Maskmaker
- April 20, 2021
- InnerspaceVR
- 4h median play time
A fantastic(al) VR puzzle game that feels a bit like being part of a more mature pantomime or a Cirque Du Soleil performance.
Maskmaker is a single-player VR adventure game set in a mysterious universe with stunning graphics and intriguing story. As a Maskmaker's apprentice, you'll learn the magic of crafting masks to explore unique biomes, unravel secrets and become the Maskmaker. The game offers extensive use of VR with puzzles and mask-crafting using rare resources, paints, and shapes.
Reviews
- The game features a creative and well-executed concept, with unique puzzles and a charming story that immerses players in its magical worlds.
- The mask-making mechanic is engaging and satisfying, allowing players to explore and interact with the environment in a meaningful way.
- The visuals and art style are beautiful, enhancing the overall experience and making it a standout title in the VR genre.
- The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in around 4 to 6 hours, which may leave some wanting more content.
- Some puzzles are considered too easy or simplistic, leading to a lack of challenge for experienced players.
- There are technical issues, such as bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, along with some frustrating design choices like missable collectibles.
- story88 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as simple yet engaging, with a mix of interesting themes and philosophical elements, though some players found it meandering or lacking cohesion. Many appreciated the immersive storytelling and unique art style, while others noted that the narrative could be overshadowed by easy puzzles and gameplay mechanics. Overall, it offers a relaxing experience with a decent narrative, appealing to those who enjoy story-driven games, despite some criticisms regarding its depth and clarity.
“The story is light but interesting enough to keep you playing longer.”
“The story is pretty interesting, is superbly voice-acted and accompanied by a beautiful soundtrack.”
“Maskmaker has an enjoyable and well-told story with some good use of VR space during narrative-heavy sections.”
“The story was meandering and not engaging.”
“I feel like the story wasn't as cohesive as I would have liked - even though it really wanted to tell a meaningful story, I'm not entirely sure what it was about.”
“Where this game falls short is in its story for me, not that it's not well made, it just didn't interest me; I played this game for the gameplay, not the story.”
- gameplay52 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by innovative mechanics, particularly the engaging mask-making and body-swapping features that enhance exploration and puzzle-solving. While the puzzles are generally easy, the tactile crafting elements and immersive VR interactions provide a satisfying experience, complemented by a well-crafted story and beautiful environments. Overall, players appreciate the game's polished mechanics and the enjoyable, albeit simple, gameplay loop that encourages creativity and exploration.
“The gameplay revolves around finding 'puppets' in a level, taking note on what mask it has on, then finding the necessary crafting components to recreate it.”
“The actual crafting mechanics are realized pretty well - from carving to painting and decorating - and are very satisfying.”
“The story is short but well written, and the gameplay is amazing with all the interactivity in terms of making the masks and exploring the new worlds.”
“This is especially noticeable in how it fails to do anything particularly clever with its perspective-swapping gameplay.”
“The gameplay loop is very simple, consisting basically of finding items to put on a mask (after half of the game they introduce some puzzle elements to the exploration part, but this is far from a challenging puzzle game).”
“A very fun game with interesting mechanics like any game though it is not flawless and this game is more story and the puzzles are not really that challenging.”
- graphics33 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed but generally positive feedback, with many praising the unique and stylized art style that enhances the overall experience. While some users noted that the visuals are somewhat simplistic, they appreciated the beautiful environments and smooth performance, particularly on lower-spec machines. Overall, the graphics contribute effectively to the game's storytelling and immersive qualities, making it visually appealing despite not being hyper-realistic.
“The environments and art style were also really beautiful, and I had no issues with controls or getting stuck anywhere.”
“Visuals are beautiful and interactive.”
“The art style and storytelling in the game are wonderful and help make this game feel bigger than it is.”
“N64 graphics.”
“The graphics look very simple in the previews.”
“While the graphics might look somewhat simplistic, this game world is really big (for a VR game).”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive environments and engaging storytelling, complemented by interesting interactions with NPCs. While many players appreciate the atmospheric design and light puzzles, some found the narration to be overly intrusive, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“Story driven, interesting but easy puzzles and atmospheric.”
“Lots of very atmospheric environments to explore and interesting interactions with NPCs.”
“Enjoyable story and great atmosphere.”
“My attempts to soak up the atmosphere were not helped by the narration, which was too intrusive and not entertaining.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, featuring impressive graphics and smooth performance even on lower-end hardware like a 1080. Users highlight the high-quality voice acting and motion capture, contributing to a polished and immersive experience. Overall, it is recommended for its well-thought-out design and strong audio-visual elements.
“Recommended because it is a very original puzzle game that feels polished and well thought out, with great audio, nice graphics, and excellent performance.”
“Graphics look nice, performance was great with a 1080; audio, voice acting, and sound effects were all great.”
“The game looks good and has good performance.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and boring, particularly due to the repetitive collection of ingredients needed for crafting and the cumbersome item transfer mechanics. This grindiness detracts from the overall enjoyment, making it less appealing for those seeking a more streamlined experience.
“I enjoy grinding for 100% achievements when it's not too tedious, and I know I won't have to go through it again.”
“The grinding in this game is rewarding and keeps me engaged without feeling overwhelming.”
“I appreciate how the grinding mechanics are balanced, making it feel like a meaningful part of the gameplay.”
“The game is boring and tedious.”
“At parts, it seems a bit 'grindy' in the sense that you need to collect ingredients to build a more complex mask, which gives you access to a different area that gives you access to more ingredients to make more masks and so on...”
“One puzzle requires you to carry and transfer a spray pump between various sections, and it's a bit tedious due to the limited options to carry items.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the beautiful soundtrack and excellent voice acting that enhance the storytelling experience, while others feel it falls short overall, resulting in an average rating of 4/10.
“The story is pretty interesting, is superbly voice-acted and accompanied by a beautiful soundtrack.”
“The music, the voices, the story, the art behind it, the sense of accomplishment.”
“I love the storytelling and the music.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game compelling, as the storytelling and immersive world create a strong sense of involvement. While some puzzles can be challenging, they contribute to the overall experience, enhancing feelings of accomplishment and engagement.
“Even though the graphics are not 'realistic', the story and how it was told made me feel like I was a part of the game.”
“Getting to go through such an amazing world and experience so much made me feel excited.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users reporting significant bugs and glitches that detract from the experience, while others have experienced minimal issues and found the performance satisfactory. Overall, potential buyers are advised to consider these varying experiences before making a purchase.
“Buggy piece of crap, not a game. Think twice before buying.”
“Some tech glitches took away from the punch of the ending, unfortunately.”
“I have experienced frequent crashes and stability issues that ruined my gameplay.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by a clever female background voice that playfully warns players against progressing too far if they have unfinished tasks, adding a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.
“The female background voice humorously warns you not to proceed any further if you have unfinished business in the realms.”
“The game's witty dialogue and clever puns kept me laughing throughout my adventure.”
“I love how the characters have such a playful sense of humor, making even the most serious moments feel lighthearted.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 200 % negative mentions
While some players find the game's replayability lacking, others, particularly dedicated fans, express a strong desire to revisit it multiple times.
“The only downfall I see is the replay value for everyone else; not for me, I'll definitely be playing this over and over.”
“The only downfall I see is the replay value.”
“For everyone else, not me; I'll definitely be playing this over and over.”
Critic Reviews
Maskmaker Review – The Magic Behind the Mask
When Maskmaker shines, it shines bright to the point I had a beaming smile on my face. It's just a shame these moments only tend to pop up towards the very end. If you're looking for a circa five-hour VR adventure with some magical moments, you could do worse. Just don't expect a groundbreaking VR experience.
70%Maskmaker VR Meta Quest 2 Review
A fantastic(al) VR puzzle game that feels a bit like being part of a more mature pantomime or a Cirque Du Soleil performance.
92%Maskmaker Review – Sssssmokin’
There’s a simplicity to Maskmaker, but a simplicity that works for a fun 2-3 hour romp.
80%