Depending on who you ask, virtual reality is dying or it’s never been better or it exists outside the realm of normal humanity and only weirdos care about it. Since I fall into the latter category, I’m still on board. Oh, I know that Sony isn’t really supporting the PlayStation VR 2. I’m aware of that fact! Most of the best PS VR2 games are also available on the Oculus Quest 3 or Steam, and the best PSVR game still hasn’t been ported. But none of that matters because I almost burned down my apartment today playing Riven in VR. And it was one of the best gaming experiences I’ve had all year.
Before we get into it, let me say this: yes, it was my fault. I live alone. I’ve mentioned this before, but the best case scenario for my death scenario is that they find my body holding a controller, playing Final Fantasy 6. The worst case scenario is they find my body holding a controller, playing The Arrogant Kaiju Princess and The Detective Servant. Yes, that is a real game. No, you probably don’t want to look it up. And no, I don’t own it. Yet. We’re gonna need to do better than just ten percent off the price during a Steam sale. But once I do buy it – I promise you that they will find me dead playing it.
Riven VR Is So Immersive It’s Dangerous
The point being, I am alone. And, being alone, this morning I decided to reheat a couple frozen bagels in the oven because after ten years as a television writer, you live pretty big. Knowing it would be about 20-30 minutes until the bagels were as warm and soft as your mom, I decided to try playing the new remake of Riven in virtual reality. I don’t get to use VR as much as I’d like, and being a fan of the original, it seemed like a fun way to pass a few minutes before checking on those bagels I had recently mentioned. Breakfast would be done soon!
Now, I had already played about an hour of the Riven remake in 2D on my computer and Steam Deck and loved it. This is extremely obvious for a remake, but even in its enhanced state, it feels like a game out of time. While panoramic, FMV-filled puzzle games were all the rage back in the ‘90s, Riven feels rarer now. More mysterious. Or I’m just getting a dose of something I haven’t had shot straight into my veins since I was in middle school.
But in virtual reality – dear lord – Riven shines. I’ve played a lot of virtual reality games, but Riven should be included with every virtual reality headset made by every manufacturer. It is a wild travesty that Riven isn’t on PS VR2 (outside of using it as a headset for Steam). I don’t think it would single-handedly save the eternally undying genre that is virtual reality; but I do think that this game is what virtual reality is made for. It’s a tactile experience designed for moving around and using your hands.