Wayward Sky

Virtual reality tech is impressive, but it's not for all stomachs. Games that involve a lot of movement or sudden camera turns can cause all kinds of dizziness, lightheadedness, and even make people sick (while others may not be affected at all). If you belong in the former group, you may want to start your VR adventures with something less demanding for the stomach than Here They Lie or RIGS Mechanized Combat League. There are simpler and more accessible choices that you can consider, and Wayward Sky is one of them.

Wayward Sky is an adventure game, literally a "point and click" as the case may be. You can either play with a DualShock 4, or two Move controllers (the recommended setup), and basically point to where you want the character - Bess - to move or interact, and watch her fulfil the request. All seen from a third-person perspective, while watching the world via various static camera angles. These camera transitions are automatic and very smooth, two elements that let players enjoy the experience without worrying about dizziness or nausea.

The gaming experience it provides can easily be enjoyed by adults, but it seems a bit more focused towards a younger audience. Not that it is childish or goofy, but mostly because of how adorable and sweet the game world and its characters are. The story is sometimes told through real-time events, on other occasions it's shown on a stage made of out of wood, as with a children's play. This is not a fairy tale, but instead an interesting and emotional story, and there are some emotional moments along the way.

As for the game's structure, it involves a series of simple puzzles, mostly related to switches that trigger elevators or change the direction of a bridge. There are robots patrolling the map, that you need to avoid by either using good timing or using the switches to take them to different areas. Nothing too complicated, and you are unlikely to lose more than a few seconds thinking about the puzzles. As you progress in the adventure, you will gain a few skills, like the ability to take control of robots and make them activate switches, push boxes, or put their weight on a specific area.

Regardless of whether you use the Move, or the DualShock 4, the control scheme is the same. Using both motion controllers you will point to where you want the protagonist to move and press a button. It is a scheme that works very well with the Move, and it's functional with the DualShock 4, but there should have been more control options. We would have liked the chance to control the character with the left analog stick on the DS4, but sadly that's not an option. We would also have appreciated the option to manually change camera angles, but again, it is not available. These gameplay limitations hurt the game's potential, but they don't cripple the game.

There are other moments that take place in a first-person perspective, usually when the protagonist is in front of a panel or levers that she must activate. In these sequences the commands take the shape of the girl's hands, and you must interact with items, buttons, and levers as you would in real life. You will find some fun moments where you can further explore the first-person mechanics, and one even lets you throw balls at some rather alarmingly evolved chickens.

The visual style that Uber Entertainment employed here is charming, but it is not very technically impressive. Wayward Sky is downright modest compared to most modern games, even considering other VR titles. It is not a determining factor, but you should be aware of the game's production values. We also need to let you know that the campaign won't take you longer than three hours of play through, although there are some secrets for you to find.

At least this is reflected in the game's price, which comes in at £15.49 (€19.99). A fair price for what Wayward Sky offers, and what it offers is a smooth, peaceful, and fun entry point for someone taking their first steps into virtual reality. If that's the case for you, Wayward Sky is well worth considering.