The moments may be fleeting, but over the years, I’ve had times when I really want to dive into the world of VR gaming. There are lots of fresh and awesome ideas across the gaming space, but I’ve often heard that the VR realm of the industry has had some incredibly fun executions.
Moss and Moss Book 2 have always interested me as VR games. Now, I don’t have to wonder what they were like; I actually had the chance to play them! Moss: The Forgotten Relic brings together previously VR-only titles into a traditional format and packages them into a single adventure.
With a slew of little creatures in a big world, this epic fantasy adventure includes hours of wondrous gameplay through light combat encounters, puzzle-solving, and item collection. I’m really glad this game can now reach more people, because after closing these books, I can say this adventure is worth continuing.
Help Quill Lead the Way
In Moss: The Forgotten Relic, you’ll play as little and determined Quill. She’s a small mouse with a big heart, and it’s her job as the new chosen one of the realm to save the day!
The story and books of Moss are wonderfully told through storybook pages and chapters. The narration works so incredibly well that I wish there were more of it. I recently played Phonopolis, and it takes a very similar approach: one narrator doing all the dialogue and reading all the voice lines with new characterizations and wild voices you’d hear from anyone reading a fantasy story to a child. It’s a touching and joyful way to hear about Quill and her adventure.
Quill is quickly set off on her journey after stumbling upon a Glass. One of several around the world. Now with you, the Reader, in tow, she has you to help her along the way. Together, you are Two Fold, allowing you as the player to control Quill and manipulate certain objects in the world around her.
This is clearly a VR design that I now know would have worked great. And for the vast majority of the time throughout Moss: The Forgotten Relic, it does as well. I’m sure the task of taking this game to a 2.5D plane was not easy, but Polyarc succeeds throughout with inventive puzzles and new ways to discover hidden items and defeat enemies.
Push, Pull, Drag, and Drop
For the most part, Moss: The Forgotten Relic is a puzzle game with some light combat mechanics.
Combat is fun, but also not very deep. Most of the time, Quill is equipped with a sword or a large hammer that has basic 3-4-swing combos, and she can jump and dodge. It all looks great, but the core battling is just passable. Where it really shines is when you need to use enemies to solve a puzzle mid-fight.
For example, there may be a switch that has to be consistently pressed down, but no object to move to do so. So, as the Reader, you’ll grab the little beetle-like enemy, drag it onto the button, and Quill can now move to the next area and defeat any fire coming from the platforms above. All of this happens in real time as you move our hero with the left joystick and handle enemies with the right.
You’ll eventually have a few new abilities, like a dash or a sword that shoots a magical orb. These are effective in combat but work even better when combined with the clever puzzles throughout.
And you won’t just be moving enemies around. A lot of the game hinges on clever puzzles that will have you, the Reader, moving boxes, expanding or shrinking blocks so you can make a jump, or simply opening doors. It’s all very easy to understand, and every solution feels rewarding and has the perfect level of challenge.
I did find it a little strange that the collectibles in the game are not explained at all. Especially in Moss (the first game), I was picking up items hidden in the world or destroying barrels and vases with sparkly dust inside, not knowing what they were or why I might need them. There’s no upgrade or RPG systems here and no traditional currency, so what’s going on?
In Book 2 these items become a little more clear, but nothing really changes the gameplay, unless I’m missing something here, they’re mostly for completionists or achievement hunters. Regardless, any time I found a hidden piece that restored a stained-glass shard (the most common collectible in Book 2), it was rewarding.
Moss: The Forgotten Relic is a Gorgeous Fantasy Adventure
I truly love the way this game looks and sounds.
Let’s start with the music and sound. All of it is done to perfection. The score is an often charming, sometimes thrilling mix of orchestral instruments that are reminiscent of both classic Disney animated films and fantasy epics like The Lord of the Rings.
I’ve already touted how great the narration is, but Quill herself is also cute and charming in her own way. Her personality shines through in so many little squeaks and sounds, hops and skips, and facial expressions.
Moss is also a gorgeous creation. Polyarc nailed what it feels like ot have a big adventure through small eyes and ears. Most puzzles are split into screen or standalone areas. This keeps the task in focus but also allows the creators to craft an incredibly detailed and beautiful world. Whether you’re traversing large rock structures, climbing vines, or walking through large hallways, there is always something to admire in Moss: The Forgotten Relic.
The only downside to the design of the world, and its transition from VR to a traditional 2.5D game, is that some traversal elements, puzzle elements, or hidden items can be hard to see or interpret. In the original games, the player can move the camera around corners and literally look around the whole screen. Here, that’s not possible, leaving some small moments in Moss: The Forgotten Relic to be frustrating.
Thankfully, Quill will respond instantly and even shake off the water if she falls into a pond or look up at you through the screen with encouraging or calming hand gestures. It’s actually really charming and adds even more personality to this perfect little hero.
Verdict
After years, it’s great that we now all have a way to experience what Polyarc created with Moss: The Forgotten Relic. I’m sure the games are excellent in VR, but here they feel just as great!
The world of Moss feels so well-realized, and our hero, Quill, is the perfect mouse to take along on this journey. This is an action puzzle game that many, many more people should check out now that it’s more widely accessible.
[The publisher provided a copy of the game for review purposes.]
Reviewed on: PC/Steam Deck
