At the launch of PlayStation VR, there were was quite a selection of titles to select from at launch. But with that selection, there was one title that may have been overlooked as it launched on August 30th, 2016 with the ability to play in Virtual Reality a little bit later. A game of humor, remarks, puzzles, and space was right there waiting to be explored. But does Namazu Studios title something that you missed out on and should play today? Let’s find out with Nebulous for thew PlayStation VR.
When you first start Nebulous you are given the option to play in VR or without. While I do appreciate the option, you can tell that this was meant to be played in Virtual Reality and it shows. We first get introduced to the one and only ego…I mean Commander Dash Johnson. As we learn that no one else can compare to him a sudden wormhole appears and this is where the fun starts to roll.
Your goal is to help Commander Dash Johnson reach the new wormhole in hopes he can make it out safely home. Each level you will have certain pieces that you will be able to move to allow the Commander to drop, roll, bounce, try to collect stars, and allow gravity to work (or not work) while using objects such as lasers and conveyor belts, for example, to get to the exit. It sounds simple, but the further you get along the more thinking you will have to do.
I want to talk about the controls for a moment before we continue. Sometimes we are given too many buttons and that sometimes may distract some from the gameplay. Namazu Studios is all about simplicity and having a good time and it shows. You will be using the PlayStation VR headset to look at the pieces and move them just by looking at them. Press X to place them and to drop Commander Dash to see if your placement pieces along with the trigonometry that you learned in school and actually paid attention pays off. So thank you Namazu Studios for allowing things to be simple, but making me use math…really? In all honesty, it is really fun.
When you start thinking you are on the easy street thinking you got this as Commander Dash’s ego starts to rub off, there are more twists added. There will be some levels that have you use gravity machines, rockets for example and also have you using more than one screen. So for example, after the Commander gets to what you think is the exit, is actually dropping him off on another level kind of like how if you were playing miniature golf and your golf ball goes down a hole only to come out on a lower level. Just adding these extensional layers, the comments from Commander Dash, and even when you may fail, its fun and that makes Nebulous a real joy to play.
For the music, it is what you might expect with its futuristic beat. Some may enjoy it and some may not. But for those that may not, appreciate it for what it is. But if that doesn’t work for you, then Commander Dash Johnson has the comments that will more than makeup for it. Plus hearing his agony as he drops and rolls and bounces can get repetitive, but it is funny.
Like I mentioned you can play Nebulous without VR and it is totally playable. This was made to be played in VR, but you can tell that Namazu Studios almost had to take the VR aspect out first before they could add it. Not saying this is bad in any way, but it just shows what Virtual Reality can and does bring. There is something about not taking yourself too seriously and allowing others to escape and have fun with your creation that makes it all worth it and goes to show that sometimes it’s the gems that may have been overlooked are the ones that can actually surprise us by the fun that we can have.
Nebulous is out now on PlayStation VR and is also available on Steam. A review code was provided.
To learn more about Namazu Studios, please visit their site, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
In case you missed the trailer, please enjoy. Until next time, there is a Commander that needs saving.
Mr. PSVR, July 30, 2018, theplaystationbrahs.com
