"People once believed that when someone dies, a crow carries their soul to the land of the dead. But sometimes, something so bad happens that a terrible sadness is carried with it and the soul can’t rest. Then sometimes, just sometimes, the crow can bring that soul back to put the wrong things right."
Truer words have never been spoken in such a transferring experience than with Flight School’s Manifest 99 for the PlayStation VR.
I want to say this first before I really begin. I will not spoil anything about Manifest 99 as you do need to experience this and not just experience, but just sit back with no expectations and listen. See-through the eyes and maybe you will find something out that was hidden either subconsciously or maybe you didn’t realize it was there, to begin with.
There is something so special, so moving about Manifest 99 that I came away with more of an emotional bond that I have never really experienced in a game much less in VR. See Manifest 99 is not a game, but experience and I for one appreciate this ride. For someone who lost their father a year ago and then their Mother just a few months ago as I did, not everyone grieves the same or may not have that emotion that comes out and maybe buried. Now regardless of how one feels in their normal life, there is always this connection with a member of your family.
With Manifest 99 there are no controls to use. All you need to do is look around to progress in this adventure. When you start out, you will notice a train that comes as you are standing and observing. What are you doing here? Why are you at this point and time? These questions will get answered as you learn about the characters and what happened and why they are here. You see the eyes are the way to one’s soul and if you can learn how to find that door, you can learn so much. And I really want to applaud Flight School on a few things. They have turned this gateway into something very magical with their art style and music to bring everything together. And also for bringing something out as therapeutic as Manifest 99 to help with a time that many of us may truly not be prepared for.
As you look into the eyes of the characters, you will find out what their normal lives were like which does enough to start putting the pieces of the puzzle together and you get closer to that question of why. And with each character, there are items of theirs that must be collected that all you have to do is look around you will see.
Sometimes in life, the choices we make will have that butterfly effect and we are not even aware. But like The CROW, sometimes the soul cannot rest and some times, the soul can be brought back to put the wrong things right. With Manifest 99, do yourself a favor, pick this up and feel free to take your time and enjoy the journey.
Manifest 99 is out now on PlayStation VR and is also available on the Oculus Rift/S, Oculus Go, Gear VR on the Oculus Store, Steam, Viveport, and Daydream. A review code was provided.
To learn more about Flight School Studio, please visit their site, like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, follow them on Instagram, follow them on Twitch, and subscribe to their YouTube.
In case you missed the trailer, please enjoy. Until next time I need to revisit the train.
Mr. PSVR, September 21, 2017, theplaystationbrahs.com
