Moss: Book II
- October 19, 2022
- Polyarc
- 7h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on PS StoreMoss: Book II is the sequel to the award-winning VR game Moss, continuing the story of Quill and her quest to end the Arcane's rule. The game is a single-player action-adventure puzzle experience, featuring gripping combat, captivating world exploration, and new allies to assist in the journey. Players must help Quill save the world from the winged tyrant hunting her, while also dealing with the emotional challenges along the way.
PC
Playstation 5
Virtual Reality
Windows
PlayStation
PlayStation VR
PlayStation VR2
Reviews
- Moss: Book II is a stunning sequel that expands on the original with improved gameplay mechanics, new weapons, and a deeper story, making it a must-play for VR enthusiasts.
- The game features breathtaking visuals and immersive environments that enhance the storytelling experience, allowing players to feel a strong connection to the adorable protagonist, Quill.
- Players have praised the engaging puzzles and combat, as well as the emotional depth of the narrative, which has led to many heartfelt moments throughout the gameplay.
- Some players found the game to be relatively short, with a playtime of around 5-6 hours, leading to concerns about its value for the price.
- A few reviews mentioned minor technical issues, such as low-resolution textures and occasional awkward platforming mechanics that could disrupt the flow of gameplay.
- While the game introduces new mechanics, some players felt that the puzzles were easier compared to the first installment, leading to a less challenging experience overall.
- story286 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story of "Moss: Book II" is widely praised for its emotional depth, engaging narrative, and seamless continuation from the first game, featuring rich world-building and character development. Players appreciate the immersive storytelling enhanced by stunning visuals and voice acting, although some note minor issues with pacing and certain plot elements. Overall, the game is considered a must-play for fans of story-driven experiences, effectively blending gameplay with a captivating narrative.
“The story is definitely one of the best I've ever played through in a video game, ever.”
“Quill's story got a beautiful and bombastic conclusion, but they've left the door open just a crack for some other cool stuff to happen in the universe, and I really hope we'll get to see where it could go.”
“The storytelling, gameplay, and graphics are stunning.”
“The end did make me feel confused and dissatisfied; I think it is because I was ready for another fight, but the storyteller takes control and finishes up the story and the rest of the game.”
“Like it was just a thing to do for the sake of doing and would have been more interesting if it had some sort of impact on the story or gameplay.”
“I was hoping for more out of the reader, red reader, and reading room aspects of the story.”
- gameplay154 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Moss: Book II" builds upon its predecessor with enhanced mechanics, new weapons, and more complex level designs, creating a captivating and immersive experience. Players appreciate the engaging puzzles and enjoyable combat, although some find the gameplay a bit easy and the introduction of new mechanics occasionally lacking in clarity. Overall, the game is praised for its charming atmosphere, stunning visuals, and the successful integration of VR elements, making it a standout sequel in the genre.
“Delightful and unique platformer with a lovely, atmospheric world, engaging and original gameplay mechanics, adequately challenging (without being frustrating at all), and just generally charming.”
“The gameplay is a perfect blend of engaging puzzles and enjoyable combat.”
“Moss book ii continues where the previous game left us, keeping everything that made the first game great and adding new features that make the game even more interactive and puzzling; it puts many VR games to shame both in looks and gameplay.”
“Like it was just a thing to do for the sake of doing and would have been more interesting if it had some sort of impact on the story or gameplay.”
“My only 'complaint' would be that the gameplay was a bit on the easy side, and that there were too many hints (namely the symbols on the floors and walls telling you what to do and where).”
“There are also some mechanics that are just never explained, such as being able to restore Quill's health and what the different armors do.”
- graphics78 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the stunning visuals, beautiful art style, and immersive environments that enhance the overall experience. Players noted significant improvements over the previous installment, highlighting the game's ability to deliver breathtaking scenery and detailed graphics, although a few minor low-resolution textures were mentioned. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing to the game's magical aesthetic and engaging gameplay.
“Simply amazing, stunning graphics and the quests with the right level of complexity.”
“Incredible, breathtaking graphics and scenery.”
“The storytelling, gameplay, and graphics are stunning.”
“Some minor graphical elements could use more polish, like Quill's placement on uneven ground.”
“The world looks relatively handsome--prebaked shadows and global illumination means the visuals look a lot better than the real-time engine could manage, with the only shortcoming being some low-res textures here and there.”
“While the graphics are fine, it's the environment crafting that makes this game shine.”
- music32 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its breathtaking quality and fitting integration into the gameplay and story. The soundtrack, composed by Jason Graves, enhances the overall experience, complementing the visuals and voice acting effectively. Overall, the music is described as top-notch, elevating the game's emotional impact and immersion.
“The additional complexity is welcomed though, and the voice acting and music continue to be excellent.”
“As in the last game, the art is wondrous and the music is breathtaking.”
“The music is top-notch and so are the sound effects.”
“Soundtrack is again done by Jason Graves, which fits very well with the game and can be found on Bandcamp.”
“Animation, gameplay, level design, music, story, graphics, narration, this is just one of the best games ever made tailored for VR; there is really not a good reason you shouldn't buy it if you own a VR, ah yes, there is one: it ends.”
- emotional16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its deeply emotional narrative, featuring a touching story and well-developed world-building that resonates with players. Many reviewers highlight the heart-wrenching moments, particularly involving the character Quill, which evoke strong feelings and even tears. The combination of engaging gameplay and impactful storytelling creates an emotional roller coaster, making it a memorable experience.
“Quill is just as cute, and there are some heartbreaking scenes that had me in tears.”
“Teaming up with Quill was so much fun once again - and yet prepare yourself for some very touching moments.”
“Prepare yourself for an emotional roller coaster of a game.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while it delivers impressive graphics and maintains a stable frame rate, some high-end users report difficulty achieving a solid 90 fps. Recommendations for improving performance on Quest include adjusting contrast and brightness settings, as well as utilizing higher resolution options. The game supports both SteamVR and native Oculus drivers, which enhances performance for users with compatible headsets.
“This game is simply amazing, the performance and graphics are better than I can get out of most other VR titles. The scenes are jaw-dropping and detailed, and the gameplay and combat are fun.”
“Overall, it is a very nice improvement, while still maintaining a stable, high FPS performance.”
“The Steam version supports both SteamVR drivers and native Oculus/Meta drivers, so if you have a Meta/Oculus HMD, you'll get optimal performance too.”
“The biggest one would probably be performance-related; my PC (13900k + RTX 4090) struggled to maintain 90 fps solidly.”
“It still hovered at about 80-90 fps constantly, but I feel that the game could have been better optimized.”
“If you are playing on Quest, I highly recommend bumping your contrast in accessibility settings up to 10% and lowering the brightness to make the darker parts of the scenes look more black and less grey. Also, you should be able to raise your Oculus resolution as this game isn't that demanding on performance.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its delightful and immersive world, characterized by charming environments and engaging gameplay mechanics. While some players noted that narrative elements occasionally overshadow direct interactions, the overall worldbuilding and scenery create a captivating experience that appeals to fans of casual platformers.
“Delightful and unique platformer with a lovely, atmospheric world, engaging and original gameplay mechanics, adequately challenging (without being frustrating at all), and just generally charming.”
“The worldbuilding, scenery, and atmosphere is really what sells this for me.”
“Immersive, captivating atmosphere, tight gameplay, and cute and charming as hell.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development for its AAA-level quality, highlighting the impressive character design, art, environment, and storytelling that contribute to a rich and immersive experience.
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marred by occasional bugs, including instances of players dash-teleporting through walls and encountering invisible barriers. These clipping issues can disrupt gameplay and detract from the overall experience.
“There are some buggy clipping issues where you can dash-teleport through walls or bounce off invisible barriers.”
“I encountered several instances of buggy clipping, causing my character to dash through walls or bounce off invisible walls.”
“The game suffers from buggy clipping, allowing players to dash-teleport through walls and bounce off invisible barriers.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly in the early stages, expressing a desire for additional content and features to enhance the experience.
“Gameplay-wise, the first moss can be a bit tedious at times; I wish more content and features were added.”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“I find myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which really takes away from the enjoyment.”
