Review of EXD – Extra Dimensional Rating *****
I’ve played enough VR games now that I know what I like. The best VR games have a combination of stunning graphics, some conflict that requires the use of weapons, puzzle solving, and a soundtrack that provides atmosphere as well as audible clues of impending threats. EXD checks all the boxes.
When I was looking for my next VR game, I typed those exact requirements into the AI prompt and the first game that came up was EXD. This was before the game was released. I bought it within a week or two of it coming out. Since the game was new to everyone, I had to figure things out on my own. The fact that I was able to proceed through the game without resorting to a walkthrough or discussions is another positive for the game. Though, I did get stuck twice and finally resorted to seeking help. More on that in a minute.
There is some humor in the game. For one, throughout the game there is the ongoing dichotomy of being the “chosen one” while also being a delivery truck driver. There is also some internal dialogue when you successfully dispatch an attacker or attackers. Internal dialogue is also used to provide subtle clues.
I did run into a few technical hurdles. The biggest one was that after a couple of hours of continuous game play my hands would freeze. I contacted Pimax support for my Crystal Light headset, and they reported back that the loss of hand tracking was the result of a lack of computational power. I have an older machine, but it still packs a punch – I9, Nvidia 3090 RTX, 64 GB Ram. The fix was to exit the game and return after a restart. I also inadvertently entered an area in the game I could not recover from. There was one point in the game in the last half where I was looking for the way forward and seemed to find a part of the game that had not been walled off, because once I entered this dark area, I sensed myself falling, and once I landed, I was below the playing area unable to move. Lastly, the interaction with the phone on my wrist was sometimes difficult because my left hand would be repelled away as I tried to interact with the screen.
I avoid spoilers in my reviews, but I do offer tips. Tip number one is that besides continuous motion there is also the ability to teleport short distances. Practice the teleport every now and then because there are instances where teleporting is either the only way forward or it is the easiest way to proceed around obstacles. Tip number two: Some attackers have the ability to throw fireballs at you. Rather than trying to avoid the fireball, use your sword to deflect them. Also, take every opportunity to store batteries, candy bars, and use reclamation to gain access to weapons like fireballs, ice crystals, and lightening.
Now for the two times I got stuck. The first is when I came across the hover craft. When you approach it for the first time, the internal dialogue says something about it missing parts. Here is where I got thrown off track. Nearby is a room with several parts that look like they could be those required parts. I wasted countless time trying to figure out how to get these random parts to fix the hover craft. I finally gave up and watched a walkthrough to help me get through that section. My note to the developers would be don’t give a clue about missing parts and then provide parts that have nothing to do with solving the puzzle. The second instance where I needed help was in defeating the giant spider. I’m not a fan of the concept of boss battles. To me, they just bring things to a grinding halt, which is what happened when I encountered this monster. The biggest problem for me was that there was one spider nest that I could not determine its location. Once I saw it on a walkthrough, I defeated the big ass spider on the first try.
The game is a little on the dark side. The developers do offer a flashlight and other lighting sources, but better lit scenes would have helped. It took me 34.5 hours to complete the game. I played sitting, which is how I play all of my VR games. The game ends with a reference to EXD 2. Sign me up.