In 1998, a Jurassic Park themed game called “Trespasser” was released, promising physics-based puzzles and action. It was unique in how you interacted with the environment.
You had a mouse-controlled hand that allowed you to touch the environment. As impressive as this was, it was also an awkward mess. It required you to press different mouse buttons and the shift key to rotate and extend your snake-like arm.
Jump to the present and now have “BONEWORKS” that can more than deliver on the gameplay promised 20 years ago.
Why compare this game to one from 20 years ago that isn’t even the same theme? Not only does the unique control scheme push the “reality” of objects, similar to Trespasser, but the “story” is also a mystery more than a narrative.
The gameplay is intriguing
There’s just enough intrigue to get you to experience the physicality of the world. This could be considered a knock against both games, but it’s a selling point.
When changing what gameplay even means, too forceful of a story could get in the way. The game could be a tutorial for both players and developers, preparing them for what will come in the future.
Getting started in BONEWORKS
As BONEWORKS starts, a warning pops up that says locomotion is experimental and could cause sickness. This is a justified warning.
VR sickness in this game keeps my play sessions to less than 20 minutes at a time. Even when limiting my play sessions, I still experience some discomfort.
You can choose between both seated and standing gameplay. Both still cause me discomfort over time, but the seated experience seems to affect me a bit more. I also found seated a bit more awkward when presented with situations that need quick action.
After you calibrate the system for your height and play style, you start in what looks like a room the developer would use to test a VR headset.
Leaving the first room
Leaving that room, you’re presented with a menu that lets you start the game, which drops you into something akin to a VR museum. This is a creative way of teaching you how to navigate and interact with the world.
As you progress, you’re given a variety of different objects and weapons to play with. The game will then have you solve some basic puzzles with these objects to prove you understand their uses.
Read Full Article Here: BONEWORKS Review: A Wild Physics Playground
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