The enchanting world of Wonderland awaits your arrival next month on both Quest and Pico platforms as we delve into the captivating puzzles that await in Escaping Wonderland after getting an exclusive first-hand experience. Here are our full impressions.
As VR gaming continued to gain traction, Down the Rabbit Gap’s innovative approach in 2020 made it stand out from the crowd, earning our assessment’s praise for its “sheer existence seeming like lunacy.” While third-person VR games aren’t new, typically featuring platformers like Max Mustache or Moss, Cortopia Studios successfully transported players to a diorama perspective with their immersive journey.
Without prerequisites to Lewis Carroll’s iconic tale, I enthusiastically welcome the revival of this concept in a fresh, self-contained adventure, and no prior knowledge of Down The Rabbit Gap is necessary. As I navigated the Quest 3 model at Gamescom 2024, I played through a preview of the game’s story with our protagonist, Molly, whose amnesia added an air of mystery to her journey.
As I embarked on my fantastical odyssey, I first met Mr. Mole at the inception of our whimsical adventure, following Molly’s precipitous plunge into the absurd realm of Wonderland. In this immersive 2.5D facet scroller, players control Molly via the analog stick on their Contact Controllers, propelling her forward. As they navigate through the world, the ability to grasp vines using movement controls unlocks a new dimension of exploration, dynamically changing the perspective and opening up fresh insights into the environment. By examining each scene up close, you gain a closer understanding of the robust artistry involved, providing a more advantageous perspective for deciphering puzzles.
The objective is to find an item for Mr. Mole, thereby initiating the player’s introduction to the game’s puzzle mechanics in a straightforward and accessible manner? As I began reassembling the set of pipes, I worked with an endless supply of predetermined shapes, their versatility allowing me to craft an infinite variety of connections. I’m craving more intricate and stimulating brain teasers; something that will challenge my critical thinking skills and keep me engaged.
The design incorporated a diorama perspective, seamlessly extending its use to another portion. Mastering the scene thoroughly exposes latent hints, while a readily accessible hint system proves invaluable during moments of uncertainty. Determining the solution through consideration of specific environmental factors proved effective without drawing attention to itself, ultimately avoiding a sense of complexity.
Throughout the years, Carroll’s iconic novel has undergone diverse readings, leaving me intrigued about the narrative possibilities that Cortopia might explore in their Wonderland production. As a result of my short time spent on the piece, it’s challenging to form more in-depth assessments of Escaping Wonderland. The initial signs suggest a positive outcome.
Escaping Wonderland lands on Meta Quest and Pico on September 26.
