Set in an enchanting, storybook world, Moss is an interactive fairytale
of grand adventure, bravery and friendship. Now, that might sound like
the blurb from every fantasy game you've ever played, but Moss is different.
This is a game that oozes charm from its every pore, and from the very
first moment that you're introduced to protagonist Quill, a tiny mouse
with a big personality, you can tell that you're about to play something
very, very special indeed.
Unlike most VR games that are played from the third-person
perspective, in Moss you're much more than just a passive bystander or
an intelligent camera on a swivel. Casting you as 'The Reader' a ghostly
figure that looks not unlike No-Face from Spirited Away, Moss uses VR
to place you inside the game in a truly unique way. You and Quill are a
team, and as the game progresses your interactions with each other in
VR will help you form a type of bond that's just not possible in
conventional video games.
As the Reader, you not only control
Quill's movements as she runs, jumps and fights her way around the
world, but you're also able to use motion controls to interact with
certain parts of the scenery. By tracking the light bar on your
DualShock controller, Moss allows you to reach into the levels and pull,
push and prod at things. Represented in game by a glowing ball of
energy, the 'power of the Reader' reacts with moveable objects and
causes them to glow. These moveable objects often form the basis for
basic platforming puzzles, most of which revolve around repositioning
blocks or statues in order to create a route for Quill to navigate
through each scene.
The richness of the world that Polyarc
has created makes Moss one of the most beautiful, believable VR games
I've ever played. Take the opening chapter; as you get to grips with the
controls you take a leisurely stroll through Quill's woodland home, a
Lilliputian village built on, in and around the trunks of trees.
Exploring this tiny town and watching the residents pottering about
feels something like seeing a model village brought to life via some Jim
Henson magic.
Quill herself is exquisitely animated. From the
little spins and flourishes as she clambers up ledges through to the way
she communicates with you in a simplified form of sign language; it's
all flawless stuff. This attention to detail combined with the magic of
VR takes character interaction to another level. Get into difficulty
with a puzzle for instance and Quill will wave at you, beckoning you to
lean in towards her. Get close enough and she'll make a gesture that
hints at what you need to do next. It's a lovely touch that feels
organic rather than pre-programmed.
Not all interactions are
functional, though; many just help to reinforce the connection between
you and Quill. One time I leant down to peer into a tunnel and my
unexpected presence behind Quill caused her to physically jump. She
turned around shocked and then wagged her finger at me as if to tell me
off for startling her. It's these unexpected moments that give Moss so
much of its magic - I could list so many more, but it's probably best
for you to discover them yourself.
It's
an extremely approachable game, though there are challenges to be found
in Moss, with environmental hazards and enemies that come in the form
of metallic, clockwork-like beetles known as the Forged. It's through
interactions with these that you'll experience combat. This process can
feel a bit fiddly at first, especially as you get comfortable with
controlling Quill whilst also thinking about the position of your
controller in 3D space. It won't take long to settle into it though, and
soon you'll be zipping about dealing damage and healing Quill like it's
second nature. Once you've mastered how to evade, combat does start
feeling rather simplistic though and only later battles that feature
large amounts of enemies will offer a significant challenge.
The
Forged aren't just there to provide some action-packed breaks in the
platforming though, they're also an integral part of many of the games
puzzles. Using your power you can take control of the Forged and lead
them around with your controller like you're pulling them along on a
leash. Screechers, the standard Forged enemies, can be placed on
pressure pads to open doors, whilst others, like the gun toting Scorcher
or the explosive Ticker can be used to trigger switches from afar.
It's
also worth pointing out that while none of the puzzles are terribly
taxing, most are balanced well enough to give you a satisfying sense of
achievement once you've solved them. Oh, and working out a particularly
lengthy puzzle will often cause Quill to give you a thumbs up and a
little squeak of approval; something that never fails to raise a smile.
The only major criticism I can give to Moss is that, at three and
a half to four hours long, it's all over far too quickly. The budget
price tag does something to temper this of course, as does the fact that
this is a textbook case of quality over quantity. In the grand scheme
of things it's also worth remembering that this short runtime is about
average for a VR title, but still, Moss felt like it ended just as it
was starting to really get going. With the promise of further games on
the horizon though, I guess it probably did.
Polyarc really has
created the perfect game for PSVR here. It's not just something that
youngsters and adults alike can enjoy; it's also an experience you'll
want to share with as many people as possible. This is VR that's capable
of changing people's perception of the platform from one that's a
novelty, to one that's a legitimate, exciting progression for gaming as a
whole.
The world of Moss feels like a real place, populated with
characters that act like living, breathing creatures. The addition of VR
elevates the experience to something else entirely. It allows you too
lean into Quill's world, to inspect it, to explore it and to fiddle and
interact with it. It disintegrates the invisible barriers that have
existed between the player and their avatar since video games first came
about, and it does so in a way that'll make your heart soar.
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