It’s been a while since we did a spotlight on VR, so we’re making up for that by tackling three new games at once! Here are The Signifier VR, Rooms of Realities and Sherlock Holmes and The Hung Parliament.
The Signifier VR review (Quest)
The Signifier VR takes players on a captivating journey into the depths of the mind, weaving a tale of mystery and intrigue. Developed by Playmestudio and published by Raw Fury, this first-person tech-noir adventure combines elements of investigation, experimental psychology, and artificial intelligence. As we dive into the narrative-rich world of The Signifier VR once more (we enjoyed its flat screen version before), we’ll examine its Quest 2 version.
At its core, The Signifier VR is a story-driven adventure that delves into the realms of objective memories and subjective experiences. Set in a tech-noir atmosphere reminiscent of Black Mirror and Philip K. Dick stories, the game invites players to unravel a mystery of death and despair. As Frederick Russell, an expert in AI and psychology, players navigate the enigmatic case of the vice president of a prominent tech company, using an experimental deep brain scanner known as the Dreamwalker. This intriguing premise sets the stage for an exploration of fringe psychology, as players seek to uncover the dark truth behind the protagonist’s demise.
The gameplay of The Signifier VR revolves around diving into people’s memories, solving puzzles, and piecing together the sequence of events surrounding the crime. By examining various objects and interacting with characters, players gather information and reconstruct memories to gain insights into the murder mystery. The concept of exploring subjective reconstruction adds an extra layer of complexity, as not all memories are entirely accurate. It’s a tantalizing blend of investigation and psychological exploration that makes for an immersive experience, but while the core gameplay mechanics are engaging, we had some issues with bugs and glitches that hindered our progress.
The Signifier VR isn’t as visually impressive as its 2D sibling, but still managed to craft an immersive and well-crafted techno-thriller environment. Bringing the tech-noir aesthetic to life, the game creates an atmosphere that is both haunting and captivating as you hunt for clues to the mystery. The audio adds to an unsettling ambience, adding to the psychological tension.
Despite the technical issues, The Signifier VR for Quest 2 offers a compelling and unique experience for fans of story-driven adventures and psychological mysteries. The game’s premise of diving into memories, its blend of investigation and subjective reconstruction, and its visually engaging world combine to create an immersive and thought-provoking adventure. While the bugs may currently impede progress, we hope that the developers will address these in a patch. With its intriguing concept and visually appealing design, The Signifier VR has the potential to captivate players who are willing to dive deep into the realm of the mind – those who enjoy Philip K. Dick stories will want to take note.
Rooms of Realities review (Quest)
Rooms of Realities, developed by Bluekey and published by Gamedust, offers a solid VR puzzle escape room experience that immerses players in unique scenarios. With well-balanced puzzles, cooperative gameplay, and nice visuals, it’s one to watch for escape room fans. We’re checking out the Quest 2 version.
Rooms of Realities introduces players to a series of puzzle-filled adventures set in diverse scenarios, with more chapters and scenarios to be added post-launch. The game’s premise focuses on solving puzzles alone or in cooperation with friends, emphasizing communication and teamwork. The narrative elements may be minimal, but the adventure within the pyramid (during the first mission) sets the stage for an enjoyable experience.
The puzzles in Rooms of Realities strike a balance between challenge and accessibility, making it suitable for casual puzzle fans, especially when playing together with others. The difficulty level allows players to think and observe their surroundings, without reaching frustrating levels for most players. The ability to play both solo and in online co-op mode adds versatility to the gameplay experience, and because there’s no escape timer you get to engage with the puzzles at your own pace. Rooms of Realities offers flexible control options, including full locomotion and teleportation, catering to different player preferences. The game also provides comfort options, allowing players to choose between seated or standing playstyles.
The game’s graphics, powered by the Unity Engine, are generally nice to look at. The visuals effectively complement the overall experience, creating an immersive atmosphere within each scenario. Although more content and longer levels would be appreciated, what’s here definitely has promise. Rooms of Realities is currently Early Access on Steam so there’s a WIP feel to it, but the well-balanced puzzles, cooperative gameplay, and appealing visuals already create an engaging experience. As the game evolves, it has the potential to become a noteworthy title within the VR escape room genre, though it’s not currently at the level of titles like The Room VR: A Dark Matter.
Sherlock Holmes The Case of the Hung Parliament review (Quest)
Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Hung Parliament, developed by Les Enfants Terribles and vrisch, brings the world’s greatest detective to life in a gripping live-action VR adventure. Available now on the Quest 2 via AppLab, this immersive point-and-click mystery detective game offers an evening-sized experience that combines the realms of immersive theatre and VR technology into an interesting and rather unique hybrid.
Set in Victorian London, the stakes are high as three cabinet members have been found mysteriously hanged in their offices, with the Prime Minister’s birthday approaching. With Sherlock Holmes missing, it falls upon you, alongside a group of Inspector Lestrade’s recruits, to unravel the case before the clock strikes midnight. The narrative presents an intricate web of suspects, each with a plausible motive, challenging players to interrogate, analyze crime scenes, collect evidence, and construct a compelling case using deduction skills. The storyline immerses players in the world of Sherlock Holmes, offering a delightful combination of mystery and suspense.
Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Hung Parliament in VR employs a variety of gameplay mechanics to engage players in the investigation. Through a mix of live-action segments featuring live actors and 360-degree photos with point-and-click features as well as interactive video segments, the game keeps players on their toes. The gameplay mechanics focus on unraveling the mystery rather than providing typical escape room-style puzzles, offering a refreshing take on the genre and a unique audiovisual approach – though you can tell this concept wasn’t originally built from the ground up for VR.
For a smaller title there are some lovely production values at work here though, especially when it comes to the performances and costumes – you can tell the team has experience with (immersive) theater. There’s limited replay value here, but as an experience it’s certainly unique and a must-play for Sherlock Holmes fans with access to VR. The narrative, and the way it’s delivered, more than make up for rather basic gameplay mechanics.
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