VirtuaVerse
A cyberpunk neo–noir that will break your brain
$14.99 From Theta Division, thetadivision.com
Needs macOS 10.12 or later
VirtuaVerse is an homage to both the past and future. Its point–and–click gameplay and pixel–heavy graphics are rooted in the early days of video games, but its cyberpunk aesthetics and excellent soundtrack owe much to the dystopian future imagined in Blade Runner and modern synthwave music. They combine to create a game that’s unique, and rather good, too.
You start off in a squat apartment as a hooded hardware hacker whose girlfriend, Jay, has disappeared and whose AVR goggles — used to see the augmented reality overlay that the rest of the microchipped population see by default — have broken. After getting them fixed and locating Jay, you’re catapulted into a world of warring graffiti gangs, despotic artificial intelligences hell-bent on further enslaving humanity, and oppressive police forces hunting those who trade in the dark arts of retro computers and mind–bending drugs.
VirtuaVerse is hard. Like, really hard. We’re no strangers to point–and–click games, but even we found ourselves scratching our heads and reaching for the online guides. Even the first room in VirtuaVerse requires a multi–step workflow with a big helping of creative thinking. Most games ease you in gently to acclimatize you to the controls and methodology. Not VirtuaVerse.
This is not necessarily a criticism, though. You quickly learn to listen closely to every conversation, as hints are frequently scattered within. You find yourself sifting through your backpack and considering the possible outcomes of combining two unlikely objects together. And you take numerous breaks to consider how you can overcome the latest obstacle in your path. This is not a game that can be rushed, no matter how hard you try. You will struggle, and cuss, and tie yourself in knots until eventually, with
a great sigh of relief, you complete the very first puzzle in the game!
The characters could use more exposition as to their motives and relationships, and the story is a little slow to start. Once it gets going, however, things greatly improve, and the second half of the game is where VirtuaVerse really shines. If you are a point– and–click fanatic and want a game to seriously challenge you, VirtuaVerse will really hit the spot.
THE BOTTOM LINE. An excellent futuristic adventure that will test your problem– solving skills to the limit. ALEX BLAKE