as the gaming equivalent of a B-movie with a surprisingly high entertainment value.
Now, onto the audio. The soundtrack is a solid effort, with beats that get your blood pumping and help you feel like the ultimate action hero, even if you sometimes miss the rhythm and faceplant into a wall. Gunshots and explosions have a decent oomph, making each firefight feel appropriately chaotic. The ambient sounds of Airon City—from the distant wail of sirens to the murmur of a city that never sleeps—add a layer of immersion, even if occasionally it sounds like the sirens are having a bit of an identity crisis.
The voice acting is where things get interesting. It’s a bit like a rollercoaster: there are some highs that make you think, "Wow, this character really sold that line!" and then there are some lows that remind you of high school drama club. But hey, it adds to the charm, right? Sometimes you might even find yourself developing an odd attachment to these quirky characters and their sometimes wooden, sometimes over-the-top deliveries.
Now, a word on the gore effects: I really wish they could’ve been more realistic. A headshot wound that actually looks like a headshot wound, or smashing someone’s head with a baseball bat and seeing a more, shall we say, "authentic" reaction, would add a visceral layer to the gameplay. As it stands, the gore is more akin to a ketchup packet explosion than the realistic brutality some of us might crave. It’s like ordering hot wings and getting mild—they’re still good, but they’re missing that extra kick.
Stride Fates’ graphics and audio are like comfort food. They may not be gourmet, but they’re satisfying and do the trick. It’s all part of the game’s charm—like that slightly cheesy action movie you can’t help but love. So, crank up the volume, embrace the neon glow, and dive into the chaos of Airon City. You might just find that the sights and sounds, while not perfect, add to the overall fun and frenetic energy of the game. Popcorn and a sense of humour are definitely recommended!
Options & Accessibility
In the general settings of Stride Fates, you have the power to tailor your gaming experience to fit your style. Adjust your difficulty level for that perfect blend of challenge and fun. Choose how you want to jump and reload—whether you prefer precision or speed, it’s up to you. Feel every moment with haptic effects and decide if trigger effects add that extra thrill or if you’d rather keep it smooth.
For those who prefer a more or less intense experience, toggle the gore setting on or off. In the player settings, switch between sitting and standing modes to find your optimal comfort level. Customize your turning mode from smooth for fluid motion to snap for precise control, and make sure everything’s perfectly calibrated for seamless gameplay.
And of course, fine-tune your audio settings to suit your ears. Adjust the volume levels for overall sound, special effects, music, and dialogue, ensuring every sound effect and line of dialogue is just right for your adventure in Airon City. It’s your game, your rules—make it epic!
Final Thoughts
I had an absolute blast playing through Stride Fates—it really made me feel like a total badass, almost like John Wick. Sign me up for more of that any day! You can see from my clips just how eager I was to show off everything this game has to offer. Of course, like many VR games, I did run into a few hiccups along the way. The sliding mechanic, for instance, was a bit awkward at times. And don't get me started on the crouching—I would have much preferred a simple button press instead of having to physically squat down.
But despite these minor issues, I had a ton of fun. The adrenaline rush of sprinting across rooftops, leaping between buildings, and taking down enemies felt incredibly satisfying. The action-packed gameplay kept me on my toes, and even when things got a bit glitchy, it only added to the chaotic charm of the experience. Stride Fates definitely delivered on the promise of being a VR thrill ride, and I can't wait to dive back in for more high-octane action.
Thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to take a moment to read this review, your support is always appreciated and means the world to me!
So, from all of us and myself thank you! Oh, and guys before you go always remember to… KEEP GAMING!
XPN Rating: 4 out of 5 (Gold)
Stride Fates is AVAILABLE now on:
(Thank you to the team at Joy Way for providing the code for this review)
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