Shaun Munro reviews Moss on PSVR…
Moss is without question PSVR’s most-anticipated game of 2018, winning the hearts of headset owners way back at its E3 debut last June, and building up a strong head of hype ever since. Thankfully, the year’s second “AAA” PSVR title is for the most part a terrifically executed, endearingly cute and thoroughly immersive romp, even if its disappointing brevity may leave you both craving and expecting more.
The player takes the role of the Reader, who while browsing books in a grand library, uncovers the tale of a mouse, Quill, who attempts to rescue her uncle and save her town from an oversized snake known as Sarffog. Entering Quill’s world, the Reader must assist the swashbuckling little mouse on her quest to free her homeland.
There are those gamers – both VR owners and not – who remain sceptical about the utility of third-person VR games, and Moss is perhaps the medium’s most persuasive rebuke to all that doubt. There are certainly other successful third-person games available for PSVR – Wayward Sky in particular is an under-appreciated gem – though the meticulous artistry with which Quill’s world has been created sends Moss surging to the top of the pack.
From the moment the player is thrown into this world, there is a palpable sense of wonder from the diorama-like construction of each screen Quill must pass through in order to progress. Craning your head to peek around various nooks and crannies, either to take a closer look at a puzzle or just for curiosity’s sake, is an utter delight, and on occasion the game will even allow you to give little Quill a high-five following a job well done.
The bulk of the game revolves around fairly basic platforming and slightly more advanced puzzle-solving. As the Reader, you’ll need to manipulate environmental objects to help Quill progress, often operating both characters at the same time with the DualShock 4. Though you may get momentarily stumped on occasion, most of the puzzles can be figured out in just a few short minutes.
It’s appropriate that a game starring an adorable mouse isn’t especially on the difficult side, making this an easy sell for families who play VR together. Frustration is minimal thanks to extremely generous checkpointing, ensuring you’re never thrown back further than the screen you’re on, which usually means mere seconds are lost. With the busy lives we all lead, more games should be this respectful of the player’s time.
Moss does also feature light combat, where Quill has to use her sword to fend off metallic beetle-like creatures, cannon-totting scorpions and spider-like thingies with exploding egg sacs (don’t worry arachnophobes; you’ll be fine). For my money, this was by far the most perfunctory, even dull aspect of the game; every single enemy type, of which there are just a few, has a boring, predictable attack pattern. This makes fighting easy, but often the game will gate off progress and force you to fight through a gauntlet of 10-20 enemies, which elicited a groan from me almost every time it happened.
Again, the fantastic checkpointing means you won’t need to repeat yourself much if you die, but it’s the fighting that most often feels like unnecessary padding. I would’ve had no problem with combat being stripped out entirely, to be honest (save for the impressive final boss fight, perhaps).
Stylistically, Moss is a marvel, in case you hadn’t guessed. PSVR games are always going to be handicapped somewhat by the headset’s limitations, but more recent games do seem to suggest developers are figuring out how to make the most of the tech. While many VR worlds become unconscionably ugly on closer inspection, Moss‘ texture quality is generally pretty robust even when you’re peering right up against objects.
The environments Quill passes through on her adventure feel very much lived-in, but it’s the quality of the protagonist’s animation that’s surely its most charming visual asset. If you’re stuck, Quill will make motion with her hands as to what to do next, and she’ll often speak to you in sign language, a flourish both inclusive and cute.
Aurally, the game also has a strong showing. The ethereal musical score feels as polished as any sweeping swell you’d hear in a Hollywood animation, while some wonderfully soothing voiceover narration adds plenty of charm, and the faint high-pitched eeks and screeches from Quill herself are equally lovely. Environmental sound effects are solid, though feel pretty dulled in the sound mix compared to the other, more abundant elements.
And now, we come to the elephant in the room, and why despite all this praise I wouldn’t necessarily implore you to purchase Moss immediately; the price. Launching for £24.99 and arriving with AAA expectations, it’s safe to say that players were probably crossing their fingers for an adventure clocking in at around the 4-5 hour mark, yet my first play-through took merely 2.5 hours (and I sure wasn’t rushing). It is the definition, perhaps, of a short-but-sweet game, yet it’s over way too fast and just doesn’t feel substantial enough for the asking price.
If you’ve got money to burn or your PSVR headset’s been collecting dust for too long, you won’t want to wait a moment longer, but if you’re a frugal or patient gamer who shops around, you’re best advised waiting for a sale in a few months. Collectible scrolls may encourage you to give it a second play-through, but even then, you’re still paying a pretty hefty “VR tax”. Patching in a sandbox mode where you can goof around with Quill would be an easy way to boost the game’s value, though.
Curiously, Moss‘ end credits refer to the game as “Book I”, implying more volumes will follow if this one is successful (which it surely will be). If Polyarc is planning on charging this much for each new volume, they may come unstuck, but if some more content follows as free DLC, then perhaps that price tag might feel a little more reasonable.
Pricing quibbles aside, Moss is PSVR’s strongest and most charming offering in quite some time, a largely stress-free, relaxing, gorgeous adventure that ends just as it feels like it’s getting started. What’s there is very impressive, but it’s just not enough for what it’ll cost you right now.
Pros:
+ Superb use of third-person VR.
+ Quill is a perfectly adorable PSVR mascot.
+ Lovely music.
+ Well-balanced difficulty with generous checkpoints.
Cons:
– Disappointingly short length for the price.
– Some tedious combat sequences.
Rating: 7.5/10
Reviewed on PSVR.
Shaun Munro – Follow me on Twitter for more video game rambling.
