Past Blue: After The Storm is a short-lived journey that educates about marine conservation, and it is out now on Quest.
VR could be a highly effective technique for elevating consciousness. Whether or not that is via video games, movies, or one thing else, inserting you inside these digital worlds typically leaves a extra lasting affect. With the ever-increasing menace of local weather change threatening our oceans, seeing VR media handle such subjects is a welcome sight, although I by no means anticipated a VR-only sequel to 2020 flatscreen sport Past Blue.
Whereas The Sea We Breathe explores related grounds with a WebXR documentary, Past Blue: After The Storm takes a twin method paying homage to Medal of Honor: Above and Past. A sequence of unlockable mini-documentaries complement the expertise nicely by exploring the science behind Past Blue, although the marketing campaign stays the primary draw.
Taking part in because the marine biologist Mirai, voice actor Erika Ishii offers her some welcome character, and also you’re investigating the harm after a tropical storm hits your analysis base. Disappointingly, you possibly can’t swim through movement controls; motion’s restricted to both the analog sticks or hand propellers activated by the A/X buttons. Although I perceive that is for consolation causes, I want After The Storm would allow you to flip off the propellers’ vignette that kicks in as you pace up.
Instruments like a scanner and chopping system help Mirai’s journey, letting you scan native fish species/faunas or clear totally different obstacles. The storm’s environmental affect quickly turns into clear as you discover unwell creatures and vegetation, and seeing sick sharks trapped beneath steel grates illustrates After The Storm’s themes nicely. There is a welcome bluntness that feels particularly potent within the present political local weather.
You will continuously change to a different playable character known as Kanaloa, a robotic who principally handles the heavy lifting whereas Mirai handles extra technical work, like fixing cracked tubes with sealant or changing an influence supply. Despite the fact that you are working with your self, there is a good diploma of co-operation right here between these two, and it is moments like this solo journey might’ve benefitted from co-op assist.
What’s significantly disappointing is how After The Storm stops proper because it will get going. My journey ended after roughly 100 minutes, and that features finishing varied aspect missions with out utterly exhausting them. To its credit score, the nicely paced narrative is efficiently holding my curiosity, however the non-compulsory duties like aiding any sick creatures aren’t significantly enjoyable when all you are doing is taking pictures therapeutic gel at them. There isn’t any time to introduce extra advanced mechanics, leaving VR interactions feeling comparatively primary.
Nonetheless, After The Storm’s presentation holds up nicely on Quest 3: no less than, it does when you’re stationary. Taking in these aquatic environments can really feel moderately nice. Sadly, that is hindered by constant visible pop-in that will get distracting when you begin shifting. Since your avatar is portrayed by floating fingers, it is typically complicated choosing up a instrument since you possibly can’t see them off your “physique,” and I maintain by accident selecting the incorrect merchandise by hovering over the incorrect space.
Should you’re hoping for one thing like Subside on Quest, you will not discover it right here, although Past Blue: After The Storm has its moments. Regardless of the presentation points and shallow gameplay, E-Line Media and Chaos Principle Video games present clear dedication to the sport’s environmentalist themes, finally delivering a good narrative journey.
Past Blue: After The Storm is out now on the Meta Quest platform.
