Moss is one of the most popular games inside of virtual reality, and it is a top game of the decade as well. This game started as a PS VR exclusive but quickly turned to a game that is featured on every other headset in the consumer market right now. From the recently released version on the Oculus Quest to the established game on Steam, this game is going to consistently give you a good time. This is a title you don’t want to miss out on.
In our in-depth game reviews, we look to cover everything you would like to know about a virtual reality game before you go out and buy or try the title. If you are looking to learn more about who Quill is, how you move in this game, or if it is anything like the mouse game in Ender’s Game, we hope to have the answers you are looking for. If you think we missed part of the game or need to re-evaluate a score, let us know in the comments below! Moss is a fun one, so let’s jump right in.
Getting Up and Running
Getting up and running with Moss, regardless of the platform, is going to be the same. Right when you jump in, it reminds you that this is a sitting game. You don’t need comfy or stretchy clothes, you don’t need to warm your legs up, or even attach extra sensors to weird body parts. You’ll want a good swivel chair and maybe some music in the background.
The price of this game is going to cost $30 wherever you get it. This is an incredibly fair price for the game you are going to get. As for the file size on your PC, the game is going to take up about 12 GB. This is a story-driven game, so you can expect a lot to be packed in. Depending on your internet connection, this game could either download in five minutes or an hour. If you are connected to some slow internet, this game could take a while. Grab a snack and get your feet up.
Type of Game
Moss is a third-person story game that is going to be objective and narrative-driven. There isn’t an arcade mode or a wave mode that is going to be easy to showcase, and you likely won’t be wanting to show this game as a VR demo to anyone anytime soon. Because there are checkpoints in this game, you will want to make sure you save too. This is a rare thing in VR, so make sure you remember to save between checkpoints if you need to take your headset off.
This is also a puzzle game that is going to give some people fits. For the most part, it is an open world. That means you will be able to move freely throughout the world without any fixed movements or portals to go through. Of course, the game will guide you in the right direction, but that is going to be
Player Perspective
Unlike most VR games, you won’t be in the first-person perspective. In Moss, you’ll be controlling your little mouse through the world of Moss in the third-person perspective. That means you’ll be looking at his full body and be able to control all of the movements. As the controlling person, you also have the ability to interact with the environment around you. It may not seem like a big deal but it is a big part of getting your character through the world.
Theme and Story – Score: 10/10
Getting a good theme and story in a VR game is rare and impressive. Sometimes you get one, other times you get the other, but rarely you get both. This game has a strong theme that carries the game, but the story is incredibly rich and deep. From meeting your uncle to understanding what your main objective is, it is as clear as any other virtual reality game can be. If there was an award for best VR story of the decade, there is no doubt that Moss would be in the top three. Jump in and see what all of the hype is about.
Controls – Score: 10/10
Controlling a mouse in the third-person may seem difficult, but the developers of this game, Polyarc, did a fantastic job of making this feel natural and clean. Nothing about mice is going to be clean, but controlling them with a virtual reality controller is. Dedicated movement and easy-to-use interactions is the name of the game, and they stay consistent throughout the entirety of your gameplay. This is a highlight of the star-studded game.
Music and Sound – Score: 9/10
If your second-lowest score is a 9, you are doing something right. A little more upbeat and prominent music would’ve been appreciated here, but it isn’t detrimental to the experience. Some music in the background from a speaker was used by us, but not all players are going to need it. Some more music would easily bring this score to a 10.
Player Movement – Score: 10/10
This game puts in you in control of Quill, but you aren’t her. That is evident by the fact that you are able to interact with the environment on your own, without your mouse character. When moving Quill, it feels as natural and fun as ever. Fluid, yet responsive. This game is going to give you everything you can handle in terms of ease and controlling capabilities.
Kinetosis – Score: 10/10
The motion sickness in this game is simply nonexistent. Because you aren’t the mouse, and your head never whips around, you won’t feel sick throughout this game. Third-person perspective is the reason this works so well. We have yet to see another major VR game use this point of view, and its disappointing. We hope to see more games like this going forward.
Environment and Immersion – Score: 8/10
The music wasn’t perfect in this game, and the ability to touch everything wasn’t there. We wish to see that improved, but an update won’t be coming anytime soon. There is a clear difference in beauty in the game when it comes to the Quest or the Index, but that doesn’t play into the score here. More interactions and more music would round this up to a 9 or a 10.
Overall – Score: 9.5/10
A 9.5 is one of the highest scores we have ever given, and Moss deserves every point of it. If you are looking for a chill game with an immersive story, you won’t find a better game than Moss. It might not be the newest game in the world, but you are still going to be impressed by it. Moss has won countless awards and it is evident in each and every scene you find yourself in.
