One of the developers of little-known PSVR puzzling gem, Statik, recently acknowledged they were sad that more people didn’t get to try the game.
Developed by Tarsier Studios, Statik was a PSVR exclusive puzzle game that launched back in 2017. The game used position-tracking on the DualShock 4 controller to great effect, locking players’ virtual hands into boxes with various puzzles on them. It was an amazing concept, bolstered by an ambiguous plot, and it’s been a mainstay on our best PSVR games list for some time.
But, speaking to Superjump, Head of Communication, Dave Mervik expressed regret that more people didn’t get to try the inventive title. “I loved what we tried to do with Statik, and am only sad that more people didn’t get to experience it,” he said.
It’s not clear if Mervik is referencing the game’s sales or the fact it was only available in VR, but we definitely agree more people should try Statik. It didn’t come to other VR headsets, though none of those feature tracked gamepads, only their dedicated motion controllers. As for Tariser itself, the developer is currently working on Little Nightmares 2. Could it ever go back to VR? Mervik says with the right idea and opportunity, it would.
“Messing with people in that way, playing with their expectations and sense of ‘self’ was something we could only do with VR, and I would only want to go back to VR if that opportunity presented itself again,” he said. “I’m just not a fan of VR for the sake of it, it reinforces this notion that it’s novelty tech, when it could offer so much more.”
A little nudge, then, to check out this ace VR oddity if you’re ever searching for something new to play on PSVR.
Perhaps one of the most common genres found in the myriad of VR games is the humble puzzle game. With such an immersive platform that carries huge interactive potential, puzzle games are an instant fit for VR.
The genre has become a staple of all VR platforms, so we’ve put together a list of some of the best puzzle games available across them all. Only a few of the games are platform exclusives, and some of the games are available across more than one platform. There’s also a few particularly older titles that have a new life on the ever-popular Oculus Quest standalone system.
Without further ado, here are 15 of the best VR puzzle games and experiences, ordered alphabetically.
A Fisherman’s Tale
Platforms: Oculus Quest, PC VR (SteamVR, Oculus Store, Viveport), PSVR
A Fisherman’s Tale is a short but incredibly charming puzzle game from development studio Innerspace. While it’s definitely on the shorter side, the ingenious puzzles will make you rack your brain until you finally reach that critical ‘a-ha’ moment that feels so satisfying. A Fisherman’s Tale was nominated in our Best of VR 2019 Awards for the Best PSVR Game/Experience, Best Quest Game/Experience, Best PC VR Game/Experience, and overall Overall Best VR Of 2019.
I Expect You To Die 2
Platforms: Oculus Quest, PC VR (Steam, Oculus Store), PSVR
Five years on from the release of the original, I Expect You To Die 2 is a game that executes a specific style of grueling puzzle game incredibly well. It’s a trial-and-error affair where you’ll spend an hour testing things, only to realize that the solution was obvious and right in front of you the whole time. It’s the mark of a quality puzzle — one where the solution is hidden not through obscure design, but through your own short-sightedness — but it can also mean a slow burn and periods of heavy frustration. You can read more in our review.
This excellent, high-tension puzzle game was designed in the very early days of VR with the constraints of the early hardware in mind. However, you wouldn’t know it while playing it today – Keep Talking remains an absolute blast to play with friends. The game sees you work with a partner to decipher increasingly difficult puzzles in order to disable a timed bomb before it detonates. One person operates the bomb in VR, while the other(s) reads and deciphers a printed (or website version) manual to help the bomb diffuser figure out what to do with the various attachments and buttons. It’s a fantastic puzzle game that you can play with someone who doesn’t want to put on a headset, but still wants to participate.
It would be easy to dismiss this game as a cash-in attempt to bring a beloved staple franchise of mobile gaming over to VR, only existing to make a quick buck. However, Angry Birds VR provides quite a beefy package that offers super intuitive gameplay that adds a new dimension, literally and figuratively, to the Angry Birds formula.
Cubism
Platforms: Oculus Quest, PC VR (Steam, Oculus Store)
Cubism is a deceptively simple game. Each level features a 3D wireframe shape into which you have to fit different Tetris-like block pieces. The puzzles get harder and the pieces more complex – it’s a slow and measured puzzle experience.
Even better, Quest players have the option for 120Hz and hand tracking support as well, both of which are perfect fits for Cubism’s style of play. You can read our review of Cubism here.
The Room VR: A Dark Matter
Platforms: Oculus Quest, PC VR (Steam, Oculus Store, Viveport), PSVR
The latest installment in The Room series is also its first installment in VR. This isn’t a mobile or PC port either – The Room VR: A Dark Matter is made entirely for VR from the ground up.
Developer Fireproof hasn’t lost its penchant for incredibly clever and creative puzzles in the transition. Read more in our review.
Myst
Platforms: Oculus Quest, PC VR (Steam, Oculus Store)
This seminal PC game made its way over to PC VR and Oculus Quest last year. It’s an upgraded and all-around solid port of the original PC title that will have you reaching for a notebook or a friend to help work your way through the tough puzzles.
It’s a game everyone should play once and the VR ports provide you with a modern but faithful way to do so. You can read more in our review.
Puzzling Places
Platforms: Oculus Quest
This game takes the staples of 2D jigsaw puzzles and brings them into VR with a new element — all of the puzzles are 3D models of real-life places, brought to life through highly detailed photogrammetry captures. The 16 included puzzles range from landscapes to individual objects, each with accompanying ambient sounds that build up as you solve.
It’s a slow, meditative but also appropriately challenging puzzle game that offers a similar yet fresh take on traditional jigsaw puzzles. You can read more in our review.
A Rogue Escape
Platforms: Quest, PC VR (Steam, Oculus Store)
This is a tough, short (1-2 hours), claustrophobic puzzler that will set you stuck in the cramped confines of a submerged submarine. There’s no hand-holding here, resulting in an immersive yet excruciatingly slow set of submarine-based puzzles.
Please, Don’t Touch Anything is perfect for players who appreciate hardcore, difficult puzzlers. Initially released for Gear VR back in 2016, but now available on several platforms, we noted in our review that the basic progression of the core gameplay loop was “experiment, succeed, scream, laugh, reset. The results of your tinkering vary immensely.” Read our original review played on Gear VR.
Statik
Platforms: PSVR
Statik is a PSVR-exclusive puzzle game, and for good reason – it uses the PS4’s DualShock 4 controller as a tracked object in the virtual world. The main gripe we had with the game back in 2017 was the length. “No two puzzles are the same, and they’re all well-balanced and thought-out trials, but they left me begging for more,” said Jamie, in his review. Read our review.
Tetris Effect
Platforms: PSVR, PC VR (Epic Store)
What do you mean? Tetris? One of the best VR puzzle games? Yes, you read that right. Jamie explained it best in his original review. “Yes, this is indeed Tetris… in VR. But, by applying its unmatched strand of spectacular visual and musical flair, Enhance creates something with a powerful, compelling and entirely unexpected hypnotism to it.”
Platforms: Oculus Quest, PS VR, PC VR (SteamVR, Oculus Store)
One of the newer puzzle games on the list, The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets is a charming puzzle game that makes you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. You’ll play through tiny diorama-style worlds in a puzzle game that “makes you laugh, makes you smile, and often times makes you feel clever and creative.” Read our review.
The Talos Principle
Platforms: PC VR (SteamVR, Oculus Store)
This port of a classic puzzler is an incredibly well-done translation of the original game, initially developed for PC, and now available in VR. If you never played the game on PC, The Talos Principle will feel right at home in your VR headset. Read our review.
Transpose
Platforms: PC VR (SteamVR, Oculus Store, Viveport), PSVR
Originally released in late 2018, Transpose is a VR puzzle game that sees you able to create clones, or “echos”, of yourself that carry out the exact same actions you did. Coordinating and synchronizing echoes is the key to solving the game’s 30+ mind-bending puzzles. Read our review.
So there you have it – our 15 best VR puzzle games and experiences. Is a VR puzzle game you love missing from the list? Let us know in the comments below.
This list was originally published on January 15, 2020, and updated with new listings on September 15, 2021.
The PSVR Summer Sale (or Sales) is on, and there are some incredible deals going.
Summer’s heatwave might not be the best time to jump into VR. It’s way too hot for Beat Saber and your headset’s going to get all sweaty and smelly. But some of these prices will make you want to block out the sun and bathe in the rays of a screen meer millimeters away from your eyes instead. I’m sure that gives you just as many vitamins and whatnot, right? No?
Anyway, both the US and EU PlayStation Store territories are hosting hefty discounts.
The US side offers some hearty deals on the likes of Borderlands 2 VR, Arizona Sunshine and more. There isn’t much that’s truly show-stealing, but it’s a good opportunity to pick up some of the better titles you might have missed over the past few years.
To be honest, though, the EU summer sale puts the US to shame. Recent hits like Blood And Truth have already had their prices slashed by a good margin. Meanwhile, some of VR’s core staples like Superhot VR are down to some of the lowest prices we’ve seen them go. We’ve rounded up our list of top picks below, but be sure to get a good look through your respective store too. If you’ve got a PS Plus account then make sure to look out for some extra discounts too.
Just remember to keep a cold glass of water near you’re if you’re about to start putting in Firewall all-nighters. Maybe invest in a fan, too.
January Sales are coming to a close, but there’s a chance to save big in this PSVR sale.
The sale, which is now running on the US PlayStation Store, features some of the headset’s best games. Take note, however, that the promotion is for PS Plus members only. The highlight of the deals has to be Borderlands 2 VR. Gearbox’s so-so port of its shooter sequel hit the headset last month but has already had 25% slashed off of its price. It’s now down to $37.49.
But that’s far from the end of the savings. Resident Evil 7‘s Gold Edition, which features all of the DLC, is priced at $24.99. Astro Bot Robot Rescue is down to $31.99 and continues to be one of the best games on the platform. The super deal of the day must be Wipeout Omega Collection, which features some of the best VR support around for just $5.99. That’s two games with a bunch of racing both on and offline. Heck, even Ubisoft’s Star Trek: Bridge Crew is down all the way to $9.99 and the optional VR support will help you find others to play with.
Our pick? The excellent Statik for just $5.99. It’s a surreal puzzle game with an excellent core mechanic at its heart.
Don’t sleep on this sale. It’s a good time to get digging into PSVR’s back catalog seeing as we really don’t know what’s in store for the headset over the next few months. Sony’s Blood And Truth is on the way, but we’re still waiting on the reveal of some other titles.
With May soon coming to an end it is time for the last Something For The Weekend for the month and this time VRFocus brings you a selection of some of the latest deals on virtual reality (VR) titles from the PlayStation store. With the PlayStation VR home to a number of impressive titles, covering a wide range of genres, there is bound to be something for everyone this weekend. As always, be sure to check back every weekend for even more deals right here on VRFocus.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR
“The achievement made by The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR is one by way of both hardware and design to capitalise upon this. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR’s level of immersion is simply fantastic, and while Bethesda Softworks could well have gone the route of DOOM VFR and created a shorter spin-off experience, developing a brand new The Elder Scrolls instalment specifically for VR would have taken many years and far too much in the way of resources for what is still a nascent audience. As it stands some may find the price point of the videogame a bitter pill to swallow, but for those who dreamed of a truly immersive role-playing experience, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR is simply the best opportunity available today.” – Read VRFocus’ Editor Kevin Joyce’s review of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR.
Have you ever wanted to punch a top hat wearing octopus in the face? Well, in Knockout League that is something you can do. Enter the ring in this arcade boxing title where you will need to go up against a crazy cast of characters to become the champion of the Knockout League in immersive boxing action. Dodge with your body and attack with your hands as you make use of the 1:1 movement to unleash a deadly assault of punches on your foe. Think you can be the champion?
Knockout League is currently available for £15.99 (GBP) down from the usual £24.99 with PlayStation Plus members able to save an extra 10%.
End Space
Jump into the pilot seat of the most advanced starfighter the United Trade Consortium has ever built and enter intense space dogfights in this immersive title. Track targets using your gaze and blast them away with a range of powerful and visually impressive weapons. With plenty of missions and upgrades to unlock as you fight to protect the UTC’s secret jump-drive technology from the Tartarus Liberation Front insurgents. Welcome to the fight, pilot.
End Space is available now on PlayStation VR for £7.99 (GBP) down from £15.99.
Waddle Home
“Waddle Home is a game about life as a benevolent alien who loves saving penguins and solving puzzles. Guide penguins through a snowy world filled with traps, guards, and ice, and lead them back home to the Rescue Ship. Bop blocks and toggle switches to help them escape nasty traps and dodge those pesky robot guards. Save the penguins as fast as you can, and collect all three eggs in each level to get a high score!”
Waddle Home is available now for £3.29 (GBP) on sale from the usual £7.99 for PlayStation VR.
Apex Construct
“Despite some minor gripes, its clear that Apex Construct represents the way forward for VR videogames, an absorbing, intriguing experience that draws you in with a rich world complete with its own history and mysteries to be unravelled as well as a fluid combat system. Apex Construct is the standard by which future VR titles will be judged, and an indicator that VR has stepped up its game.” – Read VRFocus’ Staff Writer Rebecca Hills-Duty’s review of Apex Construct.
Apex Construct is only £17.99 (GBP) down from £24.99 with PlayStation Plus members saving an extra 10%.
VR Ping Pong
If you are looking to lose yourself in some immersive Ping Pong fun then look no further than VR Ping Pong. With a number of different gameplay modes and plenty of immersive environments to play in, Table Tennis fans are sure to enjoy their time in this virtual recreation of the popular sport. With a number of difficulty levels available for the AI in each mode players can fine tune the experience and work their way up to being the ultimate VR Ping Pong champion.
VR Ping Pong is available now on PlayStation VR for £5.79 (GBP) down from £11.99.
Statik
“Statik is a superb example of a puzzle game, intelligent, immersive and lots of fun to play. The subtle story woven through is interesting, the puzzles challenging without being too frustrating. VR is used superbly as an integral part of the experience and not a tacked on gimmick. Definitely worth picking up for anyone who owns a PlayStation VR.” – Read VRFocus’ Staff Writer Rebecca Hills-Duty’s review of Statik.
Statikis currently £7.39 (GBP) down from £15.99 with PlayStation Plus members able to save a further 10%.
VR Karts
“The checkered flag is about to drop on a new Virtual Reality racing experience!Get in the drivers’ seat of your own customized kart and race against other players. Race through stunning environments, collect power ups and use weapons to gain the upper hand over other racers. VR Karts is a fun and family-friendly racing game designed specifically for Virtual Reality.”
VR Kartsis currently on sale for £9.49 (GBP) down from £19.99 for PlayStation VR.
Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality
If you are looking for a title that is sure to make laugh out loud and enjoy interacting with two popular character then Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality is for you. Be a fan of the show or not, there is something for everyone in this title. Packed full of mini-games and moments to experience, portals to strange worlds to explore and even puzzles to solve, players will be lost within the world of Rick and Morty for sometime with this title and it is sure to be a crazy ride. Time to go Morty!
“The core gameplay itself is fun, amounting to what is essentially a game of hardcore dodgeball. There are strategic elements involving dodging, blocking, rebounds and power-ups as well as careful positioning which can provide plenty of entertainment if you manage to get a full group of humans together. Which unless you have a lot of friends who all have a PlayStation VR and a copy of Smashbox Arena, you probably won’t, since the servers seem to be very sparsely populated. This is partially compensated for with the addition of AI bots, but half the time, the bots are as dumb as rocks and cause more problems than they solve.” – Read VRFocus’ Staff Writer Rebecca Hills-Duty’s review of Smashbox Arena.
Smashbox Arena is available for only £9.99 (GBP) right now on sale from £24.99 for PlayStation VR.
That is all for this week but remember that VRFocus gathers all the best sales and deals every week, so check back next weekend at the same time to discover more.
The PlayStation VR is the most youthful of all the leading virtual reality (VR) platforms, and while the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift have the benefit of powerful PC systems behind them the PlayStation 4’s unique VR offering can stand tall thanks to a hugely impressive software line-up. A mixture of AAA titles and indie releases makes the PlayStation VR a space for both impressive and innovative gameplay design.
2017 was a big year for the PlayStation VR; the head-mounted display (HMD) celebrated its first year of consumer availability and hosted the VR debut of huge franchises such as Resident Evil and The Elder Scrolls. The below selection of videogames, in no particular order, represents the best that the PlayStation VR currently has to offer.
DOOM VFR – Bethesda Game Studios
Arguably the best first-person shooter (FPS) videogame currently available for PlayStation VR, DOOM VFR showcased that it’s wholly possible to have a fast-paced, action-heavy experience in VR. Misgivings about the control systems aside – a common issue with the current-generation of VR hardware – DOOM VFR is a balls-to-the-wall adrenaline rush.
The Lost Bear – Oddbug Studio
Conversely to DOOM VFR, The Lost Bear is a slow-paced 2D side-scrolling puzzle/platform videogame that prefers to challenge the player’s logical dexterity over their trigger finger. It’s less about chaos and more about careful consideration, and in VR the showcase piece is how that consideration affects your surroundings: the entirety for The Lost Bear is played out upon a stage with the player as the solo audience member. It’s unique and innovative approach to VR deserves as much commendation as the inviting gameplay mechanics.
Farpoint – Impulse Gear
While DOOM VFR posits to take the crown from Farpoint as best FPS on PlayStation VR, Impulse Gear got there first. And ranking highly amongst the PlayStation VR community Farpoint remains, thanks in no small way to the development team’s continued commitment to bring updates and new features to the videogame.
Resident Evil VII biohazard – Capcom
One of the first AAA titles launched on PlayStation VR remains one of its best. Resident Evil VII biohazard rebooted the gameplay of the Resident Evil franchise in a way not seen since Resident Evil 4, and with it brought the thrills of survival horror into VR for the first time. Resident Evil VII biohazard’s PlayStation VR exclusivity period is set to close in January 2018, and many PC gamers are hoping to get the chance to play the videogame on their Oculus Rift or HTC Vive soon thereafter.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR – Bethesda Game Studios
Bethesda Game Studios second entry in this feature and also the other of the two PlayStation VR titles released by the publisher thus far. See a common theme? Despite ongoing grievances with Oculus VR, Bethesda Game Studios’ efforts to progress VR as a medium are unquestionable. Even if they chose a six-year-old videogame to do it.
Manifest 99 – Flight School Studio
Manifest 99, like The Lost Bear, takes the VR medium in a wholly unexpected direction. The player is taken on a journey in which the storyline unfolds around them; interaction is limited to player position, but the choices they make therein have an impact on the events that play out in Manifest 99.
Polybius – Llamasoft
A visual feast as only Jeff Minter and his team at Llamasoft can do, this unique VR experience plays on your nostalgia glands by taking inspiration from the 80s arcade scene in ‘the best of ways’, as stated in VRFocus’ review of Polybius. It’s a frenetic shoot-‘em-up that challenges the player with steadily increasing difficulty as much as it does with the weaving of dynamically timed colours and lighting.
Statik – Tarsier Studios
A puzzle videogame in which your hands are tied and hidden? Tarsier Studios obviously has a creative mind, but your better be a logical one in order to successfully beat Statik’s many challenges. Your hands are kept within a box upon which you must assess and correctly execute the solution to a unique puzzle, without the typical holding hands of clues and hints. Instead, Statik will do it’s best to break your concentration. Tarsier Studios lay out a challenge, and then do the best they can to prevent you from accomplishing it. Pride is what Statik will earn you.
Sparc – CCP Games
A sad goodbye to one of the most adventurous development teams in VR, CCP Games’ Atlanta studio had grand ambitions for Sparc. A title with the potential to define VR eSports, Sparc pitches two players in a competitive arena not to dissimilar to tennis, relying on your own physical ability more than your knowledge of videogame convention. Sparc remains an enjoyable experience, but the possibilities for what it could’ve been in two years will forever remain a shameful reminder that jumping into VR this early has had its consequences.
The Solus Project – Teotl Studios
A first-person exploration videogame set on an alien planet. Does anything scream VR ambitions louder? Teotl Studios don’t seem to think so. The Solus Project is a videogame that relies as much on the player’s own ambition and curiosity as it does the depth of the world Teotl Studios has created for this passion to exist within.
Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE) PlayStation VR is still a couple of months away from celebrating its first birthday – which Oculus Rift and HTC Vive have already done – yet it’s already proven to be the most popular of the three, with SIE claiming over a million headsets have been sold. While this is likely down to two contributing factors, price, and the massive user base of PlayStation 4, the company also ensured it had some good exclusives at the ready like Rez Infinite to tempt gamers. But that was last year, so what about 2017. Well there’s been no shortage of titles available and VRFocus has chosen six of the best.
PlayStation VR might be popular but it doesn’t quite offer the same immersive virtual reality (VR) experience as its rivals. Having only one camera, which is located directly in front of the player, experiences are generally seated so you can’t turn round for 360-degree, roomscale style gameplay which HTC Vive and Oculus Rift both offer. While the tech may not quite be as advanced as the other two – the PlayStation Move controllers initially released in 2010 for use with the PlayStation 3 – that doesn’t seemed to have hampered it or the videogames available.
With so many developers working on PlayStation 4 titles the headset has benefited from those studios keen to experiment with the latest VR technology, expanding original 2D IP’s such as Supermassive Games’ Until Dawn: Rush of Blood or Double Fine Productions’ Psychonauts In The Rhombus Of Ruin. Then therethe original videogames like Farpoint or Ko-OP’s GNOG which are exclusive to the headset.
It’s not always about exclusivity. While the console market is renown for its exclusive wars – some of which has filtered into the VR industry – there are a number of titles available for all the headsets, some of which are cross-platform multiplayer – the most well known being EVE: Valkyrie by CCP Games.
If you already own a PlayStation 4 or its more powerful sibling PlayStation 4 Pro, then PlayStation VR is the easiest way to get into high-quality VR gaming. So what videogame should you buy? Well there are plenty on offer, with some of the launch titles not to be overlooked. However it’s 2017 VRFocus is concentrating on, picking six experiences that should be in your library.
So while Resident Evil 7 biohazard is a must have for any PlayStation VR owner, VRFocus does understand that not everybody likes a good scare. Well fear not as PlayStation VR has plenty of virtual reality (VR) videogames covering every genre and age range. For the next two recommendations the first shouldn’t need much of an introduction, it’s first-person shooter (FPS) Farpoint. While the second is an interesting puzzle title that arrived earlier this year called Statik.
Farpoint
Ever since its first unveiling at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2016, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE) Farpoint garnered significant interest not only as a first-party title but also because of a new controller, PlayStation AIM. The two were tied together, so when Farpoint launched in May bundled with PlayStation AIM it quickly sold out around the world.
The AIM controller isn’t needed to actually play Farpoint, however ask anybody whose tried both and the response will be that the videogame is far better with AIM than without. The two have been made to work with each other from the start so there’s no point splitting them up. Additionally, the controller will support other titles so it’s not a wasted expense.
The sci-fi shooter drops players on a seemingly barren alien world, which then comes alive to kill you. Not only do you have an arsenal of weapons to chose from, if you’ve got a mate with a PlayStation VR then you can watch each others backs through the online co-op mode.
For immersive action and triple A visuals, Farpoint is hard to beat.
Statik
So there’s been horror and some classic FPS action already featured on VRFocus’ list of awesome PlayStation VR titles, so now it’s time to slow things down and get your thinking caps on with Statik, a unique little puzzler from Tarsier Studios.
Statik is the studio’s first VR title where players find their hands trapped inside a box. Located around the outside are various switches, dials, gauges and levers that form the basis of the puzzles. Each one is mapped to a different button or stick on the DualShock 4 controller depending on the actual puzzle.
Whilst fairly simple at first, these boxes become evermore elaborate, not only challenging your deductive skills but memory as well. While most of the puzzles revolve around the box and the various external additions each one has, some of the levels also make use of the environment – this is VR after all – so you’ll need to be aware of your surroundings and what’s located inside the room to succeed.
When VRFocusreviewedStatik the title achieved a full five stars, with the review stating: “Statik is a superb example of a puzzle game, intelligent, immersive and lots of fun to play. The subtle story woven through is interesting, the puzzles challenging without being too frustrating.”
Readers of VRFocus will have likely seen recent reviews for both GNOG and Statik by VRFocus writer Rebecca Hills-Duty on the site. We’ll be covering both games this weekend starting with the latter, and you might have seen Rebecca take on the puzzler from Tarsier Studios for PlayStation VR earlier in the week. But the devious puzzle boxes do not stop there and Rebecca is back to once more have her hands encased in scientific gizmos for the voyeuristic delight of the scientist Dr Ingen.
That description is oddly approrpiate on this occasion since in this part Ingen is quick to introduce his “most wonderful invention to date” called The Voyeur, which is essentially a camera strapped to the top of a roomba. Whilst that doesn’t sound to impressive you’ll see Rebecca soon finds controlling the little remote control robot is vital for her completing her task – as well as starts off some pretty funky music. A roomba robot rhumba, perhaps?
Which PlayStation VR games would you like to see the team take on? Let us know in the comments. VRFocus will be back tomorrow with another gameplay video.
It’s always pleasant when a developer has clearly put time and effort into producing a title. From the very beginning, its clear that developer Tarsier Studios put a lot of care into Statik. The amount of thought put into the title pays off, as Statik is a great experience.
It seems deceptively simple at first. The player is a test subject with their hands encased in a peculiar box covered in dials, switches and other odd controls. The box essentially represents the DualShock controller, with each element you can interact with on the box corresponding to a button or control on the controller. As a result, the controls are very intuitive, all that’s required is to remember which button corresponds to what switch or dial. Of course, the box is totally different with each puzzle, so that might be trickier than you may expect.
The aim is to solve a puzzle on the box. You are not given any clues, but must instead apply logic and observation of your surroundings to work out what you are meant to do. The puzzles are tricky and really tease your brain, but none of them were overwhelmingly frustrating. The level of immersion is remarkable. Between the intuitive controls and the presence of Dr Ingen – who does distracting things like click his pen, type (loudly!) on a keyboard or noisily slurp his coffee – makes Statik bizarrely more ‘real’ – as anyone who has had to work in a shared office will be familiar with.
There’s a subtle kind of horror lurking within the sterile rooms of the lab that Dr Ingen himself has set up, though. Before each puzzle he will deliver a rambling set of lines, that aren’t relevant to the puzzle but are revealing of his state of mind. His behaviour becomes more unusual the further you progress through the videogame, with his statements and attitude towards his test subjects becoming revealed in a way that is somewhat chillingly reminiscent of GlaDOS from Portal.
There is a curious ‘meta-puzzle’ that takes place in-between the main puzzles where you are given blocks that need to be assembled into a larger block, which ends up being important later on. There are also polygraph test segments where the player must register how they feel about a particular sound of image by pressing L3 for sad or R3 for happy. These too, are puzzles, though of a refreshingly different type.
There are lots of secrets to be found by careful examination of the surroundings, and sometimes just by playing around. The ‘Pointless Behaviour’ trophy was particularly amusing.
In a rare moment for a VR game, Statik is actually quite fun to play with a friend around, as it is actually quite useful to have someone watching the screen to shout out suggestions and point out things you might have missed.
Statik is a superb example of a puzzle game, intelligent, immersive and lots of fun to play. The subtle story woven through is interesting, the puzzles challenging without being too frustrating. VR is used superbly as an integral part of the experience and not a tacked on gimmick. Definitely worth picking up for anyone who owns a PlayStation VR.
