Moss and Moss II (2023) [PSVR2]

“Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior.”

–Karl Von Clausewitz

It’s finally here! The PSVR2 headset, awaited with bated breath…well, okay, the larger part of the player base seems to think of this headset and the original PSVR as curiosities more than anything. In complete fairness, though, the PSVR2 represents the cheapest and most accessible form of consumer-level VR out there, given its easy interface with the PS5 and curated selection of games. VR might not be the be-all and end-all of gaming it’s sometimes imagined to be by enthusiasts and the overexcited press, but it’s definitely worth a shot if you’ve got the opportunity and resources.

Of Mice and Men

While the PSVR2 is naturally inclined toward first-person shooters, there’s the odd game here and there that does something a little different with the device. Case in point: Moss and its sequel, which go in a different direction entirely by offering a third-person platforming experience. Mouse heroine Quill will clamber around little diorama-sized platforming levels while you watch from on high, controlling her via the Sense controllers’ buttons and sticks. When she needs a little help, you can interact with certain parts of the environment more directly via traditional VR pointing, pulling and grabbing. The world is big and Quill is small, but with the help of the Reader – the player – it’s possible to conquer challenges much larger than a little mouse.

This makes for an interesting hybrid take on traditional and VR games that shows how the headset can add a little extra spice to classic gameplay. The ability to physically move around and examine the areas that Quill is exploring lends a sense of realism to the proceedings that other platformers just don’t have. Combine this with Moss‘ overflowing charm, particularly thanks to our adorable mouse heroine, and you’ve got a winner. The Moss games are an engrossing experiences that demonstrate the myriad possibilities available in VR.

A Model Train Set… But with a Mouse

If it sounds like you’re largely just playing a standard 3D platformer with the ability to get up, move around and examine the situation from different angles, well…that’s not an entirely incorrect take. On the other hand, it’s also not necessarily a bad thing. Think of it like those fancy model train sets that show up at department stores all over the place except, unlike in real life, you won’t be arrested for messing with them. Looking in various corners, nooks and crannies to find secrets really adds some credence to the idea of playing with a life-sized virtual diorama. Not every VR experience has to involve first-person shenanigans to have an impact.

From a narrative perspective, there’s a lot to be said for the fact that Quill notices you, the player. A sort of partnership forms between the mouse and the player in completely adorable fashion. In many games you’re controlling the character directly and they feel a bit like a puppet you’re jerking around with the analog sticks. While Moss still uses that control concept, the way that Quill and the player are independent entities from a narrative perspective makes Moss feel just a tad more warm and cuddly than the average platformer.

A Virtual Success

If the Moss games seem familiar, it’s probably because they’ve been hallmarks of the VR experience for years now. The original Moss was actually one of the heavy-hitting games for the original PSVR, landing on the PlayStation Store a few months after that device’s release date. Players around the world were waving PS Move controllers and desperately trying to get their PS Eye webcam to recognize them all to make sure Quill was able to make it through her journey largely unscathed. It’s telling when it comes to Moss‘ quality that those pioneers were willing to endure the slings and arrows of early console VR to propel Moss to stardom.

Even with the release of the PSVR2 and the gateway it opens to more accessible VR experiences, the whole thing might be a wash if every game was a shooter. Shooters are great, but they definitely represent the lion’s share of VR games and there’s got to be a little bit more to make a platform really feel like a platform. Platformers like Moss, rhythm games like Ragnarock and wholly new experiences like the excellent PSVR2 headliner Horizon: Call of the Mountain show that there’s plenty of uncharted territory to explore with VR. New headset owners could do a lot worse than to join Quill on her pint-sized adventure.

Special thanks to Polyarc for providing us with a copy of these games for review.

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Cory G. believes the pen is mightier than the sword…well, depending on how sharp the pen and sword are. A child of the ’90s and a prolific writer, he strews his work about like Legos made of words, just waiting for your brain to step on them. He enjoys a devilish challenge, so when it comes to talking about some of the more difficult games out there, you might just run into the Infernal Accountant Mage. Some advice: hold on to your soul around this guy, and don’t sign anything. Read more at popzara.com.