Review of The Midnight Walk VR for SteamVR & PSVR 2: Artfully Grotesque

Sure, let’s give this a whirl:

Alright, folks, so we’re diving into this game called The Midnight Walk. Picture walking around in Tim Burton’s head—yeah, it’s as weird as it sounds. The visuals? Totally out there and uniquely dark. It’s like when your art teacher used to ramble on about “aesthetic.” But hey, are the visuals the only thing that keep you glued to your VR headset? Let’s ramble on.

So here’s the vibe: publisher’s Fast Travel Games, developer’s MoonHood. You can snag it on Steam or kinda anywhere VR is optional. Yours truly checked it out on Quest 3 through Steam Link. It won’t hit your wallet too hard at 40 bucks. Don’t blame me if you fall into it.

Now, gameplay-wise, The Midnight Walk leans into being what those in the know call a "walking simulator"—think wandering around, pretty chill, grabbing some light puzzle action. You’ll encounter some monsters in a game of hide and seek. Why monsters always gotta be in on the fun, right?

Okay, let’s talk style. The devs claim they hand-crafted every tiny thing, then said, “Let’s scan this bad boy in 3D.” Imagine walking in a world that’s part spooky, part artsy fartsy. Sometimes it’s like a beautiful nightmare or, uh, a grotesque dream. Ever seen a painting that you weren’t sure was ugly or a masterpiece? Like that.

And in VR—whooo!—you feel like a little mouse (not Mickey). The textures, man. It’s all about feeling tiny, like Alice in Wonderland but less psychedelic. You’ll be admiring shadows and light, like a moth to a porch lamp. Did I mention whenever you look around, there’s something odd yet beautiful? Happens a lot.

Random tidbit: they advertise this ‘stop motion’ animation thing. But, here’s the kicker, it’s only sometimes! They threw in smooth animations too. Imagine expecting a gritty film and then BAM, Disney rolls in with the smooth transitions. Bit jarring if you ask me.

Hold up, let’s dive into the gameplay deets. We’re talking puzzles that rarely make you go "Aha!" and monsters that won’t make you jump out of your seat. Not really packed with anything VR purists would label as “native.” It’s designed for both flat screens and VR—meh, compromise city.

Toss "horror game" out the window. It’s more of a creepy narrative stroll. Not spine-chilling, just imaginative. Like reading a gothic poem under dim lighting.

For me, and maybe you too, the narrative didn’t really yell, “Keep going!” It’s mysterious and a bit poetic but too all over the map. Cryptic narrators, no strong connections. It’s like trying to follow a plot after skipping half the episodes. Meh.

Immersion matters and, well, while you can check out the fantastical VR sights, there’s not much else to grasp. Don’t even think about turning a key! The door pretty much opens like magic when you look at it. Poof! Need to grab onto something? Nah, “Press A” and float away. It lacks that hands-on VR magic, y’know?

Comfort-wise? Smooth sailing mostly. But when they take control of your head during a cutscene, can be a bit dizzying. The screen pans, and sometimes the horizon tilts. Like whoa, hold on tight. Could throw you off if you’re not ready. But not too often, thankfully.

The settings? Full of those checkboxes for turning, moving, and comfort. Pretty standard fare, but hey, always good to have options. I could list them but honestly, what’s the point, right?

So that’s The Midnight Walk, a messy joyride through a darkly crafted digital wonderland. Worth a look if you’re into that sorta scene, but don’t expect a full-blown VR revolution.

Stay curious, wanderers!