Moss: Book 2 begins where the last game left off. Quill, our intrepid mouse hero, has defeated an evil snake and rescued a long-lost uncle. For players that never got into the original or just never finished it, don’t worry. There is a story recap within the game that goes into far greater detail.
All fans need to know is that this sequel is just as good as the original. Moss and Moss: Book 2 are almost neck and neck in review scores. Which one is better? It’s hard to choose. However, there are things about this game that hold it back, but only slightly. Let’s dig into it.
8 Love: The Scale
Putting on the headset and looking at this world in VR is awe-inspiring. The scale of the environments is tremendous especially once players set foot in the kingdom of Sprites. When the Sprite castle is off in the distance, don’t forget to turn around to gaze at the mouse castle as well. Turning around is a good tip because there are tons of content hidden in Moss: Book 2. Peek behind corners too. It is the coolest interactive diorama that PSVR has seen yet.
7 Didn’t Love: Production Didn't Evolve Much
The PS4’s graphical capabilities with PSVR are showing their age with Moss: Book 2. While the scale is something worth praising, its production values could have used more love. The cutscenes are the biggest example. Everything is presented as a quaint storybook. This aesthetic will work for some but others may find it a bit too childlike.
One narrator doing all the voices is another example of the production can feel lower than other platformers. It’s fine for what it is but it’s hard not to wonder if this game could have been better if it were running on PSVR 2 on PS5.
6 Love: Simple But Enjoyable Combat
Moss: Book 2 focuses first on being a puzzle platformer game in VR. There is also action combat which has not been dramatically improved over the original. Quill can swing at enemies with a sword and dodge attacks with the jump button.
As the Reader, players can also use motion controls to stop enemies in their tracks so that Quill can finish them off. There aren’t enough battles in the game and the combat is simple, but every encounter is still satisfying.
5 Didn’t Love: The Motion Controls
The motion controls are also held back by the PSVR’s setup. That’s because the PlayStation Move controllers came out during the PS3 era which means they are now two generations old. Granted, players will more likely use the PS4 controller for motion tracking but that too isn’t precise.
Other VR setups have a lot more intricate controllers so that movement doesn't feel clunky. Moss: Book 2 says players can sit down to enjoy the game but it depends on the living situation. If the space is too cluttered then standing up is a better idea. Thankfully the motion capture isn’t the main focus for controls otherwise this game would be harder to recommend.
4 Love: Quill
Quill is an underappreciated hero in the platformer genre. Part of the reason might be because PSVR has a limited audience. Not everyone has a headset for a plethora of reasons, be it their price or the lack of a compatible living space to justify the purchase.
It would be great if this series got a spinoff so that gamers could see how adorable Quill is. That’s what happened with Astro Bot: Rescue Mission regarding Astro’s Playroom. One of the best actions players can perform in the game is giving Quill a high five.
3 Didn’t Love: A Little Short
This is another criticism that might not matter to some. The game is only about four to five hours long. It depends on how long players get trapped on puzzles or how much time is spent on optional content.
Even with the extra stuff, it probably won’t take players more than ten hours, at max, to get a Platinum Trophy for Moss: Book 2. While not every game has to be an epic 80-hour adventure, for the money this tile costs, its length might rub some the wrong way.
2 Love: Chapter Selection
For those that do want to milk this game for every nugget of content after completion, there is good news. Once a chapter is completed, players can go back and try their hands again. The game has a little in common with a Metroidvania as players can unlock powers that can open up new paths.
For example, the first power players can obtain allows them to manipulate plants. They can grow vines for climbing or manipulate them into bridges. The chapter select option is as close to a New Game+ mode as Moss: Book 2 is going to get.
1 Didn’t Love: Uneven Checkpoints
Every screen in Moss: Book 2 is like a puzzle box. If players die on some levels, they’ll have to redo everything. Sometimes levels will have a checkpoint halfway through completion, but they are a bit uneven.
The worst thing that can happen to players is if they fall in the water. Some platformers will just zap the character back to land for another go, but Moss: Book 2 treats this as a death scenario. Between water deaths and the uneven checkpoint system, the game can sometimes be frustrating beyond belief.
Moss: Book 2 was released on March 31, 2022 and is available on PS4 as a PSVR title.