PGC NEWS

Strange Brigade, a co-op shooter set in 1930s Egypt, promised adventure and excitement. Developed by Rebellion Developments, the studio behind the Sniper Elite series, it aimed to offer a fresh IP in a gaming landscape often dominated by sequels. However, does Strange Brigade live up to its potential, or does it get lost in the sands of time?

Strange Brigade character selection screen

A Repetitive Gameplay Loop

The core gameplay loop of Strange Brigade is simple: shoot enemies, complete levels, upgrade weapons, and repeat. Players control one of four adventurers – a mercenary, a warrior, a professor, and an engineer – as they explore ancient ruins and battle hordes of mummies and other supernatural creatures. While the initial premise is intriguing, the execution falls short. The limited variety of weapons quickly becomes apparent. A pistol is replaced by another pistol, a shotgun by another shotgun, and so forth. More interesting weapons like flamethrowers and machine guns are found in temporary pickups scattered throughout the levels, disappearing once their ammo is depleted.

Strange Brigade gameplay screenshot

Special abilities, acquired through amulets and artifacts, are equally underwhelming, offering little more than area-of-effect attacks with cooldown timers. Collectibles unlock new weapons and abilities, but the overall lack of depth makes the progression system feel hollow.

A Bland Single-Player Experience

In single-player, Strange Brigade’s shortcomings become even more pronounced. The enemy variety is limited, and regardless of the size or speed of the foes, the optimal strategy remains the same: shoot, reload, dodge, repeat. While the guns feel impactful, the lack of engaging enemy encounters leaves the combat feeling repetitive and uninspired. Environmental traps, like spinning blades and explosive barrels, offer a brief diversion, but their implementation is simplistic and predictable.

Puzzles That Fail to Challenge

Beyond combat, Strange Brigade features puzzle elements. However, these “puzzles” are incredibly basic and repetitive. Matching symbols to open doors, aligning light beams, and finding hidden switches are the extent of the intellectual challenge offered. The lack of complexity makes these puzzles feel more like tedious busywork than engaging gameplay elements.

Co-op: More of the Same

The four-player co-op mode fails to address the core gameplay issues. When a player is downed, they are instantly revived at a nearby sarcophagus, eliminating any sense of consequence or teamwork. Furthermore, despite the presence of four distinct characters, their differences are purely cosmetic. Players can choose any character they like, leading to the possibility of four identical characters on the same team.

Strange Brigade promotional screenshot

A Missed Opportunity

Strange Brigade is not a fundamentally broken game; it’s simply boring. The 1930s Egyptian setting is visually appealing but ultimately forgettable, and the linear level design does little to enhance the gameplay experience. The core mechanics are competent but lack depth, and the co-op mode fails to capitalize on its potential. Ultimately, Strange Brigade offers little that can’t be found in other co-op shooters, leaving it lost in the sands of time.

System Requirements

Minimum:

• OS: 64-bit Windows 7, 64-bit Windows 10
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1500X / Intel CPU Core i7-3770
• RAM: 8GB
• GPU: AMD Radeon RX570 / Nvidia GPU GeForce GTX 1070
• HDD: 35GB

Recommended:

• OS: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
• CPU: i5 8400
• RAM: 16 GB
• GPU: GTX 1060 6GB
• HDD: 1TB

Developed and published by Rebellion.