El Paso, Elsewhere Explained

El Paso, Elsewhere
Developer:Strange Scaffold
Publisher:Strange Scaffold
Engine:Unity[1]
Platforms:
Genre:Third-person shooter
Modes:Single-player

El Paso, Elsewhere is a 2023 third-person shooter game developed and published by Strange Scaffold. Players control a vampire hunter who tries to stop his ex-girlfriend, a vampire, from destroying the world. It is inspired by Max Payne and has retro 2000s-era graphics.

El Paso, Elsewhere released for Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on September 26, 2023. A PlayStation 5 version is scheduled to be released on September 6, 2024. The game received generally positive reviews from critics.

Gameplay

Players control James Savage, a narcotics-addicted vampire hunter who is tracking down his ex-girlfriend, Draculae, a vampire bent on ending the world.[1] While fighting supernatural creatures, players rescue hostages from the motel where the vampire lives. El Paso, Elsewhere is a third-person shooter. The mechanics were inspired by the Max Payne series, the combat by Quake, and the difficulty by Hotline Miami. Like its inspirations, it uses retro-style graphics reminiscent of the early 2000s. Cinematics and monologues explain the backstory between Savage and Draculae.[2]

Development and release

Initially, players had to escort the hostages to the exit, but Strange Scaffold had trouble making this mechanic fun. During development, several other major changes were made, such as adding verticality (such as staircases), and changing how the cinematics were rendered. Changing the cinematics delayed the release substantially.[2]

Development took about 10 months, after which Strange Scaffold almost ran out of money. The founder, Xalavier Nelson Jr., said getting further funding was difficult because investors balked at his refusal to engage in what he felt was an unhealthy work environment.[3] Strange Scaffold published El Paso, Elsewhere for Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on September 26, 2023.[4] A PlayStation 5 version is scheduled to be released on September 6, 2024.[5]

Reception

El Paso, Elsewhere received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.

Rock Paper Shotgun called it "a strangely sad and sweet odyssey" and said everything in the game "comes together completely flawlessly" despite seeming that they should not,[6] a view echoed by Slant Magazine.[7] In comparing it to the surreality of Lost Highway and Repo Man, Eurogamer said it is "both direct and gloriously weird". GameSpot wrote, "El Paso, Elsewhere combines simple yet delicately balanced action with an engrossing story about vampires, love, and the end of the world." TechRadar called El Paso, Elsewhere "creative and thoughtful" but said Savage's monologues become dreary and pointlessly edgy. Digital Trends praised the narrative, themes, and retro-style gameplay, calling it "one of the most captivating indies of the year". Though complimenting it as an excellent Max Payne homage, Hardcore Gamer said the "impressive story, surreal world and unforgettable soundtrack" make it unique.

Accolades

YearCeremonyCategoryResult
202413th New York Game AwardsOff-Broadway Award for Best Indie Game[8] [9]
27th Annual D.I.C.E. AwardsOutstanding Achievement for an Independent Game[10] [11]

Film adaptation

On April 22, 2024, a film adaptation of El Paso, Elsewhere was announced. It is set to be produced by Di Bonaventura Pictures, Colin Stark, with LaKeith Stanfield in talks to star and produce.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: This game about 'confronting relationship trauma' perfectly illustrates why it's a bad idea to date Draculae, lord of the vampires. Wilde. Tyler. PC Gamer. 2023-04-10. 2023-09-26.
  2. Web site: Making and breaking the Max Payne-like rules of El Paso, Elsewhere. Machkovech. Sam. Game Developer. 2023-09-26. 2023-09-26.
  3. Web site: El Paso, Elsewhere Wears Its Bloodstained Heartbreak on Its Sleeve. Valentine. Rebekah. IGN. 2023-09-30. 2023-10-01.
  4. Web site: El Paso, Elsewhere. Gematsu. February 22, 2023 . 2023-09-26.
  5. Web site: Romano. Sal. El Paso, Elsewhere coming to PS5 on September 6. Gematsu. July 8, 2024. July 8, 2024.
  6. Web site: El Paso, Elsewhere review: a cosmic third-person shooter from a forgotten age. Casey. Siobhán. Rock Paper Shotgun. 2023-09-26. 2023-09-26.
  7. Web site: El Paso, Elsewhere Review: A Gloriously Weird Dive into a Neo-Noir Fever Dream. Scaife. Steven. Slant Magazine. 2023-10-03. 2023-10-08.
  8. Web site: Baldur's Gate 3 leads New York Games Awards 2024 nominations. Sophie. McEvoy. Gameindustry.biz. January 5, 2024. January 21, 2024. January 5, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240105130739/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/baldurs-gate-3-leads-new-york-games-awards-2024-nominations. live.
  9. Web site: Baldur's Gate 3 wins big at New York Game Awards 2024 . 2024-01-24 . Games Industry.biz . McEvoy . Sophie .
  10. Web site: 27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Finalists . . interactive.org . 11 January 2024.
  11. Web site: DICE Awards 2023 Winners: The Full List . Bankhurst . Adam . . 15 February 2024 . 16 February 2024.
  12. News: Grobar . Matt . LaKeith Stanfield Circling 'El Paso, Elsewhere' Video Game Adaptation . 22 April 2024 . 22 April 2024 . Deadline Hollywood.