With the recent release of next-gen consoles Xbox Series X|S and the PlayStation 5, the attention that the launch of Oculus Quest 2 deserved may have fallen a little to the wayside. Gamers remaining ignorant to the release and the slew of virtual reality games available will be hitting themselves if they allow that ignorance to go on; Oculus Quest 2 has some of the finest titles available in 2020.
One of those is The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners. Anybody who’s a fan of the universe created by Robert Kirkman - whether that be because of the comic book series or the television show and its many spinoffs - should do everything in their power to experience what this game has to offer in VR.
Developed by Skydance Interactive, players will be thrown into a tutorial upon launching the game which teaches them the basics of the game. This includes reaching over your shoulders and grabbing at your sides for tools and equipment, as well as your backpack which holds such items as bandages and food.
It also brings you up to speed with weapons and handling, from small knives to axes, and even a pistol for those moments you take out zombies in the distance. It’s a quick but extremely effective way to prepare players for the experience ahead.
When it comes to the game’s graphical performance, there has of course been a downgrade with the wireless VR headset. You’re not going to experience the same visuals you would with a wired PC for example, but fortunately the change, whilst being noticeable, isn’t enough to dampen the overall enveloping of the Walking Dead environment. You’ll still feel fully immersed, despite the often-cartoony landscape.
Set in New Orleans, you’ll soon feel at home dodging hordes of walkers trying to rip you apart for their next meal, but they’re not the only fiends you should be aware of. Across the landscape, different factions compete for power in this strange new world, and they’re not afraid to cut you down if you get in their way.
You’ll use a rowing boat to get one from area to the next, collecting materials to craft new items that have a better durability than those you’ll find scattered around the state. You can also upgrade your character so that your moments in combat are a little easier to get through; but honestly, you shouldn’t be struggling with the bust-ups after the first 30 minutes or so.
There are also a host of puzzle-type challenges to complete, but the most important aspect of the game comes in the decisions you make, shaping the narrative that plays out.
Sometimes it’s better to go with your heart, whilst at other times you’d be smart to use your brain and pick what may appear to be the ‘nasty’ option. For the most-part, I went with my gut, but still wished I had done things differently when I saw the result of my actions on a couple of occasions.
Personally, I much preferred playing Saints & Sinners in a stationary sitting position, as once I start moving around the room with this camera in particular, the motion sickness kicks in. This did hamper my experience a touch, with hand movements feeling a little stunted here and there.
Overall though, this is undoubtedly one of the best experiences you can have with the Oculus Quest 2. A must-buy for any fan.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is available now on Oculus Quest, as well as Mac, Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4. A copy of the game on Oculus Quest 2 was provided in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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Tagged in The Walking Dead