Review of Bonelab VR Rating ****
Having played the original Boneworks, purchasing this newer version was a no-brainer. While I wasn’t disappointed with this version, it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot to like in this VR title. In some ways, this VR title has more going for it than most titles on the market. The one-piece I found missing, though, was a cohesive narrative. There isn’t a story or goal other than to try to survive until the next level. Instead, as the title suggests, Bonelab serves as a showcase for what VR gaming has to offer.
The beginning of the game was confusing for me. After a brief introduction section, you enter the Bonelab. Here, you are tasked with exploring six different areas of the lab, each with multiple paths to choose from. There is no wrong choice. There also isn’t any satisfaction in completing a task. For example, one task had me in a giant bowling alley with giant bowling balls and pins. I spent an hour or more trying to figure out what I was supposed to accomplish. No matter how many pins I knocked down, a brand-new set of twelve pins would appear. No opportunity to pick up a spare. So, I thought, I must have to get a strike. After countless tries, I finally got a strike. Turns out it didn’t matter what I did, all I had to do was experience the bowling alley for it to count. Another example involved an arena where I had to fend off a slew of attackers. Each time I managed to knock off every attacker, I was presented with a new challenge and more attackers. Again, it didn’t matter how many levels I advanced. I could have accomplished the same thing having completed just one level.
After successfully exploring all six areas of the lab and solving several puzzles, you are next faced with 14 levels to complete. You must complete each level before advancing to the next one. While each level was challenging, and there was some satisfaction in completing a level, the levels were not connected in any way I could see. Each represented a showcase for the developers to try new scenes and puzzles.
I discovered accidentally that some puzzles require you to change your avatar. I learned this after reaching for a weapon from my inventory and accidentally revealing the process for changing avatars. I may have proceeded much faster had I known I could do this.
I spent nearly 50 hours working my way through Alyx Half-Life. I felt like I spent twice as long getting to the end of this game. In reality, it was 30 hours.
The developers deserve accolades for creating an immersive experience. There are plenty of challenging puzzles and gunplay, and the graphics and sound provide ambience. You will get your money’s worth from this title. Just don’t expect to traverse a straight line from start to finish.