Virtual reality is a world that for decades has fascinated millions and millions of gamers scattered in every corner of the globe. The idea of being able to enter those worlds that we love so much, while being able to almost touch what surrounds us, has always been able to captivate many users and developers, a real daydream that has finally become reality during the course of this quest. latest videogame generation, but not without some underlying problems. Motion sickness, excessively high prices and a line-up that is anything but exciting, here are the weak points of a technology that is obviously still immature but that has nevertheless been able to attract the interest of a rich audience. Several years have now passed since VR officially entered our homes and, also because of the trust conferred by the public, this new way of understanding the medium has managed to grow and improve, in particular by bringing to light a much richer, more varied range of titles, characterized by various productions of great value. Among the many developers who have launched into this new world of opportunity, it also appears Eric Chahi, well-known game designer remembered for having brought to light unforgettable works including the well-known Another World. The man has in fact decided to dive into virtual reality together with the Pixel Reef studio with another product certainly full of charm, that one Paper Beast which after originally landing on PlayStation VR, has now also come on PC, within the reach of all interested parties. After wearing our Oculus Rift S with care, we launched into an atypical experience to say the least.
Food chain
Paper Beast features two different game modes. On the one hand, we can try our hand at a story mode that in the approximately seven hours necessary to be completed will immerse us in a peculiar adventure that over the course of seven different chapters will allow us to move within different game maps, while on the other side we will have sandbox mode in which we will be able to create a real ecosystem, free to materialize all the creatures - paper - and objects present in-game. Opening a small parenthesis for the latter, it seemed somewhat an end in itself, designed to relax in peace but proved capable of quickly coming to boredom due to the lack of any activity that can be dealt with. Returning to the campaign, in the narrative field the game does not offer any grip to cling to and it will be the player who will have to make sense of everything that he will be observing during the course of his game. It is important to understand immediately what Paper Beast wants to be: an experience, more than a video game intended in the classic structure we are used to.
During the game, in fact, we will not be endangered by any type of threat and our only task will be to venture into the game world by carrying out various tasks. Within each "map" in which we will go moving, in fact, in addition to having to help all animals in need of something or in danger, we will also have to complete intricate environmental puzzles where everything will be left in the hands of the gamer. In short, do not hope to receive suggestions or advice that can direct you towards the right path, since you will not find any here, and it will be your task to strive to understand how to get out of any situation. Let's clarify that the puzzles are never so complicated to put in crisis, but the numerous possibilities offered to the player - who can, for example, use particular crystals to freeze water or exploit fiery rocks with which to melt huge piles of ice - force to a certain basic reflection, especially in the more advanced stages of the work.
The beauty of paper
Contrary to what happened on the version dedicated to PlayStation VR, where the only adoptable movement system was linked to teleportation, with the PC version the player can choose whether to follow the path taken on the Sony console or whether to rely on a more classical structure of movements, in which we will then be able to actively move without the need to “jump” from one area of the map to another, all while we will make extensive use of the two controllers to interact with the objects and animals present. This implementation certainly represents a winning point compared to what we could see on PSVR, as it greatly increases the sense of identification that the experience aims to offer. Furthermore, in-game it will also be possible to use a real hot air balloon with which to move in the sky to move from one area to another, just a pity that in these phases we happened to feel a slight sense of motion sickness which, without ruining the adventure, has caused us some headaches.
From a purely technical point of view, Paper Beast offers an extremely atmospheric game world which, precisely because of its polygonal “simplicity”, manages to evoke a unique atmosphere amplified by the use of the viewer, especially when you are faced with the most imposing creatures. As for the sound component, the work deserves a promotion with full marks, with a careful and meticulous sampling for every noise that manages to immerse the player even more strongly in the adventure, all accompanied by a soundtrack that from track to track follows with conviction our deeds in-game .
