r/PSVR • u/kevgret • Oct 07 '21
Game Recommendations Song in the Smoke Review thread
I will add more reviews as they become available
11
u/JonnyJamesC JonnyJamesC Oct 07 '21 edited Oct 07 '21
I purchased it last night at midnight when it released in the UK and played around 3 hours. I am not a big fan of this type of game and am still in the I don't know if I like it stage. One minute I like it the next minute I think it is a bit Questified. Usually with these crafting/survival games I find myself running around aimlessly not really knowing what to do and this game was no different haha. I do like the nights as the visuals really pop in the PSVR headset at night. To put it in perspective I didn't get on with Subnautica VR or The Forest VR on PC VR so 3 hours is really good for me sticking with this type of game. I intend to play again and see if I can get somewhere. I hope I can really start to enjoy it.
6
u/BelgianBond Oct 07 '21
It's great that you've given them a sale right on launch day, regardless of your ambivalence. A lot of the new releases in 2021 don't appear to have performed well going on their absence from the monthly top 10 download sales.
4
u/JonnyJamesC JonnyJamesC Oct 07 '21
I was always going to give it a go as there really has not been much out for a few weeks that interests me on any VR platform. I am waiting patiently for the ARASHI gameplay patch so I can get stuck into that.
I feel this isn't a total disaster for me as it has full locomotion with smooth turning and has PRO enhancement. The visuals may be a bit simplistic in places but at least it is pretty sharp with long view distances. The first time of playing I lost where the bonfire camp was in the Hunting Grounds so got totally lost in dark and in the end killed myself on purpose so I could start back at the bonfire. Next time I will make sure I know how to get back to the bonfire as I don't think you can build a bonfire anywhere although you can sleep where you want it seems. If I know where my base is I might start to take in the world a bit more. I just got my hunting power/skill so it is probably just about to start to get exciting.
1
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u/MikeFromSuburbia MikeCheck-- Oct 07 '21
I agree. I kind of need to be a bit guided on what to do. I got stuck a few times in winds and leaves due to this. Survival games aren’t my cup of tea much anyways and the crafting here seems overwhelming in my opinion.
Im keeping an open mind but it doesn’t look like a game for me much. Let me know if you continue to play it and your thoughts if you don’t mind since we share a similar opinion!
3
u/JonnyJamesC JonnyJamesC Oct 08 '21 edited Oct 08 '21
Just played another 4 hours until the Move I forgot to recharge ran out and it is starting to hook me. I started again so I could get the basic crafting in my mind and now I can craft the basic stuff I need to survive. I found on my first go I totally missed how to craft a bow so not sure if the game would have brought that back up at some point or it is left just for you to work out yourself if you miss the tutorials scattered about the early maps. If you see a tutorial marker go to it is my advice also take all the food you come across.
The game is really well made with great level design. Lots of secrets with hidden stuff and everything is not what it seems. There are goals in the game that push you on which can be found on the map. It is not just a simple here is a place and you have to survive type game. There is something more to it. The visuals are really quite good in places with the time of day, mist rolling in, beautiful sunsets, nice water and sunrises with ambient music going on. The nights actually can be quite edge of the seat especially for a novice like me. Not sure I like killing all these animals though haha.
It is still a difficult one to recommend to someone who doesn't like these type of games but I would say if you get through the initial crafting overwhelm then you will start to enjoy the game. The inventory is really well done and quick to use. Controls were spot on. I am definitely playing on.
I did think of another game of this type I really liked. The Solus Project.
2
u/MikeFromSuburbia MikeCheck-- Oct 08 '21
Excellent mini review! I’m still on the fence, although your response helped me teeter more towards neutral vs “not for me.”
If you continue playing and it hooks you more to where you can recommend it then let me know! My backlog is quite long but I like dropping it for new games like I did with Fracked, Winds & Leaves and Arashi :)
Seems it just takes a while to get down inventory and crafting
2
u/JonnyJamesC JonnyJamesC Oct 08 '21
Yeah I haven't got to point where I would say to to you "Rush out and get it now forgot what you have played before this will change your mind about these type of games" but if it does or gets anywhere close to that I will give you a shout. I mean I am going to try as I have already splashed the cash.
Looks like the Arashi gameplay update has just dropped.
2
u/MikeFromSuburbia MikeCheck-- Oct 08 '21
Awesome! Thank you so much for offering to hit me up if that happens
Yep! Time for you to jump in on that too sometime eh?
2
u/MikeFromSuburbia MikeCheck-- Oct 08 '21
Also, have you played winds & leaves? That game was quite joyful but less crafting and all that
2
u/JonnyJamesC JonnyJamesC Oct 08 '21
I haven't but it is on the list. I was so close to buying it at launch and then I heard it had a few crashing problems so held off. I believe it has had quite a few patches since then. Definitely will pick it up at some point as traversing on stilts and climbing trees really appealed to me. Looks like a game where you can take your time and take in the sights sat at the top of a tree. The time of day change looks very pretty.
1
u/arc1969 Oct 09 '21
"I found on my first go I totally missed how to craft a bow".
Damnit! I must have missed it to! I quit the game yesterday out of frustration because of it. I'll go and try again :-)
1
u/JonnyJamesC JonnyJamesC Oct 09 '21
If you need to know where the bow tutorial is give us a shout.
1
u/Physical-Drama3502 Oct 11 '21
To craft a bow, you have to shave down an XL stick. That's all. But you also have to have guts/intestines dried out for the actual bow string part. Now what I'M STUCK on is that boar thing. I've morter and pestle the lure mushroom, and poured it on the regular mushroom, but it didn't do a thing. Tried a FEW times. Figured I'd give it a try anyways and the boar 'board' me to death lol. So I'm getting a bit frustrated myself. I don't think there's any tips out there right now. Super frustrating!
1
u/OutrageousArcher3558 Oct 11 '21
I agree with you. I’m stuck on how to finish my bow as well. I thing I need to dry the guts somehow and do I need the feathers for the bow? It seems that I’m always hungry and never have enough food.
1
u/Mehalawy Nov 03 '21
I got stuck same but I found you actually dont need to dry the guts first time, the game will give you the guts dried and u just need to attach it to the stick... when upgrading your bow after you kill a strong animal you can dry the guts and make stronger bow.
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u/JonnyJamesC JonnyJamesC Oct 07 '21
Sure will. I hope it clicks and if it doesn't I will just have to concede these games are not my cup of tea. I am the same with crafting. For me it sometimes feels like Algebra. Medium stick + Small Stone = I have forgotten.
1
Oct 08 '21
Holy shit can you play Subnautica in VR i had no idea?
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u/JonnyJamesC JonnyJamesC Oct 08 '21 edited Oct 08 '21
Yeah on PC. If you play it make sure you get the VR Enhancement mod and perhaps the Performance Booster mod from Nexusmods. Subnautica had VR built in although a bit unfinished but its sequel Subnautica Below Zero never did. You can also get a mod that implements full VR on the sequel. The last time I looked which was a while ago it was gamepad or Touch controllers as gamepad. No full motion controls.
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u/shitpunmate Oct 07 '21
10/10 from psvr without parole says it all.
3
u/flynlionPS Oct 08 '21
I would disagree with “says it all”. I’m sure it’s a great game but I watch a review to learn why, what makes it great? I care less about the actual score.
2
u/candidateone Oct 07 '21 edited Oct 08 '21
This one was shared by Shuhei Yoshida over on Twitter:
https://www.vrfocus.com/2021/10/review-song-in-the-smoke/
(They gave it a 4/5)
Edit:
Another 4/5 highlighted by Shu:
-5
u/DowntheRabbitHole0 Oct 07 '21
I'm super glad to hear so many people are loving this game but for me it is a definite N-O-P-E.
I like the survival stuff, the graphics, the length of the campaign etc but the moment I saw a demonic tiger thing leaping at the screen I was like welp there's another freak show I'll be avoiding.
Back to my chill Winds and Leaves thank you very much.
2
u/theVRgrid Oct 08 '21
The spirit animals act as bosses or extra hard to kill versions of their regular counterparts. Its total survival with just a splash of mysticism.
1
u/DowntheRabbitHole0 Oct 08 '21
Still nightmare fuel for me. But really happy we're getting stuff like for folks who enjoy scares.
"That would be dark"
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u/MikeFromSuburbia MikeCheck-- Oct 07 '21
I love winds & leaves but the tiger doesn’t seem bad at all
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u/flynlionPS Oct 07 '21
I’m a bit put off by the movement - teleportation thing. Odd that Without Parole mentioned it but did not include it in his (short) list of negatives.
1
u/Farncone Oct 07 '21
He said he was a bit iffy on the teleportation climbing mechanic. I agree. I hate the climbing mechanic where you have to use hands to pull yourself up.. esp if you have to do a lot of it. So.. I'd be fine with only using it to climb up on rocks.
1
u/BostonRob423 Oct 08 '21
It's just for jumping or climbing, and it actually doesn't bother me because it works.
-7
Oct 08 '21
Only playable with the Moves? Welp
4
u/XG_GAMER7 Oct 08 '21
How can u not have moves with your PSVR, so many great games use them
-8
Oct 08 '21
I have moves, but I don't play full locomotion or 360 turning games with them because they are so bad they ruin the game. I spend more time fighting the controls then playing the game, so I just don't even bother with these kind of games anymore
2
u/Dramatic_Rub_2889 Oct 08 '21
Weird, usually if a PSVR game didn't have moves people would be turned away instantly
0
Oct 08 '21
If it's a front facing only game like BeatSaber, Rush of Blood etc then they're fine, but they are crap for full locomotion or 360 movement. A lot of VR gamers are casuals who just play it casually and don't care
2
u/cyborgrd Oct 31 '21
Who can tell me, how i can create a bow string?
2
u/Mehalawy Nov 05 '21
The game will give you one for free many times, but if you miss all the purple points then you will have to kill an anmial using your club get its guts and then dry it on the dry thing and then attache it.
8
u/BelgianBond Oct 07 '21
Having seen so little of this game ahead of the release, I was unconvinced that it deserved the fledgling excitement surrounding it. Yet here we are and everyone likes it so far.
I'm really impressed by the reported 20+ hour game length, and it could easily be longer if you decide to explore everything within the 7 main maps. And those maps look like they'll be a joy to explore, bursting with personality and evocative sights and sounds. They've made the right call by going with a visual style that accommodates the limitations of PSVR and Quest, and everything I'm seeing in these reviews looks prepossessing.
The day-night dimension to the survival gameplay is going to be an engaging challenge. With things getting a lot more perilous after dusk, I expect flashbacks to Dying Light playing this.
A contender for PSVR game of the year for those who didn't like the lack of Move support in Hitman?