For those of you who have seen our review of Myst on the Quest (caption: we gave it a 9) from a couple of years back, you already know that I’m a book-carrying member of the Cyan fan club. In that review, I mentioned that the only real problem with Myst was that it was utterly eclipsed by its sequel, Riven. Now, the unthinkable has happened: Riven has materialised on the Quest and Steam, remade and rethought for VR and modern systems. I’m almost impossibly excited about it, but I promise you, dear viewers, that I will do my best to objectively analyse whether Riven 2024 is worth your time, money, and emotional investment. We will avoid spoilers for the plot or puzzles to the best of our ability.

A Link to the Past

I believe that Riven is one of the most important and successful titles in the history of narrative gaming. It epitomises the principle of “show, don’t tell.” It traps you alone in a beautiful, forbidding world where exploration and understanding are the primary rewards. There are mysteries to be solved, and each machine, lever, and room is an organic part of the world-building, context building upon context in a satisfying, thrillingly non-linear way. The original game was beautiful, intriguing, and immersive despite being presented as a series of static prerendered images. This remains a wonder today. Now, in the age of VR, the promise of Riven should be fully realised.

Age of Wonders

I have seen the opening scenes of the original Riven hundreds of times. I can vouch that Cyan has not only beautifully updated the graphics and gracefully replaced the live actors with motion-captured models, but they have also stayed true to the original performances and body language. The slightly dodgy 3D models of what were once real (but also dodgy) performers were the main sticking point of Myst in VR, but this is thankfully not the case here. When the cutscenes have played out and the game finally opens the door to the world of Riven, you’re free to explore Riven in full 3D for the first time. For me, that is a very emotional moment. It’s the difference between obsessing over a place through photographs for a couple of decades and then finding yourself there for real. I will preempt the rest of my review here and state right now that Cyan has utterly, definitively nailed it.

D’ni, The Champion of the World

The original Riven is a masterpiece. The remake surpasses it in every way, and VR is the definitive way to play it. It’s so much more than just a new way to explore the world; like Myst before it, it’s as if it has been waiting for VR to exist. To virtually stand in beautiful environments that have hitherto only existed as barely animated stills is a dream realised. It actually makes the puzzle-solving so much more rewarding and substantial. A very early puzzle involves working out the rotation of a pentagonal room to make progress. Being able to stand in the room and physically rotate makes the logic of the problem a lot easier to parse. Peering through lenses and gaps for clues is a physical act in VR rather than a button press, and the islands of Riven have been subtly retooled to take advantage of the new possibilities of vantage points and perspectives not available before. The physicality of VR—such as pulling levers, pressing buttons, or opening doors—feels completely fantastic. Reading a book requires physically holding the book and flipping through the pages, which is crucial to the lore and setting. The ability to use both hands on a machine or gadget while looking around, a natural act in real life but impossible in flat gaming, is a necessity in the VR version of Riven.

Cyan Pride

All of this is what one might cautiously and hopefully expect from a developer with a duty of care to its beloved back catalogue. What truly impresses me is that Cyan has been fearless in daring to improve on the original title. They have introduced new approaches to puzzles and new mechanics, altered the topography of islands here and there, and added subtle narrative tweaks and touches that enhance the classic version. All the changes are improvements; some were made not just to bolster gameplay but to make the narrative sing a little more. To new players, everything will seem well-wrought and satisfying. To returning players like me, there are a hundred little improvements and changes that delight, intrigue, and occasionally astonish. Cyan has served their fan base well and provided a wealth of riches for those taking their first steps in this brave new world.

Get the Book Out of Here

Riven is beautiful. The concern with any modern 3D remake would always be whether they could convey the same level of beauty as the original. For a 26-year-old game, Riven still stands up as astonishingly good-looking, the sheer quality of the prerendered world transcending its technical limitations. The folks at Cyan were kind enough to provide us with copies of both the Meta Quest and Steam versions of the game for comparison. Of course, the Quest will never compete with PCVR, and the nature of the game means it can’t draw from the same technical aspects as Red Matter 2. The PC version of Riven is utterly incredible to look at, bringing joyous new life to the game. Even with my gaming laptop running Riven at modest settings for VR’s sake, the graphics are wondrous.

The Quest version is an eyebrow-raisingly decent attempt to convey the same content with some caveats. Firstly, of course, the textures take a hit, but some more so than others. It’s still a beautiful game, but some environments are a little fuzzy and muted. There’s occasionally a bit of glitching and pop-in, but nothing too aggravating. In some areas, the foveated rendering (the pixelation around areas towards the edge of the Quest lenses) is noticeable and a little distracting. But it’s the water that’s actually problematic, noticeably devoid of splashing effects at best and, in one area in particular, flat and glitchy, making the surrounding geometry appear off. The rest of the game is so lovely to look at, and these issues really stand out. They could be better realised. Overall, while the Quest version is never going to reach photorealism, it’s a beautiful thing.

The Cries of Strange Birds

The audio is my favourite part of Riven’s presentation. The sound design is peerless, from the atmospheric ambience of different locations to the creaking of boards and old metal and the clanking of ancient machinery. The fact that most of it remains unchanged from the original game is a testament to the effort and care lavished on every detail over a quarter of a century ago. Sound plays a possibly more significant role in the success of Riven than the visuals, and this becomes even more apparent in VR. Put on some headphones, and you can lose yourself entirely in this alien yet relatable and familiar world.

Special mention must go to the music, a score that manages to be creepy, mysterious, and soothing all at once. Music is sparing and subtle but essential to the game’s fabric, underpinning everything with an unsettling, nagging sense of dread and wonder.

Familiar Patterns of Decay

There are a few things that could be improved in the current Quest version of the game. The glitches and pop-ins are a little concerning, detracting slightly from the game’s polish. While the use of VR is wonderful, and the additions to the game are completely welcome, the new inventory satchel could have been more organically realised. Many VR games use an over-the-shoulder motion to retrieve backpacks, which would be preferable to the button press here, making its absence a curious omission.

Loading times can be distracting and are the main thing that breaks immersion. While the lengthy initial loading process can be easily forgiven and forgotten, the long pause to take an in-game screenshot and bring up the menu is a drag. This might sound spoiled coming from someone who played through the original game multiple times and had to endure physically changing CD-ROMs between every island. However, the (short) loading screens during travel are unwelcome and jarring in VR. At least there’s a pleasant animation to watch while it loads.

My final gripe is that there needs to be a way to annotate the screenshots you take. A virtual pen to scribble on the screenshots and keep notes would have been a most welcome addition.

And So, I Close

Riven on the Meta Quest is, by far, the best puzzle and exploration game on the platform. It easily joins Resident Evil 4 on the winner’s podium for beloved older classics, given a new lease of life in VR. The care lavished upon Riven is considerable, presenting thoughtful armchair adventurers with a nourishing and immersive experience that will linger in the heart and mind long after leaving the headset. It’s been my favourite virtual world for half a century, and VR is the best and greatest way to experience it.

The Early Access version of Expansion VR is now available on the Meta Store and PICO as of March 14, 2024, with the Steam version set to launch on March 22. The game has already seen a free demo version available through Meta Store’s App Lab since April 2023, allowing players to get an early taste of what the full experience will offer.

Game Features and Gameplay

Expansion VR immerses players in a vast sci-fi universe where three factions—the Privateers, Miners, and Pigdogs—are engaged in a struggle for control over newly colonized celestial territories. Players take on the role of a space warlord, tasked with assembling and commanding squads, securing vital resources, and outmaneuvering opponents in both single-player and multiplayer modes.

One of the standout features of Expansion VR is its precise strategic control system, tailored specifically for VR. The game utilizes an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that allows players to deploy units and manage their resources in real-time, offering a unique blend of auto battler mechanics and immersive VR gameplay. Each faction in the game brings its own strategic strengths and weaknesses to the battlefield, encouraging players to experiment with different playstyles and tactics to gain the upper hand.

In addition to its single-player campaign, Expansion VR offers a competitive multiplayer mode where players can earn influence points, climb the leaderboards, and unlock new units and technologies. This mode is designed to keep players engaged over the long term, with the ability to continually refine and improve their squads as they progress.

Visual and Performance Enhancements

With the launch of Early Access, Plazma Studio has also rolled out several visual and performance upgrades. These include enhanced graphics, improved gameplay mechanics, and tweaks designed to optimize the game’s performance across different VR platforms. The goal is to provide a seamless and immersive experience, regardless of the device players are using.

The game’s developers have also introduced a brand-new trailer to showcase the tactical gameplay and VR controls that Expansion VR has to offer. This trailer gives potential players a glimpse into the game’s strategic depth and the challenges that await them in the expansive sci-fi universe.

Availability and Future Updates

Expansion VR is now available on the Meta Store and PICO, with the Steam version following on March 22. Plazma Studio has hinted at future updates and content that will continue to expand and refine the game as it progresses through its Early Access phase. Players who join Early Access on Steam will have the opportunity to provide feedback that could shape the game’s development going forward.

Founded in 2018, Plazma Studio started in the gaming industry by developing casual mobile games. Expansion VR represents their first major foray into the VR space, signaling a new direction for the studio. The game’s release is a significant milestone for Plazma Studio, which has grown to become both a developer and publisher of mobile and VR games.

The company operates primarily from Malta, with a key branch located in Kharkiv, Ukraine. As they expand their portfolio with titles like Expansion VR, Plazma Studio continues to establish itself as a prominent player in the gaming industry.

The new game mode offers three difficulty tiers, allowing players to test their skills against escalating Uron threats. With the addition of weapon powers, upgrades, and grenades, players have new strategies at their disposal to tackle grouped enemies effectively.

Cyborn’s game design team emphasized the DLC’s focus on movement, climbing, and strategic positioning, aiming to provide a fresh gameplay experience that diverges from the main storyline’s path. The level is designed with multiple pathways, offering various strategies for players to explore.

Future expansions may include more maps, enemy types, and upgrade combinations, but the immediate focus is on refining this new mode based on player feedback. Alongside the DLC, Cyborn has updated the game to improve weapon mechanics, gameplay flow, and overall performance, including giving Steam users the option to choose between SteamVR and openXR standards.

Cyborn invites players to share their thoughts and feedback on the new mode via their Discord community. This DLC is part of Cyborn’s ongoing commitment to expand the Hubris narrative, with a CGI short film introducing key characters and backstory slated for release later this year.

Have you tried the new combat arena mode in Hubris yet? Share your strategies, favorite moments, or feedback on the DLC in the comments below.

VAIL VR, developed over seven years, aims to set new standards for tactical shooters within the VR domain. AEXLAB appreciates the community’s contributions throughout the early access phase, emphasizing that this release is just the beginning of the game’s evolving future.

The official launch ushers in a range of new content and features, including classic and innovative game modes, over 12 maps designed for varied tactical play, and a suite of enhancements aimed at enriching the player experience. The updates accompany a price adjustment to $29.99, reflecting the game’s expanded content and refined gameplay mechanics.

Key features with the launch include an advanced matchmaking system supporting cross-play, an in-game progression system, an expanded arsenal, new maps, revamped friend list and party capabilities, and comprehensive leaderboards and stats tracking.

In addition to the game update, VAIL VR’s official release coincides with the commencement of VRML’s first season, featuring a $10,000 prize pool, highlighting the game’s competitive potential.

Are you ready to dive into the evolved world of VAIL VR? Discuss your strategies, favorite maps, or ask questions about getting started in the comments below.

Details of the Transition

The shift to a free-to-play model will be executed as follows:

• Meta Quest Platform: The paid version will be retired, with the free trial version expanded to offer the full game at no cost.
• Steam VR Platform: The current $14.99 version will be available for free.

Perks for Early Adopters

As a gesture of gratitude, players who purchased the game before the transition date will receive an “Early Adopter Bundle”, which includes:

• A new Grapple Hat
• An exclusive skin pack for all weapons
• 1200 in-game credits
• Over 100 previous items in the game

To claim this bundle, existing players need to have purchased Grapple Tournament and open the game before September 14 to receive the bundle in-game.

Versions Being Sunset

The following versions of the game will be discontinued:

• Paid Quest version
• Oculus Rift version
• Steam demo

They’ve also released a trailer for the new update, highlighting the changes, and you can watch that right here:

New Features include:

NEW ENEMIES: Two more enemies have joined the fight. Engage in battle against the Mushroom, a defensive structure emitting toxic gas that harms players and units. Defeating this formidable enemy requires getting close and targeting the bright point below its head. Also experience the Dragonfly, an upgraded replacement for the Dragon unit, featuring enhanced durability and ranged attacks that align seamlessly with the Bug faction.

INVENTORY POWER-UPS: Purchase power-ups in the loadout menu before each battle and use them strategically throughout the fight. These power-ups include Air Strike, Mind Control Barrel, Indestructible Warp Gate, Double Damage, Invisibility, Energy Blade Blast, and Units Damage Boost.

EDITOR IMPROVEMENTS: Group favorite assets, simplify trigger identification with numbered tags for occlusion and dimmer volumes, visualize player spawn points with new arrow indicators, evaluate maps using internal rating numbers, and add dynamic laser traps with customizable activation frequency.

TECH TREE UPGRADES: Expand the arsenal with three new technology upgrades obtained through spaceship research. Upgrade the gate to a teleport point with the Warp gate, enabling strategic movement on the battlefield. Amplify the Med Gun’s effectiveness with increased damage, allowing it to inflict double the harm on enemies. Unleash the power of the visually striking Red Sword, capable of effortlessly cleaving through multiple enemies with a single devastating strike.

MORE AVATARS: Earn exclusive rewards for galaxy conquest with the addition of three new avatars.

In Guardians Frontline, players must defend the federation from an enemy onslaught as they attempt to extract a mysterious energy source. As both soldier and commander, players must fend off alien forces with a blend of powerful weapons on the ground and powerful ships from the air. With single-player, co-op, and PvP modes, players can go in alone or with a unit.

Do you already play Guardians Frontline? Excited about the update? Let us know in the comments!