Red Matter 2
- August 18, 2022
- Vertical Robot
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam"Red Matter 2" is a narrative-driven virtual reality puzzle adventure game set in a alternate Cold War scenario. Players uncover the secrets of a mysterious research facility on a desolate moon, while navigating a tense geopolitical conflict. Utilizing cutting-edge technology and telekinetic abilities, players must solve challenging puzzles, evade deadly traps, and make impactful decisions that shape the game's branching storyline.
PC
Virtual Reality
Windows
PlayStation
PlayStation VR2
Reviews
- Stunning graphics and immersive environments that showcase breathtaking planetary vistas.
- Engaging story with well-designed puzzles that are challenging yet rewarding, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- Improved mechanics and controls compared to the first game, including intuitive interactions and a fun jetpack traversal system.
- Combat mechanics feel underdeveloped and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.
- Some puzzles are overly simplistic or repetitive, leading to a lack of challenge in certain areas.
- The voiced protagonist and constant dialogue can break immersion and detract from the atmospheric tension established in the first game.
- story199 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally praised for its engaging narrative and immersive atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting its intriguing twists and emotional depth, particularly in character relationships. While some found certain plot points predictable or the storytelling somewhat lazy, the overall consensus is that it effectively builds upon the original game's narrative, offering a compelling continuation that enhances the player's experience. The visuals and environmental storytelling further enrich the narrative, making it a standout aspect of the game, despite some critiques regarding pacing and linearity.
“The story is intriguing and the visuals are stunning, and do a fantastic job at imparting the awe-inspiring scale of the surrounding environments.”
“The use of environmental storytelling, especially surrounding Irina and Stas' relationship, actually made my heart ache at how well it conveyed the situation.”
“Red Matter 2 is a crowning achievement in the VR gaming landscape, setting an incredibly high bar for immersive storytelling and visual splendor!”
“The story and the way it is narrated are way too lazy.”
“The story is just okay; but the setting and mechanics and attention to props & details are spectacular.”
“The story didn't peak my interest at all.”
- graphics104 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the stunning visuals, high detail, and impressive art direction that enhance the immersive experience. Players noted the significant improvements over previous installments, highlighting the game's ability to create awe-inspiring environments and a captivating atmosphere. While some critiques mentioned issues like excessive bloom or a lack of advanced graphics settings, the overall consensus is that the graphics are among the best seen in VR gaming, often compared favorably to titles like Half-Life: Alyx.
“The story is intriguing and the visuals are stunning, and do a fantastic job at imparting the awe-inspiring scale of the surrounding environments.”
“The graphics are incredible.”
“Amazing attention to detail with great optimization, good storyline and awesome visuals, sound and music.”
“The graphics are crisp, clear and boringly monotonous.”
“The graphics and overall atmosphere felt unconvincing.”
“Neither the story, graphics, mechanics or gameplay managed to keep me interested.”
- gameplay74 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Red Matter 2 is a mixed bag, praised for its immersive VR mechanics, stunning visuals, and engaging puzzles, yet criticized for repetitive and poorly implemented shooting mechanics that detract from the overall experience. While many players appreciate the innovative use of tools and the tactile nature of puzzles, some find the combat elements frustrating and the pacing slow, leading to a sense of boredom during certain sections. Overall, the game offers a solid experience for puzzle enthusiasts, but it struggles to fully capitalize on its potential due to inconsistent gameplay quality.
“Outstanding gameplay, breathtaking scenery, fun puzzles to solve, fascinating storyline, intuitive mechanics and usage of tools.”
“Gameplay is smooth and intuitive and makes great use of VR space.”
“The devs' innovative ideas for hand tools, movement mechanics, and everything just made this an absolute joy to play through.”
“Red Matter 2 is more than twice the size of the original and one of the best looking/optimized VR games, but its gameplay is just tolerable rather than exciting.”
“Honestly bored out of my mind, the puzzles are super simplistic (I'm talking like connect the pipes minigame, and put things in holes shaped like the thing) and most of the gameplay is just walking down corridors.”
“Basic puzzle solver/escape room gameplay with a serviceable story that is almost completely hampered by unnecessary and poorly implemented shooting sections.”
- atmosphere42 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its superb visuals, detailed environments, and immersive sound design, creating a chilling yet engaging experience reminiscent of retro sci-fi aesthetics. While some players appreciate the tension and story-driven exploration, others feel that certain gameplay elements, like puzzles and combat, detract from the overall atmosphere. Overall, the game is recognized for its strong atmospheric qualities, making it a standout in the VR genre.
“The atmosphere is chilling at times without being outright horror.”
“Absolutely great and atmospheric story-driven exploration game with Soviet vibes, light puzzles, and incredible visuals and controls.”
“Great atmosphere rendered by on-spot music and Soviet-style aesthetics.”
“The graphics and overall atmosphere felt unconvincing.”
“Firstly, the atmosphere is ruined by the voiced protagonist and constant banter with Beta.”
“The atmosphere in Red Matter felt much darker and more foreboding, while Red Matter 2 feels lighter.”
- music25 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the immersive and atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. The blend of retro-post-Soviet ambiance and orchestral elements creates a captivating auditory backdrop, making it a standout feature alongside the stunning visuals. While some players noted personal preferences regarding the background music, the majority found it to be a significant strength, contributing to the game's engaging atmosphere and storytelling.
“The attention to detail in this game is awesome, the retro-post-Soviet ambiance and the intriguing soundtrack make this game an incredible sci-fi experience.”
“The soundtrack is perfect and huge; it makes the whole experience so immersive that you are lost in it, and that is the whole meaning of a great VR experience!”
“Great atmosphere rendered by spot-on music and Soviet-style aesthetics.”
“The background music is not quite to my taste - but can be turned down.”
“Just like the first game, it has the tension of a horror game through its atmosphere and music, but none of the actual horror elements you would expect a horror game to have.”
“The graphics, the audio design, the music, omg the music!!!”
- optimization16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Red Matter 2 is praised for its exceptional graphics and optimization, delivering smooth performance even on lower-spec hardware, such as the GTX 1070. While most environments run fluidly, some areas experience stuttering, indicating inconsistent optimization. Overall, the game showcases a polished experience that rivals top VR titles like Half-Life: Alyx.
“Excellent graphics and optimization.”
“Good story, beautiful graphics, well-optimized graphic engine, good mixture of puzzles, exploration, storytelling, and action.”
“Great story, excellent graphics, and super smooth performance even on my GTX 1070.”
“Shooting challenges the performance, is not satisfying, is boring, done poorly; targets are just annoying, and the task cannot be simply completed brainlessly to keep having fun with the real game.”
“Performance-wise, I found it to be hit or miss.”
“Some environments are very fluid, while others seem to be stuttering for no reason.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a dry sense of humor that adds an entertaining layer to the story, with moments of unpredictability that enhance the experience. However, some players find the writing inconsistently poor, detracting from the overall comedic effect.
“The pseudo AI has a real welcome sense of dry humor, and there are times you can trust it and times when you can’t. Fortunately, the game doesn't end when you 'die' as a result of one of the times you shouldn’t have followed it, but it is an entertaining addition that serves to lighten the story at appropriate places.”
“My only complaint would be that while the overall story was fantastic, the writing is sometimes just hilariously bad.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game exhibits strong stability, with no significant bugs or glitches affecting gameplay. It performs well visually and runs smoothly.
“Looks great and runs great.”
“The game maintains a smooth performance without any noticeable glitches.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is, even during intense moments.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its intelligent and suspenseful narrative that evokes strong emotions, creating an immersive experience akin to the first time playing Half-Life: Alyx. Players are captivated by the realistic environments and intricate interactions, which enhance the emotional depth of the gameplay.
“It weaves a narrative that is both intelligent, mysterious, suspenseful, and emotional.”
“Honestly, this game is like playing Half-Life: Alyx for the first time. The story, the setting, and the environments were all fantastic. The world felt so real; I usually just spent time messing around in one room, touching and interacting with everything to see how they interacted together. It blew my mind how much stuff fit together.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, particularly criticizing the slow text decoding and frustratingly sluggish walking speed. Many feel that the current system is inefficient and suggest that a more streamlined diary function would enhance the experience.
“The text decoding of messages is so tedious and slow, like looking at a first-generation fax machine. Even with the walking speed set to the fastest, it still feels like moving in mud.”
“Text decoding of messages is still tedious and it doesn't make any sense that people would leave paper cards with questions and others with answers. I believe an actual diary function (voiced or not) would work better.”
“Grinding in this game feels like an endless chore, with repetitive tasks that offer little reward or satisfaction.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Many users feel that the game lacks significant replay value, suggesting that once completed, there is little incentive to play it again.
“Not much replay value, in my opinion.”
“The game lacks incentives to play through again.”
“Once you've completed it, there's little reason to return.”
