Recent reviews by Duncan

I've been a fan of this series for quite a while, and was really excited for a VR sequel. Having just finished the game, I think that Fireproof did a fantastic job of translating the gameplay from the iOS apps to VR. The puzzles are structured similarly to the previous games, but still very creative and engaging. The static teleportation nodes help to make the experience more familiar to returning players of The Room, but I did miss the freedom of movement that I've become used to in VR. However this didn't take away from the experience any, and I appreciated the authenticity. The puzzles were perhaps a little bit too easy, but this is coming from someone who knows the series well. I never got super stuck, and most of the time was able to breeze through a chain of puzzles in one go. I think there's definitely room for more complexity and more interactivity with VR puzzles, which this game seems to just scratch the surface on. I hope if a sequel is planned on this platform, that it makes use of physics interactivity and full body movement.

The storyline has always been quite cryptic, and this is no different. However the pacing and story do keep a tangible thread, and wrap up with a satisfying ending. It does feel as though you're digging deep into something ancient and powerful, that's only barely understood. The game is however, a little bit short for $30 in my opinion. The Room series has never been super long, they aren't RPGs after all, but I know I would have definitely enjoyed and been more satisfied with an extra hour or so of gameplay (DLC?). As a returning player, it took me around two or three hours without a guide but using hints. Brand new players might take a bit longer if you aren't familiar with Fireproof's particular flavor of puzzle solving. Something more like a five to seven hour game might be more worth the price tag, but I don't feel like I wasted my money. Just know you can probably finish this in an afternoon.

For me, the best part of The Room is always the atmosphere, which I have loved since the first game. I can say the Fireproof are the only studio that has really done Lovecraft right, which is definitely saying something. I had similar high expectations for this title, and was absolutely not disappointed. It's spooky, it's mysterious, it's old as balls. The visuals are top notch as always, and the sound design does a particularly good job of immersing the player. I'd love to have the witch's hut as a SteamVR Home Environment.

All in all, I think Fireproof did a great job with this first VR title, and I'm really excited to see where the series goes from here. With only a little let down with the length and puzzle difficulty, this is definitely a must for fans of the series and fans of VR. Definitely give it a try and support Fireproof!

8/10

just keep playing until you can see through the matrix