I absolutely love this game. Initially I had low expectations, the name is weird, the player model is ugly, the game's free. Surely it’s gonna suck!
I could not have been more wrong. This game feels like a love letter to the arena shooters of old (and new?). I get the same feeling playing this that I got when I played Deathmatch Classic, when I played Krunker. STRAFTAT iterates on them through its system of "takes" and "rounds". Each round is composed of a number of takes. The first player to win two takes (doesn't have to be consecutive) during a given round will win the round. The The map/arena remains consistent from take-to-take, but changes once a round is won. You also only get one life per take, as opposed to the rapid respawns present in its predecessors. The intended mode of play is “free for all”, but it has since received an update allowing for the division of players into teams.
Everything in this game is about speed. Movement, reactions, time to kill. When I booted up the game, the only piece of advice my friend gave me was "don't let go of the shift key". He was right though, movement skill is what separates good players from the greats. It doesn't matter how well you can aim if your opponents can just run circles around you. You'll die without even being able to fight back. The movement mechanics play into this, with crouch sliding giving you a speed boost forward. Chaining them together enables you to chase down other players and escape when in a pinch. Wall jumping opens up new ways to traverse the map, especially when combined with the aforementioned slide. These new routes create new avenues through which you can ambush other players and gain a strategic advantage. That advantage is wasted without the right tools though…
The tools in question being implements of DEATH! Weapon variety in STRAFTAT is excellent, with options for melee, short, midrange, and long range combat. Each of these niches have standouts: desirable weapons that make short work of your opponents. Weapons that will tip the balance of the take in your favor. To balance that, there are weapons that suck. Low ammo, low damage, inaccurate. Weapon pickups are random, so you’ve gotta play the hand you’re dealt. You can wait for the pickup point to spawn something else if you’d like, but there’s always the risk you’ll be gunned down in the meantime.
Map options are numerous and high quality, though you probably wouldn’t notice or think about it. Map conditions, sizes, and hazards vary considerably, making for a rotation that never feels stale. Plus, Steam workshop integration allows for community map creation and sharing.
STRAFTAT’s music is in a league of its own, and it’s the first thing you’ll experience on booting the game. Every track falls under the umbrella of Drum and Bass—hallmarked by rapid drumbeats and fast tempos—which perfectly suits the often chaotic and fast paced gameplay. Simply listening to the music puts you into the headspace in which the game is best played.
STRAFTAT’s biggest strength is its accessibility, being easy to run, learn, and enjoy. That’s why if any of the above stands out or sounds appealing, you owe it to yourself to give it a shot. Round up a couple friends, and waste an hour messing around and shooting each other!
