Escape rooms are a great fit for VR. You can craft fantastical scenarios and achieve more convincing environments, all while allowing the experience to take place at home. And this is an idea developer Fireproof Games has taken to heart, as the fifth title in The Room series is VR-only. The Room VR: A Dark Matter was previously released on PSVR, but it’s better than ever on Sony’s new headset.
As a detective looking for a missing Egyptologist in the early 1900s, you’ll visit a number of locations across the title’s five levels. The title starts you off slow, with a barebones chapter that takes place in your office, before introducing the game’s greatest asset: its difficulty curve.
The complexity of puzzles from level to level ratchets up at the perfect rate, never overstepping or falling into the trappings of classical point-and-click adventure titles with obtuse, nonsensical solutions. Instead, you are treated to puzzles with logical solutions, many of which include dozens of steps to complete. And if you do get stuck, the game has a robust clue system, great for pointing you in the right direction without solving puzzles for you.
The puzzles increasing in complexity also offers the opportunity to show off incredible environments. Textures look brilliant throughout, some environments are massive, and in VR, the scale is presented in a very convincing way. You’ll usually be able to see other clues or steps in the puzzles across the room, which can help jog your memory about where to go or what to do next in a compelling way.
Each level being self-contained allows the team to dabble with different tones, too. An early level dealing with an ancient Sarcophagus is particularly adept at splicing horror into the experience, while a level taking place in a church uses an organ to incorporate musical elements into the game. It’s all handled flawlessly, and greatly enhances the value of the product, by offering varied, distinctive experiences level-to-level.
That being said, when it comes to the value of the product, the price is one of the only real gripes we have with the experience. It simply doesn’t have enough content to match its £24.99/ $29.99 price tag. If you can stomach the cost, though — or take advantage of the free upgrade from PS4 to PS5 — there's a lot to like here.
Comments 32
It’s £18.74 at the minute. Pretty much at release. And it’s not really a VR tax as much as a digital and niche game tax. That said, as a one and done game that was mostly made previously, I’ll still wait for a bigger price drop. I’ve just got too much to play on the headset currently
If price is the biggest issues then you should recommend waiting for a sale and not ding the game for its cost. It has arguably more gameplay length than Red Matter 2, but you didn’t ding that one for cost. Both are a single play through due to the nature of being puzzle games. At least it’s a free upgrade.
I barely played this on VR1 due to the janky tracking and have been looking forward to this upgrade because I love the Room games. I’ve heard it currently only runs in roomscale mode, making it a no-go for me in my apartment. It didn’t require roomscale on VR1, so I hope the developers will patch it.
If you can afford ps vr 2 despite it being doomed to fail then you can probably afford 25 quid for this.
I didn't play the original on PSVR so I'll definitely get this at some point. I can't justify it right now though as I already have a huge VR backlog.
@Hoodie718 you're aware you can manually alter your boundaries to give yourself room scale yeah? Doesn't seem like the kind of game where your arms would be flailing about etc. so should be able to get away with it.
@maybemaybemaybe I am, but I don’t trust myself enough to circumvent the safety features. There was a similar issue with What the Bat and I think it got updated within a couple of weeks - hopefully the same happens here. Thanks though!
Is psvr2 still a thing??
Alright, the church level has me sold on giving this a go, if only to try and play In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. I hear it’s surprisingly similar to a little known hymn called In the Garden of Eden…
Also, nice to see the PSVR2 deathwatch squad creep back into the comments section so I can give the old thumbs down button a workout.
@Amnesiac “Deathwatch squad” - love it!! 🤣🤣🤣
It’s too expensive, it’s niche, it’s a gimmick, doomed to fail, ps vita, no games, quest 1 2 3 all better, pc vr rocks, cord is awful, it ate my hamster 🐹 etc etc
Pleased to see most people just ignore those comments now. Stopped bothering me ages ago.
Although I still wonder what drives these people to flock to a psvr2 article when they clearly don’t like psvr2 (which is also fair enough). But hey, if they’re that bored…..
@Hoodie718 I have read that even though it says room scale, due to the fact you warp to points rather than walk around, you can play the whole thing pretty much seated
@Johnnycide I don't know exactly how you'd define "failure", but for me and the hundreds of thousands out there who own a PSVR2, it's a massive success.
I'm drowning in incredible titles here, and I haven't had this much fun with videogames since the early nineties.
VR just makes everything so much more compelling that I'm worried I won't be able to enjoy flat-screen games ever again. I initially attributed that to the wow factor being new to VR and all, but it's been almost 6 months and my love for the medium just keeps growing.
Sure, I've played a couple flat-screen games in the meantime but, you know, they fall flat.
@Hoodie718 It isn't room scale. I tried to message them on Twitter to mention the listing on the PS store is wrong (they have messages blocked though). For me anyway, it gives me the option to play standing or seated when starting the game.
@Wowzer Thanks! I’ll check it out.
@Deljo
lol so many people are missing out on Resident Evil: Village which is absolutely incredible in VR. It makes going back to the flat screen version nearly impossible, at least for me anyways. It's the only real reason why i even have a PS5 in the first place, as i find most flat screen games pretty darn boring these days, having been gaming mostly on rather than off since the late 80's. VR is actually refreshing and exciting, when it's done right. But I'm also a massive fan of faux retro pixel art based games as well. Blazing Chrome, Curse of the Moon, Panzer Paliden, Blaster Master Zero, list goes on.
Problem is, Sony shot themselves in the foot with a few bone headed design decisions. No body want's wired/tethered VR, nobody wants a small finicky frustrating sweet spot(They should of used pancake lenses), the ring'd controllers are a bulky cumbersome eye sore and the OLED display itself is high persistence, meaning you trade motion clarity for brightness. double edged sword.
PSVR2 is a conflicting headset, but it's still worth owning even if it's just for Resident Evil 8 and. Even titles like Moss: Book 2(Just magical), Tentacular, the upcoming RE4 VR mode and so much more. It's hilarious, i'm a huge RE fan, yet I couldn't even really bring myself to play beyond 2 hours of RE4 Remake. Village spoiled me in VR, having to go back to a 2D painting in motion to play the latest with analog stick aiming feels like a gigantic downgrade in nearly every way imaginable. I'm just going to hold out for VR mode early next year instead. It's going to be bat sh** insane.
@Art_Vandelay
The vast majority of these haters haven't even touched the thing. If they fully experienced RE: Village on VR2 they'd be singing a completely different tune. It's masterclass VR, Then there's the magical Moss: Book 2, Tentacular, Another Fisherman's Tale, just to name a few.
I feel like I'm nearly at an end with Flat screen gaming on PS5. I still use my Switch quite a bit, but VR at this point is far more exciting and compelling than any other form of video game at the moment in my eyes. I'll also be getting Quest 3 day one, and whenever Valve's Deckard gets a release in 2024. Retro/faux retro gaming & VR is typically what I go for these days.
Now if only Capcom would give us a release date for RE4 Remakes VR mode. I'm dying to play it, and refuse to play the flat screen version. It feels like too much of a downgrade coming from Village in VR.
@WaveBoy Yeah, it is so intense in VR. I love horror movies/games but I've seen and played so many that most don't affect me at all these days. But, in VR, it is so intense that I have to take breaks from playing it. I was playing Afterlife (I think it was) and there was a guy hanging in a cell and on a flat screen, it doesn't bother me at all but in VR, it really bothered me. It is right there in front of me and just an uneasy feeling. Then in RE, there are times where I can't get myself to move forward because of the dread of what is going to inevitably happen. It took me a few days to get past one point just because I kept retreating to the save point. Even the cutscene where you get a shotgun shoved into your face. On a flat screen, there's pretty much zero effect but in VR and having a gun literally seem like it is in your face, is a whole different experience.
The biggest downside of PSVR2 for me is that I'm not as interested in regular games now. I'm pretty much VR addicted at this point.
@WaveBoy I'm a fan of vr in general and own the psvr1 & quest 2 and I'll likely buy a quest 3 but something doesn't feel right about the psvr2. Great library if your new to vr but if not its piss poor. Absolutely on village though, resi 7 & resi 4 on quest are probably my favourite vr games. Have tried gt & horizon on psvr2 and gt is v good, wasn't impressed with horizon at all
@Deljo
For sure. Horizon was a massive disappointment. It lacked that 3D pop that i was looking for, visuals looked like they were smeared with vaseline, it had awful motion duplication, motion controls were a tad janky at times, and the developers even added motion blur to the motion, what were they thinking?
It should of been called Climb of the mountain because that's exactly what you'll be doing 80% of the time.
I've been disappointed with more than half the titles i've purchased so far. Including > Runner, Jurassic Park aftermath trilogy, Tetris Effect, maybe Kiyak Mirage, Walk about Mini Golf, What the bat! and a few others.
Moss: Book 2 is just straight up magical, and needs to be experienced by all PSVR2 owners. It's a must have and a wonderful VR showcase.
Sigh, and i wish Sony would port over Ocean Descent from PSVR Worlds. Remember shark Dive? What an incredible VR-theme park attraction that was. To let THAT go to waste, along with Resident Evil 7 and Astro Bot Rescue Mission would be an absolute shame.
Ocean Descent was the holy grail VR1 experience for me personally, and it was the perfect introduction to VR and not to mention an absolute blast to show off to friends and family. you don't need to like video games in order to enjoy that one. Can't forget 'Kitchen' as well, based on Resident Evil 7 in the PSVR1 demo disc 3. Another PSVR2 title to look out for this year is Vertigo 2. It's considered to be one of the new PC VR holy grails.
And finally, i really hope Sony does a PSVR2 revision in maybe late 2025 with the following >
Wireless to PS5 Connection, slimmer/flatter front visor, Pancake Lenses, Ring-less VR Controllers and an improved display that has Zero head movement blur(Like Quest 3) and over 100 nits. These changes would make PSVR2 a hell of a lot more attractive, and sales would probably jump up dramatically.
Red Matter 2 was all I needed to convince me of VR. I haven't had that many "gaming moments" ever and I've been gaming for quite a while (heh, longer than I'd like to admit here).
@Wowzer
Yeah, Red Matter 2 runs at a solid 120fps, has beautifully detailed visuals, top notch motion controls and interaction, and maxes out at 2000x2040 per eye without any visual degradation or fuzzyness like Hubris(Which i deleted) has. RM2 takes full of advantage of the PSVR2 and runs it to it's max. Sure, it's not in the same league, graphically speaking as something like RE: Village, but village is also running at 60fps. So go figure.
Still, Red Matter 2 looks and feels a bit stark, almost like a Space Station puzzle solving simulator. It's impressive technically speaking, but it's not going to be for every one.
@WaveBoy Exactly. One interesting thing that I've recently figured out is the reverse effect of trailers. I explain.
Trailers of flat-screen games almost always make the game look better than it actually is, whereas it's the exact opposite with VR.
Just last week, I was debating with myself which game to pick up from the recent PS Store sale. I had had my eyes on Zombieland for a while, but I was totally turned off by the trailers. I wondered how that underwhelming looking game could be any good, but I'm glad I took the risk and pulled the trigger. That game is crazy fun and it actually looks surprisingly cool inside the headset.
And that is actually one of VR's greatest barriers, right? It's a hard thing to market.
@WaveBoy I would kill for a port of that Ocean Descent experience from VR Worlds! THat was always the very first thing I would use to show friends and family VR. Especially family who don't play any games. My grandfather was absolutely smitten with that demo, thought it was incredible, and he still has a tough time with Smart TV remotes haha
@Hoodie718 Tracking is very much not a problem now! I didn't a single tracking problem my whole time with the game. Not even a hiccup in fact!
As for room scale, yeah it won't start without messing around with your playspace parameters but it's a non-issue with telep[orting movement. I was worried at first as well, as I have a pretty cramped play space, but you can play the game wholly stationary and it won't be an issue one bit!
@Art_Vandelay I completely agree! Once you start playing VR games regularly, it's a lot easier to look at a trailer for a VR game, and be able to tell what the appeal and allure would be. But it's not a perfect way to experience, and for those that don't play VR at all, trailers usually look incredibly underwhelming, especially when held up alongside trailers for traditional gaming
@WaveBoy have to agree with everything you said to be fair. Played moss2 on quest and the original on psvr and you're right, they're amazing. Most fun I've had is probably resi4 on quest, fantastic experience and I'm sure village is every bit as good. I was immediately put off psvr2 because of the cable which seems like a big step back coming from wireless. Sports games in general but definitely boxing and golf games are infinitely better without the tether. Action games too like walking dead, which is great btw, allows for lot more freedom when your flailing around grabbing weapons from behide your back etc. Need to see a lot more commitment from Sony too, following the launch its been slim pickings bar upgrades of older games and there's not a hell of a lot announced bar resi 4 remake. Doesn't feel like it'll ever be a huge focus for them
@gbanas92 Now, here's an idea: trailers for VR games.
In VR.
I know, it's a long shot, with many inherent challenges. And it doesn't solve the issue of bringing new people in. But it's worth considering.
I mean, there might have been attempts at that that I'm not aware of, but the point stands.
@gbanas92
They did such an incredible job with that great white, my imagination got the best of me and i ended up yanking my headset off the moment it broke into the cage. Although I managed to complete it the second go, no easy task for somebody like me who easily gets frightened by large underwater VR marine life. The school of barracuda you encounter during the beginning-ish part of the dive was another surreal high lite for sure, or those curious tropical fish swimming inside your cage etc. Even the introduction underwatter Dome hub had me in awe, and swooshing your dual shock 4 controller into that water bubble felt absolutely next level.
If they port it to PSVR2 they should >
2000x2040 per eye
110d FOV
improved visuals - (The environments, more than anything else really.)
Head haptics
Eye tracking & Foveated Rendering
90fps (With PS5 Pro)
'Shark Attack' mode (That starts right when the shark appears)
$7.99 - $9.99 cad sticker price.
Unfortunately, there isn't a single PSVR2 title that i know of that comes across as a VR theme park attraction.
I usually show friends and family VR cut scenes in Resident Evil Village. Especially the one where you wake up in an underground lair and there's this small zombie puppet bride standing before your eyes and a cackling ogre to your right just a couple of feet away. it's nothing short of jaw dropping.
That was THE PSVR2 moment for me. It then basically transitions into a gathering or congregation between the 5 lord/Mistresses, where they quickly begin to bicker and argue with each other. It truly feels like you're partaking in a scene from some weird fantastical Guillermo Del Toro horror movie. Then the chase sequence happens, with that massive troll-like creature, in a snow suite, equipped with a giant hammer who then jumps nearly on top of you, as you glance back in awe as he towers over you with his gigantic 10ft+ stature.
But ya, RE4: VR Mode is going to be absolutely insane. I just hope it sees the light of day at the end of the year rather than 2024. I've plunked about an hour into the flat screen version, and put it down. I'd rather wait for the real deal on PSVR2.
Crossing my fingers for an Astro Bot Port(And sequel), Resident Evil 7, Ocean Decscent & Half Life Alex. And I don't know, It just feels like Sony is slacking, or they just don't seem like they're 'all in' with PSVR2. It desperately needs a redesign. The sweet spot is just awful(it needs pancake lenses), the cable has seriously got to go and i want a better display(Micro-OLED with zero head movement blur + reasonable brightness). A slimmer front visor, Ring-less controllers and better comfort would be great too!
The first game on Steam is a lot of fun and usually pretty cheap, I think. It's a good way to enter the franchise without having to worry about a huge investment cost. I'd recommend it for anyone who wants to try it in VR, just as a quick taster.
@Art_Vandelay I feel like I've seen a couple of trailers like that, but definitely not a ton. It'd be a lot more compelling at selling games to users who love the peripheral but are on the fence about individual games, but like you said, not super helpful, and bringing in those who are skeptical of VR or simply don't have it.
@WaveBoy Gah, that whole demo is so cool. One of my earliest ever VR experiences (played Thumper and Fated: The Silent Oath at PAX East shortly before VR dropped, that was my first experience, but the shark demo was close behind!)
Right there with you about the ocean haha. I BIGTIME have thalassaphobia, and sharks I both love and am terrified by haha. VR worlds in general I quite liked and it' such a good package for showing non-gamers the tech! My mom screamed at the shark demo and tried ripping the headset off too haha
I've wanted a good tech demo or game to show PSVR2 off as well! My grandfather was asking about it actually haha, but there's just nothing I could put in front of him that he'd really have the feel for. The closest is probably Puzzling Places? but that's more because of the low stakes than anything. Requires a lot of item manipulation and awareness of your controllers and such. Those are the kind of experiences you would normally want to launch alongside the peripheral.
I don't disagree with any of those suggested improvements for the headset, but it's such a vast improvement over PSVR1 that I can stomach how it currently is. What I can't stomach is the almost complete absence of first party software outside of what, GT7 and Horizon? Synapse they marketed like a 1st party title, so let's include that too. But still, that's pretty underwhelming. Maybe as the sale numbers continue to improve they'll start sharing details on games that are (hopefully) in development. Because as it stands, there's a TON of incredible stuff to play on the headset, but almost all of it you can play on any headset.
An Astro Bot sequel seems like a no-brainer, even a remaster is acceptable though haha. Totally agreed on Half-Life: Alyx, I want it so much, but I'm skeptical of it ever happening. I've also desperately wanted a VR version of Alien: Isolation as well. And the original Outlast. A whole bunch of horror games haha
@Wowzer I asked them this on Twitter too, apparently Sony requires the game listed as roomscale even though it can be played standing or sitting. The help section on their website says:
"There were some particular guidelines that we needed to comply with in order to release on PSVR2. These guidelines made it a requirement that we list the game as room scale.
As long as you have enough room to stretch your arms out in front or to the side of you, you should be able to play the game without any problems. Our recommendation would be to manually set a 2x2m play area and see how you get on.
The sitting and standing options are still very much present in the game, so after the play area has been set you will be able to select your preference."
@Hoodie718 I bought it without checking this first. Shoved my furniture all out of the way and then ended up standing in one spot the whole time! Absolutely no need for Roomscale only.
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