Moss: E-book 2 is the follow-up to 2018’s puzzle-platformer that was initially a PSVR unique. It is a charming and visually spectacular sport the place gamers management a cute mouse named Quill that begins off with a sword. Not like most conventional PSVR titles, Moss is performed utilizing the DualShock 4 controller with the VR headset as a substitute of the antiquated Transfer Movement Controllers. Quill is managed usually, however gamers have a zoomed-out isometric view of Quill and the assorted environments on this medieval fantasy world.
Whereas it may be a bit blurry at occasions as a result of not-so-powerful specs of the unique PSVR headset, Moss: E-book 2 nonetheless stands out as a result of quantity of element in its environments and stage design. Quill will undergo these puzzle rooms which might be basically tiny dioramas, and gamers can transfer their heads round to get a peek at small areas or to only take a look on the surrounding objects and nature. Being in a fantasy world, gamers will see intricate castles, lush forests teeming with foliage, decrepit caves, and even a coal and lava-filled manufacturing facility.
About 80% of Moss: E-book 2‘s six-hour size is spent fixing puzzles, starting from simply pulling/pushing blocks and lightweight platforming to extra intricate gravity-defying stunts. A lot of the puzzles fall into the previous, being fairly easy and simple.
Nonetheless, there are occasions when Moss‘ puzzles can rack one’s mind, particularly when gamers achieve entry to the remainder of Quill’s arsenal of weapons. She does begin out with a sword, which is principally used to assault enemies at sure occasions, however afterward, gamers can cost the weapon and use it to shortly sprint over lengthy distances, which is far more attention-grabbing when used for fixing puzzles, and fewer for fight situations. She additionally positive factors entry to a chakram and a hammer, which can be charged to carry out particular maneuvers, opening up the ground for extra multi-step puzzles and diversified fight.
Switching between these weapons may be barely annoying; as a substitute of simply urgent a button to rotate them out, gamers need to press the touchpad on the controller to open up the stock, after which drag the weapon to Quill utilizing the controller’s movement. Quill can generally be removed from the participant’s view, making it troublesome to bodily attain out to her.
For tinier rooms, it is simpler to succeed in Quill, however some bigger places within the sport could make it troublesome to work together along with her and different moveable objects. It is a sport that is high-quality to play sitting down, however gamers may want more room to work together with all the pieces and never stumble upon real-world stuff.
As talked about earlier than, there may be some fight in Moss: E-book 2, however it’s principally simple engagements, particularly when Quill solely has a sword within the first couple of hours. Gamers can slash their sword to assault these bug-like enemies, and so they principally go down with out a lot of a combat. There’s a dodge mechanic, too, permitting Quill to sprint out of the way in which of assaults shortly, however gamers should not discover themselves dying too usually, until they don’t seem to be listening to what is going on on.
Nonetheless, the sport’s problem picks up fairly a bit in the direction of the again half. As soon as Quill has the sword, hammer, and chakram, completely different enemy varieties will seem, and that is the place the weapon switching comes into play. There are bugs that want their armor damaged with the hammer earlier than Quill will get in there with a daily assault. However moreover that, the common encounters aren’t that diversified.
The boss fights make Moss: E-book 2‘s fight shine, as they have a tendency to make the most of the VR headset and movement controls in actually enjoyable and interesting methods. There aren’t many boss fights in Moss: E-book 2, because it’s principally exploration and puzzle-focused, however they’re a few of the greatest moments within the sport, and are actually cinematic. For instance, one of many boss fights takes place in a clock tower, and gamers must bodily pull down a church bell to make the boss fly into it, and it feels satisfying to tug off.
And since gamers are this world by way of the angle of a tiny mouse, the bosses look enormous and epic, and the backgrounds are eye-catching. At occasions, it may possibly even really feel that Moss: E-book 2 is a nature tour of types, letting gamers gawk on the depth and element of the world that Quill is exploring – all the pieces is simply attractive.
So far as the story for Moss: E-book 2 goes, there’s undoubtedly a stable framework which may tug on the heartstrings a bit, particularly with how the sport ends, however in the end, it wasn’t a memorable expertise. As an alternative of getting participating cutscenes throughout gameplay, a lot of the sport’s essential plot factors are informed with a fantasy storybook with static pictures on every web page that gamers flip with the movement of the DualShock. It is a charming strategy to inform a narrative, however having the story take a extra hands-on method would have been a lot appreciated to tug gamers in just a bit extra.
Generally it feels that Moss: E-book 2 would nonetheless be a high-quality sport if it had a non-VR mode for people who simply wish to expertise the sport with out the marginally annoying movement mechanics, however, for probably the most half, the added immersion works properly. The puzzles are pleasing and have simply sufficient problem with out making gamers beat their heads in opposition to a wall. Quill is such a likable and cute foremost character. The boss fights are spectacles and reap the benefits of PSVR’s headset, and the environments are too fairly to not stare at each couple of minutes.
Whereas there are different PSVR video games that gamers ought to take a look at first if they simply picked up the headset for the primary time, Moss: E-book 2 continues to be a top quality puzzle platformer that may be completed in just some brief hours, offering of us with gentle puzzle-solving and a reasonably emotional journey.
Moss: E-book 2 is out now for PSVR. Recreation Rant was offered a code for the needs of this assessment.
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