Game Review - World of Goo 2 for Linux


Screenshot from World of Goo 2. A puzzle with Goo balls.

Remember World of Goo? The hit game that you loved on the Nintendo Wii? It was all the rage in 2009: .social-embed{all:unset;display:block;}.social-embed * {all:unset;display:revert;}.social-embed::after{all:unset;}.social-embed::before{all:unset;}blockquote:not(*){all:unset;}.social-embed a{cursor:pointer;}blockquote.social-embed{box-sizing:border-box;border:.5px…

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VR Review: Moss 2


A mouse in a clockwork puzzle.

Did you enjoy the game Moss? This is a sequel which is identical to the original. The graphics are identical, the gameplay is identical, the puzzles are identical. There are a couple of slightly new mechanics and a new playable character (also a mouse). But it is fundamentally more of the same. So I suggest you read my review of the original. Seriously, there isn't much else to say here. The story is a jumble of ethereal nonsense. The enemies are defeated by rather dull button-mashing. And…

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VR Game Review: Moss


A large hall with squirrel statues.

It is impossible to describe just how cute this game is. Most VR games take place at "human scale" - you play as a human inside a building, or other human-sized space. But Moss lets you play as a mouse named Quill with you (the player) towering over her. You are a human literally peering down into a mouse-sized kingdom. It is one of the most stunning uses of VR in a game that I've seen. https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/mossout.mp4 It is like playing with a dolls house. And …

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VR Game Review: Labyrinth deLux – A Crusoe Quest


In game graphic show lots of lasers flying around.

I love single player VR puzzle games. Especially ones with no timers, baddies, or jump-scares. I just want to play against myself. Labyrinth deLux is brilliant. The puzzle is simple enough - point lasers at mirrors, then align mirrors until they point at the target. You've almost certainly played a 2D version of this. But it has a mind-bending 3D layout which requires you to continually walk on the ceiling to adjust your perspective. The UI is, thankfully, not chunder-inducing. You point…

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VR Game Review: Get The Heck Out


A colourful loading screen showing upgrade stats for a game.

You don't need to pay £££ and download GB of files in order to have a good VR game. It turns out that the Web is perfectly capable of serving a decent VR experience. You can open up your VR rig's browser (I use Wolvic) and start playing instantly. I've just completed "Get The Heck Out". It's a fun and free shooter. The twist is, you are expected to die. A lot. You start with a puny pea-shooter: After every level you can upgrade your weapons - which last until you die. But every few levels, y…

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VR Game Review: Vader Immortal


Point of view shot inside a cave with a lightsabre in the foreground.

I'm a sucker for anything Star Wars. So when my Oculus Quest told me I could fight Darth Vader in VR, I leapt at the chance. I kinda wish I hadn't bothered. There is very little "game" here. It's barely an interactive movie. Walk forward until you step on a trigger, watch a very slow cut scene, wave your arms until something happens, repeat a few times, roll credits. That's it. There's nothing to explore, there are no choices to make, and no puzzles to solve. Parts of the game are gorgeous. …

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Game Review: Red Matter 2 for VR


A cosmonaut stands in front of a glowing orb.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first Red Matter VR game, so I leapt at the sequel when it was on offer. What's it like? Exactly the same as the first. Lots of creepy corridors, a range of puzzles, and a sedate-ish journey. You're exploring an abandoned space-station, looking for clues and trying to figure out what happened. It's a completely linear journey, and consists of a series of locked-room puzzles. The developers have made sure not to repeat the same puzzles over and over. The story, such…

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Game Review: Red Matter VR for Oculus


A cosmonaut with a burning red eye.

This is the first paid-for game that I've played on the Oculus Quest 2. I've mostly stuck to demos - because I get bored easily. Or free games - because I'm a cheapskate. But Meta gave me £30 in credit for helping people fix their broken Quests. So I bought this much hyped puzzle game. And… It's excellent! Much better than I expected. As puzzler, it works really well. Lots of different types of puzzles, some of which make effective use of the VR environment. Items which need careful ma…

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