I can not start to explain my elation when Max Mustard first popped onto my Meta Quest 3 screens. The colourful colours, quirky enemies, lovable animations, plunger gun, and jet boots all scream 90s platformer, and but it is debuting for the primary time in 2024, and in VR, no much less.
A VR platformer sounds a bit unusual till you consider the evolution of the platformer style. All the earliest examples from the style had been side-scrolling 2D video games like Pitfall and Tremendous Mario Bros. A number of many years later, 3D platformers like Tremendous Mario 64, Crash Bandicoot, and Sonic Journey would take the idea into 3D area and revolutionize it fully.
Since there isn’t any 4D, taking the style into VR makes essentially the most sense when you consider it. Now, as an alternative of simply transferring your character, you your self can look world wide, higher approximate 3D depth, and even work together with the digital world with your individual two fingers.
The most effective Meta Quest video games, just like the Moss sequence, Ghost Large, and Fortunate’s Story, have already confirmed this method to achieve success, nevertheless it’s the unique PSVR’s AstroBot Rescue Mission is the gold normal in VR platformers.
Fortunately, Max Mustard is right here to try to wrestle the title away from Astro, delivering related precision mechanics, hidden secrets and techniques all through every degree, soar boots, and even in-game controller upgrades to the now-classic title. Including a plunger gun to my controller was a superb method to improve interplay with the world, significantly in locations robust on your joystick-controller character to achieve.
I had my doubts stepping into, however they had been assuaged nearly immediately with the sport’s Saturday morning cartoon-like intro. In spite of everything, the indie developer has solely made one different recreation earlier than — the ever-popular however extremely gimmicky Richie’s Plank Expertise — but the passion for this new title can not help however be felt in each second spent in its vibrant world.
Platformers are at all times a collectathon, however Max Mustard rewards you with upgrades from an merchandise store in alternate for collectables.
As you’d count on from a platformer recreation, essentially the most primary objective in Max Mustard is to get to the tip of every degree efficiently, all whereas amassing as many gadgets as potential alongside the best way. You will decide up completely different coloured cash, soar on the heads of baddies, spin kick open crates to free trapped creatures, and accumulate power-ups that offer you an edge in particular situations.
What’s good is that amassing cash is not only for one-ups or bragging rights. Cash will let you buy upgrades from the merchandise store. One of many preliminary low cost upgrades features a digicam rotation possibility, letting you simply rotate round every degree without having to face up or bodily flip round in your seat.
The sport can also be completely playable in a seated place. I discovered this recreation to be most pleasing when enjoying seated, which is not one thing I would say about most VR video games.
The music is whimsical, and the environments remind me fairly a little bit of the unique Ratchet & Clank. Every world presents a very good little bit of selection, and you may navigate to every degree through an overworld map just like many Tremendous Mario video games.
Max Mustard challenges AstroBot Rescue Mission, delivering related precision mechanics, hidden secrets and techniques all through every degree, soar boots, and even in-game controller upgrades.
The sound design is generally good, however I felt like there have been a number of occasions when further sound results would have added additional depth. I additionally needed to repeat among the mild story sequences as a result of I used to be impatient and walked off a cliff, so I would love a “skip” button in these types of situations.
All in all, that is the VR platformer I have been ready for and is wholly definitely worth the $29.99 value on Meta Quest. The sport can also be coming to PSVR 2 and Steam VR someday this Summer season.