Strange Brigade Promises an Adventurous Co-Op Experience

Do you remember those classic serialized television spots from decades ago? I’m talking about the ones with the overly-energetic voice actor who describes the perils that your favorite heroes are about to endure. They’re usually accompanied by some bold, adventurous text emblazoned across the screen. If any of that sounds familiar, picture that style of presentation in a video game format, and you’ve got Strange Brigade from Rebellion Developments. Although this motif isn’t original, it feels fresh with a controller in hand, and I see quite a bit of promise with this cooperative adventure shooter.

The draw for this game is definitely the third-person co-op experience, which can be enjoyed with up to four people. “Adventure” is the key word with Strange Brigade. You’ll face off against a plethora of different Egyptian enemies including scorpions, multiple mummies, and many more.

What’s refreshing is that there’s a lot more going on than just shooting mechanics. Your adventurers scour the area for loot and solve puzzles that require teamwork. But there’s also a competitive aspect as well, since you’ll be racing to collect gold before your teammates do. The gold is used to upgrade weapons along the way, as well as to compare against the rest of your team at the end of each level.

The player movement and shooting feel very solid. Even though I wished my character moved at a slightly quicker pace, I had no trouble adapting to the controls quickly. The character I played was a female indigenous to the location. As I collected “souls” from fallen enemies, a gauge began to increase. Once full, I was able to unleash a fiery area of effect attack on the mummies around me. It was very satisfying indeed.

I’m eagerly anticipating the August release of Strange Brigade to team up with friends on this adventure. I’m particularly a fan of the multiple moving parts taking place here. There’s much more going on that just mowing down enemies, and it’s hard not to be captivated by the bombastic setting.

You can see my footage from my behind-closed doors meeting at this year’s E3 below. Furthermore, if you’d like to hear me discuss this game even more, be sure to check out our “E3 2018 | Day One Recap” podcast episode around the 46:49 mark.