Category: Charm Games

Posted on

FORM Developer Charm Games Reveals VR Adventure Title Twilight Path

Charm Games cemented its reputation as a virtual reality (VR) puzzle maker last year when it launched the beautifully designed and dream like experience FORM. Today, the studio has unveiled its next project, another puzzle style videogame called Twilight Path.

Twilight Path Screenshot 02

Twilight Path is another otherworldly adventure, this time however players will encounter wandering spirits, enchanted sentries and mischievous gods. Players find themselves trapped in a mystical spirit world between the real world and the afterlife. To escape, they’ll need to solve puzzles, reshape and restore massive stone structures, open sealed passageways, and rescue a host of magical creatures from danger.

“Picked up as a passenger by Barque, a living anthropomorphic ferry, his fiery companion Singe, and whimsical faerie navigator Nix, players will learn that their only path home leads to the timeless Well of Souls,” notes the description. “Along the way, the unlikely companions will encounter a land of beauty, mystery and life. Only by restoring the Well to balance can players return to the life they left behind.”

“Twilight Path stays true to the core gameplay that made our first title a success and features experiences that are accessible to anyone, regardless of height or play area setup,” said Alan Jernigan, Co-founder of Charm Games in a statement. “Our main goal with gameplay is to carefully craft satisfying VR puzzles that unlock a path through a gorgeous and vibrant world – just as we did in FORM.”

Twilight Path Screenshot 03

Charm Games has ensured that Twilight Path has as fewer restrictions as can be that could hamper the gameplay experience. So players will find no timers, no death or uncomfortable movement, making sure as wider audience as possible will be able to enjoy Charm Games’ latest production.

You’ll still have to wait however as Twilight Path is scheduled for launch this Summer for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. In the meantime check out FORM, as it made it onto VRFocus’ list of ‘The Best HTC Vive Games You’ve Never Played‘, having achieved a four-star rating in its review. For any further updates from Charm Games, keep reading VRFocus.

Posted on

‘FORM’ Developers Confirm Work on New VR Project

It’s been a good week for fans of FORM: the game has made its way to the Oculus store (and received Rift support on Steam), and now the developers have confirmed work on a new VR project.

Form is the impressive first VR title from developer Charm Games, a first-person puzzle game which immerses players in fantastical, dream like architecture and complex geometric details. The game launched earlier this year on Steam for the Vive, and has been well received with a 93% positive user rating. This week the game also got proper Oculus Rift support on Steam and launched on the Oculus store, with a discount on both.

SEE ALSO
'FORM' Review

Now the developers say that, in addition to continuing to support Form, they’re already working on their next VR project.

“[Form] was a true passion project for us,” the developers wrote on the game’s Steam page, “and your encouragement is what keeps us energized to continue supporting FORM and working on new VR experiences.”

We reached out to see if they’d tell us any more on what’s next for the studio:

“Right now our focus is on FORM, but we are in early concept development for our next title,” the studio told Road to VR. “There’s not much to say yet except that it will be another puzzle adventure title and fans of FORM will like it. However, it is not a sequel to FORM.”

We’re hopeful that the studio’s next project will bring with it the same polish as their first title, plus an expanded scope and more challenging puzzles. We’ll be watching closely for when the studio is ready to share more about their next project.

The post ‘FORM’ Developers Confirm Work on New VR Project appeared first on Road to VR.

Posted on

FORM Hits Oculus Rift, Developer Adds new Cortex Mode

Earlier this month VRFocus reported on Charm Games announcing that its HTC Vive puzzle title FORM would be coming to Oculus Rift . That’s now happened, and with it a new gameplay mode and trailer. 

FORM now features Cortex Mode, interactive soundtrack where players can relax while listening to the music from FORM in four different ambient spaces.

FORM-L-Screenshot-06

FORM’s story is set in a remote Alaskan research facility, where Dr. Devin Eli is trying to uncover the secrets behind a recently discovered ancient artifact, The Obelisk. Eli is a brilliant physicist who has superhuman powers of geometric visualization – the unintended consequence of a childhood trauma. Delving into the doctors memories, you have to assemble puzzle pieces, unlock doors and open rifts to alternative realities as you try to unlock the secrets of the artifact.

Over the next week, FORM is available for the special price of $11.99 USD, and following the discount the game will be $14.99 on both Oculus and Steam. Charm Games also plans on releasing the title for PlayStation VR in 2018.

Checkout the new trailer for FORM below. VRFocus will continue its coverage of Charm Games, reporting back with further updates.

Posted on

Charm Games Confirm Surreal Puzzler FORM for Oculus Rift

At the start of June, indie developer Charm Games launched its first virtual reality (VR) title onto HTC Vive, a puzzle videogame called FORM. Now the studio has revealed that support will be coming to Oculus Rift in a few days time.

FORM’s story is set in a remote Alaskan research facility, where Dr. Devin Eli is trying to uncover the secrets behind a recently discovered ancient artifact, The Obelisk. Eli is a brilliant physicist who has superhuman powers of geometric visualization – the unintended consequence of a childhood trauma. Delving into the doctors memories, you have to assemble puzzle pieces, unlock doors and open rifts to alternative realities as you try to unlock the secrets of the artifact.

FORM-L-Screenshot-03

VRFocus reviewed FORM, giving it four stars, saying: “Charm Games has created a visual and audible treat for HTC Vive players with puzzles that interlock and expand the world around them.” Or checkout VRFocus‘ gameplay video for an in-depth look at the title.

FORM will be releasing on Oculus Home this Thursday, 10th August, Charm Games confirmed on Twitter. There’s no confirmation of price for this release but as it retails for £14.99 GBP/$19.99 USD on Steam its likely to be similar.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Charm Games, reporting back with further updates.

Posted on

The Best HTC Vive Games of 2017 so far – FORM & Battlezone

So what has VRFocus got in store for its last two videogames that all HTC Vive owners should have in their libraries? One is a fantastical puzzle experience that’s a visual and audible treat, while the other is one of the best action titles available, they are FORM and Battlezone.

FORM

Puzzle titles are ten a plenty on HTC Vive, ranging from the cute and cuddly to the weird and wonderful. Charm Games’ FORM definitely falls into the latter category, mixing up sci-fi elements with surreal visuals.

Set on a remote Alaskan research facility, you play the role of Dr. Devin Eli, a physicist with superhuman powers of geometric visualization, taking a journey to uncover the secrets behind a recently discovered ancient artifact, The Obelisk. As you explore the strange environments built from Dr. Eli’s memories, dreams and fears you’ll have to assemble puzzle pieces, unlock doors and open rifts to alternative realities.

FORM is one of those videogames that seems short – it’s not a massive RPG by any means – but that’s mainly due to its engrossing nature. It’s completely linear, with one puzzle unlocking the next, but it looks and sounds that gorgeous that you probably won’t care.

Just like Syren it didn’t receive VRFocus‘ top marks in our review, sometimes however that doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t try it out, and that definitely goes for FORM.

FORM-VR-Screenshot-02

Battlezone

Lastly VRFocus had to include Rebellion’s tank-based battler Battlezone. It featured on the Oculus Rift best of feature and quite frankly had to appear on here. It’s the only one on the list that’s a dedicated seated experience, requiring a gamepad to play rather than the HTC Vive’s bundled motion controllers but that’s no bad thing.

VRFocus has covered Battlezone quite extensively since it first launched on PlayStation VR last year. If somehow you’ve managed to miss all the coverage, the videogame is a homage to the original 1980 title by Atari where you take control of a heavily armoured tank. Featuring procedurally generated maps that can be made small, medium or large, you’ll have to fight through other tanks, mine layers, gun emplacements, UFO’s and more to succeed.

To aid your destructive onslaught there are a range of tanks to choose from – light, medium and heavy – all with the usual attributes you’d expect for each class. Along the way you’ll be able to collect credits that can be used to swap your weapon load outs, upgrade the tank or by extra lives should you need them.

To say VRFocus enjoyed Battlezone is an understatement. The review gave it five stars and said: “Battlezone is arcade VR action at its finest, with options galore allowing players to uniquely hone their combat strategies. With both extensive single-player and multiplayer modes there’s enough here for countless hours of gameplay, so you can comfortably sit cocooned inside these rolling machines of destruction and never get bored, because quite frankly, it’s too much fun.”

Battlezone image 1


Best HTC Vive Games of 2017 So Far

Posted on

Enter the Strange and Fantastical World of FORM

Last week Charm Games released its first virtual reality (VR) title for HTC Vive, a bizarre puzzle experience called FORM. Today VRFocus has decided to bring you one of our awesome gameplay videos showcasing what this experience is all about.

FORM is set in a remote research facility with Dr. Devin Eli trying to uncover the secrets behind a recently discovered ancient artifact, The Obelisk. What this means for players is a mind bending journey into his mind, with strange puzzles to solve and memories that slowly reveal the doctors story.

In VRFocus’ recent review FORM was given a 4 star rating, and stated: “Charm Games has created a mesmerising experience from start to finish.”

Checkout VRFocus’ gameplay video below, and for the latest and greatest VR updates from around the world come back everyday.

Posted on

Review: FORM

Virtual reality (VR) puzzle experiences can offer some of the most engaging and thought provoking challenges, providing a real sense of immersion with gameplay mechanics that truly get players engrossed. Charm Games’ latest title FORM has this in spades, alongside a beautifully surreal visual aesthetic that makes the experience a joy to play.

FORM is an amalgamation of science fiction and the otherworldly possibilities of the mind where you play Dr. Devin Eli, a scientist trying to unlock the secrets of The Obelisk, a recently discovered ancient artifact that could hold clues to life, the universe and everything in between. In unlocking its secrets you’re transported to a plane of existence inside the doctors mind, where his memories are interwoven with abstract puzzles that unlock evermore weird and wonderful imagery.

FORM-VR-Screenshot-02

Charm Games has created a visual and audible treat for HTC Vive players with puzzles that interlock and expand the world around them. The actual puzzle challenges themselves aren’t horrendously difficult by any means, they can range from aligning shapes, or forming patterns, to memory challenges involving music. By taking careful note of your surroundings and the tools presented none of the puzzles should leave you stumped for any length of time – to complete the entire videogame for this review took around an hour.

That might be off putting for a lot of people, if an experience can be completed within such a relatively short length of time, as that can air on the side of a tech demo – previous VRFocus reviews have chastised videogames for being to short – but by the time you’ve finished FORM you’re likely not to be that annoyed with this particular shortcoming due to the quality of the entire experience. In fact you’ll probably start playing it through again just to see if you’ve missed anything – during one segment a small golden present can be found.

FORM makes you feel like you’re inside the puzzle more than anything else, and if you’ve played Fireproof Games’ series of puzzle titles The Room you’ll feel right at home as the first challenge is a puzzle box of sorts – it doesn’t stay that way for long though. As you progress through the videogame you’ll come across snippets of Dr. Eli’s thoughts and memories, fleshing out the backstory somewhat. These thoughts appear as bubbles which become clearer when picked up and elude to a much bigger story arc.

FORM-L-Screenshot-03

As with any decent VR title audio has a primary role to play in the festivities. While subtle and ambient at first, the latter stages unleash into a full crescendo of music and sounds, interplaying with the puzzles for maximum effect. FORM is one of those experiences that makes you realise what a good set of headphones can provide, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.

While FORM isn’t perfect, it sure comes close. Yes it’s a bit too easy, and could do with an extra hour or two of gameplay (the latter is really just a moan because you’ll just want more to play), but Charm Games has created a mesmerising experience from start to finish.

80%

Awesome

  • Verdict
Posted on

Surreal Puzzler FORM for HTC Vive Arrives with New Launch Trailer

Today, Charm Games will release its first virtual reality (VR) for HTC Vive with FORM, a surreal puzzle experience. And to mark the occasion the studio will be offering a limited time discount as well as a new launch trailer to feast your eyes on. 

Set in a remote Alaskan research facility, FORM casts players in the role of Dr. Devin Eli, a physicist with superhuman powers of geometric visualization, taking them on journey to uncover the secrets behind a recently discovered ancient artifact, The Obelisk. As players explore surreal environments built from Dr. Eli’s memories, dreams and fears they’ll have to assemble puzzle pieces, unlock doors and open rifts to alternative realities, delving ever deeper into Dr. Eli’s mind to discover a path towards the doctors true destiny.

FORM-L-Screenshot-01

“FORM is driven by the game’s robust narrative that makes people think more than just how to solve complex puzzles,” said Alan Jernigan, Co-founder of Charm Games. “Story is often an afterthought in VR so we brought it to the forefront in FORM for an even greater emotional experience. However, FORM is still a game at its core so we’ve intertwined our narrative between challenging and, more importantly, entertaining puzzles that we’re sure VR gamers will enjoy.”

For today’s launch FORM has a 25 percent discount available through Steam, dropping the price from $19.99 USD down to $14.99. This offer will only be available until 8th June.

After releasing on HTC Vive, Charm Games will bring the experience to Oculus Rift and Touch in the summer and Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE’s) PlayStation VR in 2018.

Checkout the new trailer below, and for any further updates keep reading VRFocus.

Posted on

‘FORM’ Review

The word ‘surreal’ invariably falls short when it comes to trying to lift the shroud surrounding the VR first-person puzzler FORM. Transporting you to a strange inner universe via an enigmatic black obelisk, you experience what it must feel like to make contact with a higher intelligence, with its intense interlocking geometric constructions and imposing, dream-like architecture—FORM is an unexpected delight for anyone looking for something truly out of the ordinary.

FORM Details:

Official Site

Developer: Charm Games
Available On: Steam (HTC Vive), Oculus Touch (Coming Soon) PSVR (Coming 2018)
Reviewed On: HTC Vive
Release Date: June 1, 2017

Gameplay

It’s another day on the job for Dr. Devin Eli, a brilliant physicist working at a special research facility in the Alaskan
wilderness. Housed at the facility is ‘The Obelisk’, a seemingly alien artifact emanating a mysterious signal. Spiriting you away into an environment like none other on earth, a place where thoughts manifest visually and the machinations of the human mind are displayed as complex machines, it’s your job to uncover the secrets of The Obelisk as you journey further to the center of the human mind and the alternative realities that reside within.

1 of 4
image courtesy Charm Games
image courtesy Charm Games
image courtesy Charm Games
image courtesy Charm Games

FORM shows a command of the medium that few have grasped with such clear intention. Every puzzle is an alien relic that demands your curiosity and experimentation. Every puzzle, while mysterious in its ultimate function, always injects you with the feeling that you’ve actually accomplished something wonderful. It’s like stepping into a machine of pure novelty, and it manages to deliver its intuitive puzzles without the need of a tutorial, i.e. no condescending robot voice guiding you through the world.

Puzzles are mostly spatial in nature, meaning you’ll be slotting glowing geometric shapes into manifolds, opening up mysterious machines and pulling levers. If you’re looking for a super hard puzzler though, FORM may let you down in that aspect. Although it would be hard to walk away without some appreciation for the visual complexity and unique variety of the puzzles displayed before you, there are some moments when I wished for a real stumper.

In the end, the story left me feeling a bit confused, probably necessitating another playthrough altogether to fully grasp. Considering it took about an hour for me to play from start to finish, it’s not unthinkable that even after solving all the puzzles that you’d want to play again to understand the intentionality behind them, and understand exactly what you’re reconnecting and discovering. In any case, I attribute it to the game robbing my attention with all of its strange and fulfilling abstractions.

Immersion and Comfort

Like a lucid dream, or being under the influence of a psychedelic, the visual complexity is really something to behold. The world morphs around you, drawing your gaze further and further, and you have to tell yourself to not give into the awe to complete the puzzles. Its humbling to think it all lives inside the human brain and you can access it (and interact with it) just by putting on a VR headset.

At some moments, when the world was whirring around me and dozens of tiny puzzle pieces were floating in front of my face, I did feel my computer choke a bit (reviewed on i7-6700, GTX 1080, 16 GB RAM). This may be helped somewhat by turning down the graphical intensity in the settings, although the pre-release copy didn’t include access to the settings menu, so we can’t say for sure. These moments were few and far between though, as most of the time things went by smoothly.

There isn’t any artificial locomotion to speak of besides the times when you teleport into puzzles, and that’s not a user-controlled mechanic anyway. Everything is basically presented to you in forward-facing position within a square meter area, making it an exceedingly comfortable standing experience with no risk to the first time VR player.

The post ‘FORM’ Review appeared first on Road to VR.

Posted on

Charm Games’ Psychedelic Sci-Fi Title FORM Coming to HTC Vive

Indie videogame studio Charm Games has announced today that its upcoming virtual reality (VR) title, FORM, will release on Steam for HTC Vive on 1st June 2017. 

A surreal puzzle videogame, FORM is set in a remote Alaskan research facility, with players in the role of Dr. Devin Eli, a physicist with superhuman powers of geometric visualization, taking them on journey to uncover the secrets behind a recently discovered ancient artifact, The Obelisk. As players explore surreal environments built from Dr. Eli’s memories, dreams and fears they’ll have to assemble puzzle pieces, unlock doors and open rifts to alternative realities.

As players access the deeper and more distant recesses of Dr. Eli’s mind the puzzles and environments become more complex and intertwined allowing them to ascend through progressively higher levels of consciousness to discover a path toward Dr. Eli’s true destiny.

“FORM is about exploring reality through rich narrative in breathtaking dreamlike environments,” said Alan Jernigan, Co-founder of Charm Games. “With no death or time constraints, players are free to investigate the surroundings and solve mysteries at their own pace. Thanks to our focus on comfort and intuitive controls, people can play either seated or standing and with zero motion sickness.”

FORM will come to HTC Vive on 1st June for $19.99 USD with a one week discount available. Additionally, Charm Games plans to release the title on Oculus Touch soon and on PlayStation VR in 2018.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of FORM, reporting back with any further updates.