Moss | PlayStation VR Review
When the Playstation VR first launched, my mind immediately raced with the possibilities of playing games this way. It reignited the feeling I had when playing games as a child; the sense of wonder and amazement. Although virtual reality still has yet to strike a chord with the masses, I’m still hopeful for the future (as I’ve said on past episodes). After playing Polyarc‘s new platformer, Moss, that excitement is rekindled within me. Not only is this game gorgeous and whimsical, but it utilizes the hardware in a way that revitalizes the technology. When I want to sell someone on VR, this is now my go-to software tool to use.
Where most VR games have you viewing the world from the perspective of the main character’s eyes, Moss cleverly combines first-person and third-person viewpoints. You act as a reader/observer of a story that takes place in a fantasy world threatened by a giant snake named Sarffog. A young mouse by the name of Quill sets off to rescue her captured uncle and save the kingdom from the looming evil. If this setting sounds at all familiar, I would venture a guess that you’ve read the Redwall book series from author Brian Jacques. That’s not a bad thing, by any means; on the contrary, I found it very welcoming. The world is very charming, whimsical, and full of mysterious backdrops that beg explanation.
While playing Moss, you assume two roles. You’ll act as the observer through the VR goggles, but you’ll also have full control of Quill herself. Where the mechanics cross paths is when you are able to manipulate the environment around your mouse companion. Using either the PS4 controller or the Move wands, you can push or pull blocks, statues, and other obstacles. As Quill, you’ll perform light platforming and relatively simple melee combat. Despite the simplicity, the controls are surprisingly tight and responsive. This combination of gameplay makes for some clever and intuitive puzzles to solve. While they may never reach the level of satisfaction in games like Portal 2, they also never feel too complex or frustrating.
The complexity of the mechanics lets the player focus on the best part about Moss: the immersive visuals. I understand that virtual reality hasn’t reached the technical fidelity of console games with 1080p or 4K resolutions, but this is quite literally the best-looking PSVR game I’ve experienced to date. The amount of detail that goes into every wall, every pool of water, every beam of sunlight is breathtaking. On more than one occasion, I sat in the environment and just looked around staring at the beauty encompassing me. It’s genuinely that impressive, and the execution is flawless in terms of fidelity. I saw no frame rate issues or glitches of any kind once the hardware was set up.
Although I’ve included some screenshots of the game in this review, they honestly don’t do this game justice. Virtual reality is something that has to be experienced firsthand to truly appreciate what it can do. Moss is no different, especially considering the game looks better in the headset than it does on-screen. Even Quill herself has some of the most impressive animations I’ve seen inside a helmet. I caught myself stooping down to get a closer look at her and instinctively waving back at her when she looked at it. Completely surreal.
Moss Final Verdict
If you’ve been on the fence about giving VR a shot, this is the game that might convince you off the possibilities. It may be a shorter experience (around four hours), but the $29.99 price tag feels completely justified. I simply can’t recommend this experience enough, and have a renewed outlook for the future of virtual reality games. My hope is that other developers will take note of what VR could be and continue to progress with this medium. Because what they’ve put together is nothing short of magical.
Moss - PS4
$29.99
Pros
- Breathtaking Environments
- Clever Puzzles
- Charming/Whimsical Setting
Cons
- Simple/Easy Gameplay
- Technical Difficulties at Installation
