Crimen – Mercenary Tales, developed by Carbon Studio, brings a lighthearted arcade slasher adventure to the world of VR. With an attractive comic-inspired art style and promising eight character-driven tales, the game aims to provide an action-packed experience. However, while it offers moments of enjoyment, it falls short in certain aspects. Let’s dive into the details of this VR title for the Quest 2.
Crimen starts off with a familiar fantasy setup of heroes sharing their tales in a village pub. Each of the eight protagonists presents their story, taking players on a journey filled with monster hunting, tomb raiding, and rescuing damsels in distress. The game injects doses of humor into these stories, often providing entertaining moments. However, the characters themselves come across as somewhat generic and fail to deliver the intended humor and imagination.
The core gameplay of Crimen revolves around its melee combat system, reminiscent of Carbon Studio’s previous title, Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall. Players engage in hack-and-slash combat, facing enemies that attack with swords and shields. Combat initially offers satisfaction, requiring strategic parries and attacks. However, it becomes repetitive, as enemies lack sophistication and tend to mindlessly go through their animations and attack patterns. The combat system also suffers from flaws and exploits, making encounters feel more like waves of enemies to be mindlessly dispatched. The inclusion of heavy and ranged enemy types adds some variety but fails to alleviate the overall repetitiveness.
Crimen incorporates climbing sections and puzzles to break up the combat, giving players a richer sense of adventure. The climbing mechanics work reasonably well, but lack the polish found in Carbon Studio’s previous games. Puzzles are relatively simple, designed to be accessible rather than challenging. While these elements provide a welcome diversion, they feel more like fillers rather than meaningful gameplay additions. The absence of an upgrade system, limited weapon variety, and a lack of depth contribute to the game’s lack of long-term engagement and replay value.
Visually, Crimen impresses with its comic book art style, tailored to suit the limitations of the Quest VR platform. The colorful and vibrant levels, ranging from castles to ancient temples, pop within the headset despite the limited level of detail. However, there is a noticeable drop in detail at a short distance from the player. The game’s sound design and voicework complement the visuals, reinforcing the comic stylings. The Slavic folk-inspired musical score sets the tone for the light-hearted adventure.
Crimen – Mercenary Tales falls short of its potential, delivering an average VR experience. While its cartoonish art style and variety of environments make it visually appealing, the repetitive combat and lack of depth hinder long-term engagement. The game’s climbing sections and puzzles provide a brief respite from combat but fail to offer significant gameplay depth. Despite its moments of enjoyment, Crimen struggles to find its own identity and doesn’t stand out among other VR titles. It may appeal to those seeking a simple and light VR adventure, but those looking for a more immersive and engaging experience may find it lacking – especially if you already have richer titles in your VR library.
Score: 6.6/10
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