Virtual, Virtual Reality (PSVR) Review

From the start you’ll realize that the game is very polished and highly detailed.  The vivid colours and smooth graphics is indeed a treat to the eyes.  The environment is very large scale and most of the set pieces are large scale rooms that do an amazing job of making you feel the sense of scale.  You do feel like you actually in the game world. 

The premise of the game is that in the near future, most jobs have become automated and thus humans have lost all purpose for their existence.  In this time of need, a savior arises in the form of a company called Activitude.  Activitude is a Virtual Labor System that matches humans with A.I. clients.  These clients however, have needs that only humans can fulfill.  

Virtual Virtual Reality can be described as taking the best parts of games like Job Simulator and Accounting+ and combining them into something that just works.  The gameplay comprises the completion of a sequence of tasks for each of the A.I. clients, who would then score your performance.  When each task is completed you are taken back to a hub world where your guide Chaz (that’s the robot with the single eye) would comment on your performance before setting up for the next task.  Not wanting to spoil a minute of anything it has to offer, I intentionally did not include the any surprises, specific jokes or plot twists in this review.

Nothing is taken seriously, each comment from Chaz is double meaning.  The A.I. clients take every opportunity to belittle you if you don’t follow exact instructions. And the entire thing is a hodgepodge of comically weird situations, overarching conspiracies and self-doubting moments – And I have to say, I loved every moment of it.  These types of games can be a hit or a miss with audiences as they are catering for a niche of persons that would be interested in the premise they have make to offer.  Virtual Virtual Reality wins on all fronts.  The game is filled with dialog choices that all correspond to your actions.  You really do find yourself questioning your actions and thinking of what is the best action to take before you do it. 

You can play with 2 PS move controllers, which is recommended for the most immersive experience.  Or you can play with the dual shock 4 controller which is not as immersive but offers slightly more exact controls.  My biggest and only problem is with navigation.  There is no turning option mechanic to speak of, you physically turn your body to reach the periphery areas or you can tap the move button three time to do a complete reversal to face the opposite direction.  It’s not ideal and the difficulty with navigation was a bit of hindrance at times.

Whilst playing you do feel a sense of freedom and the ability to do anything you want to do within the environment.  Most objects are intractable, and the voice acting along with the over the top dialog is perfect.  Virtual Virtual Reality is definitely a must buy.  It deserves to join the ranks of the must have games released on the PSVR platform thus far.  Anyone looking for a light hearted, pickup and enjoy experience will enjoy Virtual Virtual Reality.

Déraciné (PSVR) Review

Déraciné is the latest VR exclusive game from the creators of the Dark Souls franchise ‘FromSoftware’.  The game is about the story of a fairy that is summoned by one of the children of a boarding school.  You are the invisible fairy and it’s your job to interact with the people and objects in the world to achieve certain outcomes.

In European folklore, a Deracine is a person who is take from their home to another place.  This ties into the narrative of the game – as it includes pieces of folklore in its storytelling.

From the start you will realize that Deracine is not for everyone. The mystical approach, and heavy focus on storytelling is very different from the previous games the studio became well known for.  If you are not put off by this and decide to take the journey however, you might enjoy what the game has to offer.

You progress the story by teleporting around the world and interacting with objects. Thankfully the puzzles are fairly simple and exploration is encouraged.  The graphics of the world is crisp and clear. Environments and objects look great in VR and everything has a natural tone from the ambient lighting.  

The game soundtrack is heavily low toned, with looping melodies.  It matches the style and feeling of the world very well.  Deracine can feel like a point-and-click adventure to some people, but the choice to make it only playable in VR was a good one.  As playing in VR allows the player to better connect with the characters and experience the story of the world more fully.

Sadly, there are some bad points about the game as well.  Some of the puzzles don’t make much sense and can become annoying trying to figure out what they require you to do.  Persons who aren’t fans of teleportation movement will not be happy, as there is no free movement.  And lastly, the game is not very long but once you see everything – there is little interest to go back see play it again. 

As we mentioned before, the game is not for everyone.  Many will be turned off by this type of game from the start, but if you are willing to commit and pick up this title for the $29.99 asking price there is an experience in Deracine for you to enjoy.

Home Sweet Home (PSVR) Review

Home Sweet Home is a heart stopping journey down the halls of a twisted nightmare.  But the question is, is it worth your time? Let’s find out in our review of Home Sweet Home for the PSVR.

Home Sweet Home is a game that tells a story of a wife that has gone missing, and a husband’s journey to find her.  One night, Tim wakes up in a seemingly abandoned building instead of his home. While trying to escape, he’s hunted by a hostile female spirit.  Her approach is made even more terrifying by her constant wailing and the disturbing clicking sounds she makes with her box cutter.  The player not only has to focus on stealth, but also solve puzzles and investigate their surroundings to unlock the mystery of what exactly is going on.

The events of the story take place in Thailand, and feature many interesting cultural beliefs and mythology.  The game explains its backstory along the way by use of ‘collectibles’ such as logs, diary entries, and newspaper clippings - that give details of past events in the story. 

Graphics are crisp and clear, and the world is highly well detailed.  My main complaint is with some of the character models, specifically of the humans in the game.  While the demonic creatures and monsters look fearful and as realistic as could possibly be, the human characters seem to just miss the mark.  Often looking odd and sometimes unnatural in the greater context of the world.  

The game can be played in TV-Only or VR mode, but to get the most immersive experience – obviously the VR mode should be played.   For the most part, the majority of Home Sweet Home is extremely straight forward.  The most frustrating part is getting stuck on some of the puzzles.  Some puzzles give no context and can become rage causing-ly difficult.  Requiring the player to search the environment for hints and then using trial and error to hopefully find the solutions. If not give up all together and seek a walkthrough online.

"Box cutter" dead girl from Home Sweet Home (VR Game)

The game does its best to keep you the player always on edge. The environments often shift and change as you turn around.  Sometimes moving through a doorway can take you to a different world than the one you entered.  Avoiding enemies feels like playing hide and seek.  Waiting for the enemy to move out of sight before rushing onto the next progression point.  I have learned first-hand that attempting to sprint your walk through to the end of a level doesn’t work.  At times it can feel like an extreme test of patience to sit wait and wait- as your heart pounds out of your chest to be sure it is safe before progressing forward.

The sound design in Home Sweet home is amazing.  The music changes and sound effects give clues for when danger is approaching.  As mentioned before, you are alert to danger when the ghost girl is nearby auto cues as well as the sounds of her haunting cries and footsteps.    The only major stumble is the voice acting, as some parts can be laughable funny with how bad it is. 

Home Sweet Home is fairly short, and can be completed in approximately 5 hours.  This time can be longer if you try to get all collectables hidden throughout each level.  All in all, the game is an enjoyable horror experience.  The Thai mythology and setting is very interesting and there are truly scary moments to enjoy.  The game is available right now on the PSN store for $29.99.  Be aware however, that this is only episode 1 – the story is set to continue in futures episodes but no release date or additional is available at this time.