Horizon Call of the Mountain
MSRP $59.99
“Horizon Call of the Mountain works as an impressive PSVR2 tech showcase, but overambitious ideas make it less appealing as an action-adventure game.”
Pros
Gorgeous landscapes
Excellent sense of scale
Physical climbing
Bow feels wonderful
Cons
Flat story and hero
Finnicky VR interactions
Overly complicated fight
As I scale an infinite robot-dinosaur skeleton in Horizon Call of the Mountain, hanging impossibly excessive over the world under, I understand how far my relationship with VR has come.
When I first demoed the tech 10 years in the past, I encountered a hanging second the place my real-life worry of heights went digital. During a curated demo reel of experiences, I stepped onto a skinny plank of wooden suspended between skyscrapers. I abruptly observed that my physique had instinctively scrunched up, bracing me for a possible fall as finest I might. I imagined moviegoers seeing The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station, screaming in terror as they thought the locomotive was going to barrel into the digital camera lens and come out of the display screen. I knew I wasn’t in bodily hazard, however that didn’t change the joys I felt within the second.
Now right here I used to be a decade later, fully unphased as I precariously dangled from a much more intimidating peak with out a care on the planet.
That dynamic highlights a notable change in how the bar has moved for VR video games. “Immersive experiences” aren’t sufficient to hold a VR recreation in 2023; they must be as robust and as mechanically sound and fascinating as any console recreation. That’s the place Horizon Call of the Mountain finds itself caught between a rock and, properly, one other rock. As PlayStation VR2’s first main launch, the action-adventure title efficiently performs the function of a tech demo that may showcase the headset’s new options and technical capabilities. Though it has a harder time balancing that with its wider ambitions, balancing deep gameplay methods with easy interactions that really feel like a tutorial for Sony’s new Sense controllers. That makes for a blended launch recreation that’ll be extra spectacular the much less acquainted you’re with VR.
A missing spinoff
Horizon Call of the Mountain isn’t simply important for being PSVR2’s solely main launch recreation; it’s additionally the primary actual spinoff for Sony’s Horizon sequence. Both Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West rank amongst Sony’s finest titles, providing intriguing worldbuilding and an iconic hero in Aloy. Call of the Mountain tries to seize a few of that magic, however it usually looks like extra of an amusement park journey primarily based on the sequence than an growth of it.
The story follows a brand new character, a Shadow Carja insurgent named Ryas, who’s tasked with uncovering a menace to the Sundom territory in trade for a pardon. The story itself is skinny, largely sending Ryas on a sequence of “find the item” quests that transfer alongside a reasonably commonplace “bad guy” narrative. It’s a little bit of a disgrace coming off the wonderful Horizon Forbidden West, which makes use of the sequence’ distinctive techno-dystopia to create a searing commentary on how large tech billionaires deal with Earth as their very own playground. There’s no wider that means to be discovered right here; I left my journey understanding as a lot concerning the world (each mine and the sport’s) as I did earlier than enjoying it.
The story might miss the mark, however Call of the Mountain is one of the best ways to connect with Horizon’s universe.
It doesn’t assist that Ryas is a step down from Aloy as a protagonist. Despite a powerful backstory, he’s a generic hero who gruffly fires off quips and voices puzzle options out loud. As I performed, I couldn’t assist however really feel like I used to be seeing a glimpse into what Horizon would have regarded like have been it first made 15 years in the past. Ryas looks like a throwback to the age of robust man heroes whose lack of character was all the time seen as a function, permitting individuals to extra simply place themselves of their sneakers. It was a restricted means of constructing a personality on the time and that’s emphasised once I place Ryas subsequent to Aloy, a wealthy character that I join with as a result of I can discover the humanity in her.
While these features make for a disappointing spinoff, Call of the Mountain excels in terms of its visible hyperlink to the sequence. Sundom is an awe-inspiring location that’s full of breathtaking vistas and vibrant colours that stylize nature whereas nonetheless feeling primarily based in it. When I’m standing excessive atop a mountain and looking out round 360 levels, I virtually really feel like I’m peering out at an outdated Hollywood matte portray. Every panorama is bigger than life, with so many particulars to soak in. I can really feel the lovingly hand-crafted nature of my environment as I look out at an intricately designed mountain prime with large, robotic tendrils wrapped round it.
The Horizon sequence winds up being an ideal match for VR because the tech helps improve the already standout sense of scale in its robotic monsters. Machines like Thunderjaws really feel way more menacing right here, as I actually must crane my neck as much as see their heads towering above me. When I’ve to cover in tall grass to keep away from a Watcher’s gaze, I really feel a higher sense of stress as its blue gentle washes over my eyes by way of every blade. The tech helps rework online game moments that really feel mechanical into extra private ones that really embed gamers in a harmful world the place survival is a real problem. The story might miss the mark, however Call of the Mountain is one of the best ways to connect with Horizon’s universe.
The climb
While trailers for Call of the Mountain have teased a full-on Horizon recreation that interprets all of its cinematic motion to VR, that’s a bit deceptive. In actuality, consider it extra as a really flashy health recreation. While there’s first-person fight and world actions to seek out by way of exploration, its closest parallel is definitely The Climb. That well-liked VR sequence is basically a mountain climbing simulator the place gamers freely scale digital cliff sides, understanding their arms within the course of. The majority of Call of the Mountain’s gameplay appears to attract inspiration from these video games, and the result’s frankly ingenious.
Whether intentional or not, it features properly as a chunk of gamified health.
Ryas’ journey is basically a vertical one, as gamers scale big mountains and discarded exoskeletons in first-person. Marked rocks, crags, and steel may be grabbed by holding down a set off on the Sense controllers, with every appearing as certainly one of Ryas’ arms. It’s a satisfying, bodily gameplay loop that may actually work up a sweat when you deal with it as a exercise. When I performed, I took pleasure in placing my physique into every climb, reaching as much as seize objects with pressure and stretching so far as I might to securely transfer between crags.
I loved that very same core loop in The Climb 2 on Meta Quest 2, however I might by no means get absolutely invested with out a robust private hook to chase. Here, the narrative setup helps pull me into the world, higher placing me within the sneakers of a mountain climber. The huge heights are a motivator too, creating greater stakes as I rigorously navigate every location. It can get repetitive, particularly after seven or eight hours, however whether or not intentional or not, it features properly as a chunk of gamified health.
In addition to primary climbing, Call of the Mountain performs round with extra instruments from the Horizon universe to create intelligent and tactile first-person platforming. To use a ropecaster, as an example, I first must jab it right into a padded floor, normally with one hand as I dangle from a ledge with the opposite. Then, I must seize its hooked rope and chuck it right into a far-off pad. That creates a downward rope path that I can slide down by grabbing it. Moments like that don’t simply copy The Climb’s notes however innovate on the method by making good use of the sequence it’s primarily based on.
Though I’m largely impressed with these core concepts, a number of the quirks of VR do get in the best way. Certain partitions require me to make use of pickaxes, hoisting myself up with every stab on the wall. Those interactions can get a bit messy relying on how properly you’ve got the PSVR2 calibrated. I’d usually discover myself smashing an ax towards a wall as an alternative of digging into it, resulting in some unintentional falls. I had comparable frustrations with a grappling instrument that might enable me to connect to some extent and swing throughout gaps. I’d normally discover myself swinging my arm just a few instances earlier than the rope truly launched, leaving me confused as as to if I used to be doing it flawed or the tech wasn’t registering my actions.
Gestures are a serious a part of the gameplay, although Call of the Mountain does happily give gamers some wanted instruments to tweak the gameplay. I largely performed with a setting that might require me to pump my arms up and all the way down to run whereas holding two buttons. I might swap to primary stick controls if I wished, however I discovered that the foolish motion helped reinforce that health concept. I recognize what number of methods developer Firesprite performs with the Sense controllers right here, from having gamers leap by pulling each again to crafting new instruments by bodily assembling them on a workbench. It’s a wise option to demo what Sony’s new controllers can do, even when its opening hours can really feel like a typically sophisticated sequence of management tutorials.
Battling with controls
While climbing can usually be a wide ranging expertise, fight usually frustrates. Like the core video games, Ryas’ main weapon is a bow that can be utilized to shoot at robotic dinosaurs and meticulously chip off their elements for further harm. The act of firing the bow is phenomenal right here. I pull the bow out from behind my again with my left hand, seize an arrow from behind my shoulder from the appropriate aspect, pull again my shot, and let it rip in a means that feels fully pure. When I’m sniping at destructible objects or hidden targets all over the world, I really feel a real sense of pleasure each time I land a shot.
That elegant system turns into a lot messier within the context of a fast-paced battle. Throughout the story, Ryas will run right into a handful of encounters, which usually revolve round a distinct boss or some waves of Watchers. When these set off, I’m abruptly locked to a round axis that I can solely navigate by swiping my arms left and proper. Battles require me to dodge incoming pictures with that movement whereas lining up bow pictures in between. The frantic nature of that have unravels a well-known VR downside that not even a brand new, top-of-the-line headset can resolve.
You’re left with a sophisticated battle system that I think about can be extremely difficult for brand new VR adopters to understand.
When I’m working rapidly in battles, my options start to crumble. I’ll attempt to rapidly attain again to seize an arrow, solely to return up empty-handed as a result of I didn’t get my controller far sufficient over my shoulder. When I rapidly attempt to get an arrow in my bow, I usually discover myself wrestling to get it correctly locked in. Even extra sophisticated is its ammo system, which feels notably overbaked to indicate off VR options. To change my arrow sorts, I must twist my bow on its aspect and choose one of many arrow sorts. That’s simple to do usually, however it’s extraordinarily laborious to do it on the fly whereas watching assault patterns and shifting. I’d usually discover myself failing to seize the appropriate arrow or not grabbing something in any respect.
Dodging is equally inconsistent, as I usually struggled to maneuver so far as I wished. Sometimes, I wouldn’t transfer in any respect on my first try, leaving me to flail my arms as I’m burned by a robotic’s devastating laser assault. Combine these two difficult management gimmicks with ducking, clumsy weapon switching, and on-the-fly ammo crafting that requires you to bodily assemble a batch of latest arrows and also you’re left with a sophisticated battle system that I think about can be extremely difficult for brand new VR adopters to understand.
Those management frustrations are a disgrace as a result of the fight right here is theoretically as satisfying as any Horizon recreation. I get that very same puzzle-like delight each time I efficiently snipe off a Glinthawk’s chest piece or a Thunderjaw’s again laser. It takes every thing I really like concerning the sequence’ fight however offers it an additional physicality that’s enjoyable on paper. I’m simply not satisfied that the tech can nonetheless reliably deal with the type of quick and complicated interactions that you just get in a standard recreation. I’m rather more snug once I’m climbing mountains at my very own tempo, with my thoughts solely centered on pure interactions.
Despite all these critiques, Horizon Call of the Mountain does really feel like a must-buy for anybody seeking to put money into Sony’s new headset — although that’s virtually by default due to a slim launch line-up. Its attractive visuals showcase what we are able to count on from a brand new period of VR and there’s at the moment no higher option to be taught the ins and outs of the Sense controllers. It simply struggles the extra it tries to suit these tech-showcase instincts into certainly one of Sony’s signature action-adventure video games. PlayStation’s finest video games have succeeded up to now decade by pondering large, however Horizon Call of the Mountain exhibits that PSVR2 would possibly require Sony to scale these ambitions again.
Horizon Call of the Mountain was examined on PlayStation VR2.
Today’s tech information, curated and condensed to your inbox
Check your inbox!
Please present a legitimate electronic mail tackle to proceed.
This electronic mail tackle is at the moment on file. If you aren’t receiving newsletters, please examine your spam folder.
Sorry, an error occurred throughout subscription. Please strive once more later.
Editors’ Recommendations