The Stanley Parable was one of the most influential indie games at the time, and its popularity has only risen since then. Many gamers may find it bizarre and off-putting because it is one of the most absurdist video games ever developed, while many others find it hauntingly fascinating.
The Stanley Parable is back in The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe, with a fresh coat of paint. This updated game has a tonne of new stuff for both new and old players to enjoy, including a slew of new endings that will push your creativity to its boundaries. However, with so much to see and so many winding roads to drive, it might be tough to see everything without a few pointers to get you started.
1. Keep Yourself Moving
Most video games teach players to go back for tips or to extensively investigate each room for hints or mysteries. While there are some neat things to discover throughout The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe's numerous rooms and settings, this isn't your typical adventure game with gobs of collectibles and hidden gems around every corner.
The narrative-driven game's biggest feature is the Narrator, who leads Stanley on his adventure no matter which path he chooses. The easiest method to view the best parts of The Stanley Parable is to keep going down whatever road the player is on. Plus, every room that players visit once will almost probably be revisited on another cycle.
2. Click On Things
In The Stanley Parable, the most common action players will take is: The act of strolling from room to room is Ultra Deluxe. Occasionally, up some stairs. However, there is a clicking element that allows players to click on various objects to observe how they react. The majority of things will not, but some will.
Many of the things that react don't do much other than move in a minor way, such as buttons, however clicking on a certain door unlocks a complete achievement. The Narrator then goes on a wild goose chase to get Stanley to perform a variety of absurd things before finally awarding the achievement to the players. The Narrator will be irritated if players unlock the broom closet and stand inside.
3. Look For New Paths
From the outset of the game, Stanley has a clearly defined path to follow, and the Narrator is eager to see Stanley fulfil it. This ending provides a sense of accomplishment, as well as a trophy for completing it in a set period of time, but it's far from the only one available to gamers.
To get to these various endings, players must violate the Narrator's wishes and deviate from his scripted plot. Look for alternate routes wherever you go. Some are evident, but others are deceptively hidden. Every road has something new to offer, and the inclusion of the Bucket alters the way each path functions, effectively doubling the number of possible outcomes.
4. Keep An Eye On The Environment
Even though most gamers ignore some of the more creative touches creators provide, environmental storytelling has always been crucial in narrative video games. The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe plays with this idea by delivering environmental stories that are both ironic and hilarious.
Some examples include pushing players to do things like completely reset the game or reminding them that, despite the Narrator's assertions, there is a prize for locating all of the items in the game. One of the whiteboards even has a checklist that gives hints as to where the player might still be missing treasures.
5. Challenge The Narrator
The Narrator believes that his story is the only way to play The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe, and many players may be conditioned to agree. Most video games are custom-made experiences created by developers to be played in a specific way.
The Stanley Parable is both nothing like this and everything like it. Challenging the Narrator is a game feature that players should take use of if they want to see everything the game has to offer. It isn't always simple, as the player is frequently forced to damage the Narrator's feelings or, in one case, drive him insane.
6. Obtain The Bucket
The Stanley Parable 2 Reassurance Bucket is a new addition to the game with The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe DLC, and it changes the course of each loop considerably if Stanley uses it. With the Bucket in tow, the Narrator will mention it in every sentence, and past paths will take on new meaning with the Bucket along for the voyage.
A passage that originally led to a signature set of red and blue doors, for example, is now off-limits to anyone with a Bucket. Instead, players will be diverted down a side path, where the Narrator will put them through a test to see if they can identify the difference between a bucket and something that isn't. Everything was a bucket in the end.
7. Each Ending Is Unique
There's no way to fail in The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe, with several endings and a wealth of information just beyond each one. There are no wrong answers because each ending is a unique experience that can only be had by making those specific choices.
Indeed, some of the more intriguing endings may appear to be a fail state or simply a boring, easily accessible conclusion, only to reveal more once the following loop begins. The Confusion Ending is an example of this occurrence, and the game takes pleasure in duping players in this manner.
The Stanley Parable's uneasiness is completely purposeful, and pausing to consider what just happened (or getting away from it for a moment) is a perfectly acceptable response. The Skip Button conclusion is extremely dark, thanks in part to Kevan Brighting's portrayal of the Narrator as he slowly loses his sanity while cut off from the rest of the world.
The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch.
