Tally Ho!

Prepare For Tales Of Derring-do And Adventure In The Spiffing Co-op Shooter Strange Brigade

- Daniella Lucas

Why has nobody done this before? Sure, there are plenty of co-op shooters out there, but you’d be hard-pressed to find another setting quite like this. With its mix of ancient tombs, mummies, and British cheekiness, it’s reminiscent of those over-the-top and clichéd adventure novels—the kind of thing that Indiana Jones was also inspired by. Think naive colonialism, tea breaks, and a sprinkling of spike pits. It plays with its historical inspirations in a way that’s very tongue-in-cheek, and plays out like a matinee viewing at a 1930s cinema. With such a unique universe, it makes for an extremely compelling proposition.

Unlike Rebellion’s other big game, Sniper Elite, the shooting here is much faster and punchier. Instead of picking off enemies one by one, Strange Brigade is all about getting messy, and controlling a crowd using an array of weapons, special powers, and traps. The guns feel chunky in your hands, and if you chain kills together fast enough you’ll fill up bars for your character of choice’s special move, be that launching a mummy into a crowd or letting loose a horde of insects. Death is merely a slight inconvenience, and another chance for the devs to have a little fun. When you die you don’t lose your progress, you merely pop out of a conveniently positioned sarcophagus declaring “‘tis but a scratch” before throwing yourself back into the fray.

ALL TALK