The Bond

About

The Bond is a visually stunning VR short about an ancient healer and her connection with all living things - good or evil. Far away, in an alien forest, a TiaMuati and her faithful beast seek out a sacred glade. Here she can connect with the web of life - and see the world through other’s eyes. But there’s an imbalance - a dark presence. As the forest's guardian she must confront it... and you'r…

Genres & Tags

Free to Play

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 108 reviews

story15 positive mentions

gameplay2 negative mentions

The Bond features stunning visuals and a colorful, immersive environment that captivates viewers.
As a free VR experience, it offers a unique and engaging short story that showcases the potential of VR storytelling.
The animation quality and artistic design are highly praised, making it a visually striking experience.

The Bond lacks meaningful gameplay and interaction, functioning more as a short film than a traditional game.
Many users report issues with motion sickness due to the rapid camera movements and lack of user control.
The experience is very short, leaving players wanting more content and depth in the story.

story
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
42%
10%
The story aspect of the game is praised for its immersive and visually stunning presentation, despite being short and lacking verbal exposition. Reviewers appreciate the deep emotional connections and intriguing perspectives woven throughout the narrative, highlighting the effective use of visuals to enhance storytelling. While some find the story elusive or simplistic, many agree that it offers a captivating experience that showcases the potential of VR in narrative delivery.
- “Deep story through multiple perspectives.”
- “The story is fantastic for what little exposition we're given and the visuals are absolutely gorgeous.”
- “A very beautiful story about a woman and her bond with the forest and its creatures.”
- “The story, however, is quite inane.”
- “Though there was no control of any character or movement, other than room-scale 360 view, I feel that even just being a part of it was as much an immersive experience, as it guided through the story and scenes, than if I had control of anything or any sort of locomotion.”
- “Or give more story and similar splicing us into experience of it.”
graphics
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
18%
18%
The graphics in this VR experience are widely praised for their stunning, Pixar-like quality, featuring vibrant colors and sharp details. Reviewers highlight the beautiful animations and excellent cinematography, noting that despite its short duration, the visuals create an immersive and captivating experience. Overall, the art aesthetic and visual execution are considered top-notch, contributing significantly to the enjoyment of the story.
- “The graphics are very colorful and quite beautiful.”
- “Amazing scenery and a nice short story with beautiful visuals.”
- “Spectacular visuals and excellent camera work.”
- “While it isn't long, it is well made in terms of visuals and overall feel.”
- “Well done visuals but meh 'plot'.”
- “Relative to the niche genre of VR experiences and it being 2018, the bond had a kind of (almost) Pixar-esque quality to the visuals.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The gameplay aspect of the software is criticized for lacking any meaningful interactions or gameplay loops, resulting in an experience devoid of traditional game elements. Users report that there is no engaging gameplay to be found.
- “There are no gameplay loops in this software, no 'gameplay', no meaningful game-like interaction.”
- “No interactions or gameplay required.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised, featuring a good overall soundtrack that culminates in a particularly powerful and emotional finale, leaving players deeply moved.
- “The soundtrack is fantastic.”
- “The music at the end is jaw-dropping.”
- “I literally started to get tears in my eyes because the last 20 seconds of music were so powerful.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, featuring smooth performance, well-executed animations, and vibrant, sharp graphics.
- “Performance was great, animations were really well done, graphics are colorful and sharp.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers highlight that despite its brevity, the story effectively builds a heartfelt connection between its scenes, culminating in a poignant finale that resonates emotionally with players.
- “For such a short story, the connection between all the scenes to the finale really was heartfelt.”
- “The characters' struggles and triumphs resonated deeply with me, making the experience truly emotional.”
- “I found myself tearing up at several points; the storytelling was incredibly moving and impactful.”