El Paso, Elsewhere

Strange Scaffold’s El Paso, Elsewhere knocked me off my feet. I was expecting a straightforward story with crunchy, Max Payne-y shooting mechanics, and I got that and so much more, including a surprisingly weight narrative that stayed with me long after I rolled credits. The campaign, which follows two ex-lovers as they collide underneath a shower of blood and bullets, is gut-wrenching. El Paso, Elsewhere is about coping with trauma and finding the strength to let go of those who hurt us.

I lost a lot of friends in 2023, so El Paso, Elsewhere’s narrative hit very close to home. It showed me how to find the resolve to move forward despite the scars I carry. It demonstrated how capable I am of letting go despite how hard it feels to do so. It was a lesson in determination and perseverance even when the easiest option is giving up. And although on the surface it appears like a mindless shooting romp, what’s buried underneath is evocative and moody in ways I wasn’t quite expecting. El Paso, Elsewhere floored me, and I can’t wait to run through it again next year.

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