Stranger Than Heaven Impressions – Combat Mechanics That Make Perfect Sense
Stranger Than Heaven's fulfilling combat should become the standard approach in the industry.
Stranger Than Heaven continues to make waves ahead of a big release next year, with the likes of Snoop Dogg set to feature, and the large scope of the game makes it difficult to know exactly what to expect.
The story of Stranger Than Heaven is split across five decades and five cities, with players tasked with building their own yakuza-like organization, and while I experienced two of those in a hands-on preview at Gamescom, the biggest takeaway was in combat.
So much so that I’m beginning to wonder why the approach hasn’t become standard in gaming, as it just makes so much sense.
Perfectly Balanced, As All Things Could Be
In Stranger Than Heaven, when using a controller, the left trigger and left bumper control left-sided attacks, with the right side controlled by the opposite, and it works superbly.
It did take some getting used to, as I’ve naturally become accustomed to the standard one-size-fits-all combat approach that most games utilize, but once I got into the flow, it felt entirely natural.
The result was adding a greater emphasis when you knock out an opponent using a combo, or when you perfectly block an enemy attack, and it feels more like you actually did it, rather than the game itself.
The combat will feel even more natural for anyone with a background in combat sports, and the flow feels even more satisfying when you’re equipped with one of the 13 weapons at your disposal in the game.
Reeled In
Focusing on the combat mechanics for the 30-minute preview session was certainly a wise move by SEGA, especially given how difficult it can be to gain a true feeling of everything going on in a game in such a limited period.
I’ll admit, prior to my hands-on experience, I wasn’t overly sold on Stranger Than Heaven, and would’ve only played it if it came to XBOX Game Pass, but now, I’m eagerly awaiting the release.
The fact that you can develop and upgrade your weapons along the way, settling into a style that suits you, is even more encouraging, and I know the combat will feel even better when I’ve truly found my rhythm with the game.
All in all, I was thoroughly impressed with Stranger Than Heaven’s combat mechanics, and I’m looking forward to the next time I jump in with a controller in hand, ready to take down anyone who opposes me.
