Innovative and scary, but hampered by repetitive gameplay and inflexible rules.
generates incidental echoes that you can use to navigate, and the type of surface you’re on plays a part too. If you need a better picture of your surroundings you can either whisper and shout into the mic, or hit the R2 button. You’ll generate noise depending on how loud you are, or for how long you hold down R2, which in turn dictates how far those sound waves travel. Picking up and throwing objects also works, usually as a form of distraction.
However, you don’t want to make too much noise, or you’ll attract the creatures roaming around. They hunt you down the moment they hear you, and you’ll know when one’s nearby from the red sound waves they create. Your role, as in most survivalhorror games, is to patiently sneak past.
That’s easier said than done. Sti ed’s stages are game’s replayability. It also cuts down on the fun factor, as you’ll need to replay sections over and over again until you get it right – the way the developers envisioned it. Certain points had me dying so much that fear rapidly turned into frustration. That’s not to say that there’s a lack of craziness and fear-induced panic. Outside of the original Outlast, I’ve never felt more afraid running from an enemy. Sti ed in VR is truly terrifying.
Needless to say, Sti ed’s visual style lends to a blazing fast frame rate, which works greatly to its bene t for VR. Everything is uid, and not once did I notice any slowdowns or experience any motion sickness. Although the wireframes tend to make everything look the same, it becomes less bothersome once you’re fully immersed in the surroundings.
While the monsters aren’t as scary as they could be due to the visual limitations, hearing them chasing you will get your heart racing. From water dripping off leaky pipes and boots sloshing in puddles, and of course the shrieks of whatever’s chasing you. It makes you feel as if you’re right there cowering in fear, not watching from the comforts of your home.
At the end of the day, Sti edzzles out despite its rather innovative gameplay. The lack of evolution makes the whole game drag out, as you’ve pretty much seen everything it has to offer after an hour or so. I kept wishing for a break from the constant hide-and-seek, waiting for the game to introduce different elements or to open up its areas. It never does.
Even so, an expansion or sequel that xes these problems could easily turn Sti ed into a killer VR title it deserves to be.