In my eyes, there’s an enormous distinction between immersive and immersing your self. The previous normally wants time to get again into the world, whereas the latter grips you again into the expertise virtually immediately after you left off, like an awesome e-book you have been unhappy to place down. Augmented Empire is the latter.
Whereas it lacks in motion in comparison with different VR titles, Augmented Empire’s gripping narrative, sensible voice appearing, and exquisite visuals maintain the simplistic gameplay extra interesting. With a world that’s as partaking as it’s darkish, what’s right here seems like a cultured expertise that finishes far too quickly.
What’s it?: A remastered turn-based technique sport initially developed for Oculus Go and Gear VR.
Platforms: Quest (reviewed on Quest 3)
Launch Date: November 21, 2024
Developer: Coatsink
Worth: $9.99
Augmented Empire’s premise is not significantly distinctive. Set in a dystopian future, totally different lessons of society are both heightened into energy or left in probably the most harmful, disgusting components of New Savannah. The politically charged narrative does not discover you within the middle of the motion, nevertheless, as you’re taking the reins main a squad of characters from a holographic desk in a reasonably empty residence.
To additional immerse you into the world, your character, Craven, cannot communicate to the characters instantly both, so your directions and concepts are spoken via the speech of a smooth-talking robotic referred to as Hartman. Main a ragtag staff of misfits is not merely about calling photographs, although – it is all about planning your subsequent transfer efficiently.
Augmented Empire grants you six characters to command. From the out-of-her-depth Willa to the allure of Chris, every feels distinct in each character and skills. Archi’s concentrate on snipers makes him weak to assaults from enemies however he can choose off foes at vary, whereas Noot taunts enemies along with his brute energy and even stronger whacks.
The turn-based allure of Augmented Empire falls flat pretty shortly, turning into routine battles that really feel moderately tedious in the direction of the tip. Every encounter feels straightforward however time-consuming, utilizing very fundamental techniques that make me need to return to the gripping story. A reactive mechanic requires you to hit the button on the proper spot, making attacking and defending extra partaking than simply watching it unfold, however it does not cease fight sections from turning into stale and repetitive.
Nevertheless, it is the moments in between that maintain me captivated throughout every stage. Whereas it is largely exploring superbly crafted ranges, every of the characters speaks to one another as in the event that they’re actual folks – partaking in conversations concerning the world itself, their connection to the plot, and occasions that occurred earlier than the story even begins. It provides depth to a considerably cliché premise, permitting you to really feel like these are a squad of fragile folks trusting you with their lives.
It helps that the voice solid does a terrific job at actually bringing these characters to life. Some are admittedly higher than others, however it’s a nice expertise general to see such coronary heart and keenness delivered to an expertise that is not a mainstream sequence or a flatscreen triple-A title. As soon as once more, they honestly really feel like human folks you’d meet on the road, besides this squad is on a harmful mission and never simply going to the retailers like in the true world.
Again to the degrees, the large number of small areas lack in dimension, however they positive make up for it with type. It is a case the place substance issues little, because the cyberpunk vibes carry the load of creating every part of the world really feel enjoyable to view. Within the consolation of your residence (or your actual world in blended actuality, if you would like), you may transfer the map round or change views from totally different angles, letting you witness ranges uniquely that few platforms except for VR can provide.
Augmented Empire’s accessibility choices are pretty missing however it’s not a title that wants many. You’ll be able to change between blended actuality or digital actuality with ease, change from hand monitoring or controllers, in addition to select between a pointer or bodily touching tiles and characters.
The tabletop aesthetic of the sport means you may take pleasure in your complete expertise by sitting down at a desk or a desk, partaking with the world as you see match. Augmented Empire is a really snug expertise.
Sadly, a few of these ranges are missing in depth. What must be bustling streets as a substitute provide just a few unaware civilians you could have a fast chat with however little or no else, and whereas the areas really feel brimming with element as an entire, the precise fashions really feel remarkably plastic – like a fundamental motion determine playset, as a substitute of an costly LEGO set. It stops you from actually realizing the world, one thing that the remainder of the sport does rather well.
Augmented Empire – Screenshots taken on Meta Quest 3
Happily, the simplistic nature of the gameplay signifies that it is a very snug expertise to play. Usually, you may discover me bouncing round my room, bodily shifting my total physique to play VR video games, however I sat down and loved the whole thing of Augmented Empire with out leaving the consolation of my chair. You’ll be able to go for hand monitoring or utilizing the controllers to play the sport, permitting you to rigorously choose tiles with both possibility, however I like to recommend utilizing the pointer possibility for controllers – otherwise you’ll unintentionally contact a distinct space.
Admittedly, I’ve by no means performed the unique model – like many others, my heavy VR expertise began with the Quest 2. Nevertheless, my ideas really feel acquainted to that of the unique evaluation for the 2017 sport. Contemplating it’s been seven years, Augmented Empire seems like a strong port to an simply accessible platform, delivering a good quantity of modifications for the fashionable period, with out diluting what made the unique expertise so partaking.
If you happen to’re connected to your arcade-style or action-heavy video games, there are many them already on the market, and Augmented Empire is actually not delivering that. Nevertheless, saying that, I’m not an enormous turn-based technique fan, and but I discovered myself connected no matter my motion fight choice, due to a superbly darkish story that hits all of the cyberpunk notes that I hoped for.
Augmented Empire (2024) Assessment – Remaining Verdict
Whereas the gameplay may be pretty simplistic and ranges are generally missing depth, Coatsink delivers a gripping story with characters that really feel actually actual, like watching a e-book come to life. Repetitive fight could maintain me from believing the sport is a masterpiece, however Augmented Empire’s narrative threads, stunning ranges, and distinct vibes stored me hooked from begin to end.
UploadVR makes use of a 5-Star ranking system for our sport critiques – you may learn a breakdown of every star ranking in our evaluation pointers.