Moss: Book 2 Review
Moss: The Book 2 is the follow-up to 2018’s puzzle-platformer that was initially exclusive to PSVR. This is a charming and wonderful game where players control a cute mouse named Quill who starts with a sword. Unlike most traditional PSVR titles, Moss is played with a DualShock 4 controller using a VR headset instead of the antiquated Move Motion Controllers. Quill is controlled normally, but players have a zoomed-out isometric view of Quill and the various environments in this medieval fantasy world. While it can be a bit blurry at times due to the not-so-powerful specs of the original PSVR headset, Moss: Book 2 still stands out due to the amount of detail in its environments and level design. Quill will go through these puzzle rooms that are almost miniature dioramas, and players can move their heads to peek into small spaces or just look at the surrounding objects and nature. Set in a fantasy world, players will find elaborate castles, lush forests full of foliage, dilapidated caves, and even a factory full of coal and lava. About 80% of Moss: Book 2’s six-hour length is spent solving puzzles, from simple block pulling/pushing and light platforming to more complex gravity-defying stunts. Most of the puzzles fall into the former, which is pretty simple and straightforward.
However, there are times when Moss’s puzzles can rack one’s brain, especially when players gain access to Quill’s other arsenal of weapons. He starts with a sword, which is mainly used to attack enemies at certain times, but later on, players can charge the weapon and use it to quickly run long distances, which is more interesting when used for solving puzzles, and less for combat scenarios. He also gains access to a chakram and a hammer, which can also be charged to perform special maneuvers, opening up the floor for more multi-step puzzles and different battles. Switching between these weapons can be slightly annoying; instead of just pressing a button to rotate them, players have to press the touchpad on the controller to open the inventory, and then drag the weapon to the Quill using the motion of the controller. Quill is sometimes far from the player’s view, making it difficult to physically interact with him. For smaller rooms, Quill is easier to reach, but some larger locations in the game can make it difficult to interact with him and other moving objects. It’s a game that’s great to play sitting down, but players may need more space to interact with everything and avoid bumping into things in the real world.
As mentioned before, there is some combat in Moss: Book 2, but it’s mostly straightforward engagements, especially when Quill only has a sword for the first two hours. Players can slash their sword to attack these enemies like a bug, and they usually go down without much of a fight. There’s also a dodge mechanic, which allows Quill to quickly get out of the way of attacks, but players shouldn’t find themselves dying too often, unless they’re not paying attention to what’s going on. However, the difficulty of the game increases a bit towards the back half. Once Quill has a sword, hammer, and chakram, different types of enemies will appear, and this is where weapon switching comes in. There are bugs that require their armor to be smashed with a hammer before Quill can get in there with a regular attack. But other than that, regular meetings aren’t that different. RELATED: Sony Needs to Get Pricing Right on PSVR 2 The boss battles make Moss: Book 2’s combat shine, as they often use the VR headset and motion controls in a really fun and engaging way. There aren’t many boss fights in Moss: Book 2, as it’s mostly exploration and puzzle-focused, but they’re some of the best moments in the game, and really cinematic. For example, one of the boss fights takes place in a clock tower, and players have to physically pull down a church bell to get the boss to fly through it, and it feels like a nice departure.
And since players are looking at this world through the perspective of a small mouse, the bosses look huge and epic, and the backgrounds are breathtaking. At times, it even feels like Moss: Book 2 is a nature tour of sorts, letting players marvel at the depth and detail of the world that Quill explores – all of it is beautiful. As far as the story goes for Moss: Book 2, there’s definitely a solid plot that can be a little heart-wrenching, especially with how the game ends, but ultimately, it’s not a memorable experience. Instead of having engaging cutscenes during gameplay, most of the game’s critical plot points are told using a fantasy storybook with static images on each page that players turn with the movement of the DualShock. It’s a fascinating way to tell a story, but having the story take a more hands-on approach would be much appreciated to pull players in a little more. Sometimes it feels like Moss: Book 2 would be a better game if it had a non-VR mode for those who just want to experience the game without the slightly annoying motion mechanics, but, for the most part, the added immersion works well. . The puzzles are enjoyable and have just enough challenge without hitting players against the wall. Quill is a lovable and lovable main character. The boss battles are spectacles and take advantage of the PSVR headset, and the environments are too beautiful not to stare at every few minutes. While there are other PSVR games that players should check out if they’re just picking up the headset for the first time, Moss: Book 2 is still a quality puzzle platformer that can be finished in just a few short time, giving people light puzzle-solving and a rather emotional adventure. Moss: Book 2 is out for PSVR. The code was provided to Today Technology for the purposes of this review. MORE: Best Puzzle VR Games For Oculus Quest 2