Moss: The Forgotten Relic review: still one of the sweetest fourth-wall-breaking games you'll play
Our Verdict Sacrificing some of the intimacy that made the VR originals unforgettable, Moss: The Forgotten Relic still preserves everything else that matters. Gorgeous world-building, inventive puzzles and one of gaming's most endearing heroes make this a fantasy adventure well worth discovering.…
Our Verdict Sacrificing some of the intimacy that made the VR originals unforgettable, Moss: The Forgotten Relic still preserves everything else that matters. Gorgeous world-building, inventive puzzles and one of gaming's most endearing heroes make this a fantasy adventure well worth discovering. For Refined puzzle-platforming Quill is beautifully animated An original, elegant fantasy world Against I miss VR's intimacy Combat lacks depth Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test. TODAY'S BEST DEALS £509 at Amazon £568.98 at AmazonDetails (Image credit: Polyarc)Publisher PolyarcDeveloper PolyarcRelease date 9 JulyFormat PS5 (reviewed), Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2Platform Unreal Engine 4, Unreal Engine 5 (PS5)When Moss first arrived on PlayStation VR, and the tiny mouse looked up, smiled, and acknowledged that I was there, virtual reality games made sense; more so, Quill made a common game format – puzzle-platforming – feel original and intimate. After all, Moss was a VR game that began with you physically opening a storybook, before heading inside to join and help the little mouse on her quest. The big question then: can that fourth-wall-breaking idea work outside of VR?Because, eight years on, Moss: The Forgotten Relic removes Quill's adventure from the sweaty confines of a VR headset and onto the flatscreen. It combines Moss, Moss: Book II, and the Twilight Garden DLC into one complete package, with reworked visuals, new cutscenes, and tweaked gameplay – you now interact with Quill and her world in a more conventional way. While it means one of VR's defining adventures is finally available to everyone, it also means something special has inevitably been left behind: Polyarc has done an admirable job of ensuring Quill's world loses little of its charm, but the closeness that came with physically interacting with Moss is lost.The biggest hurdle has always been translating the Reader – you – from omnipresent persona who can grab and move objects to aid Quill into something more traditional. In VR, you weren't simply playing Quill; you existed alongside her. You reached into her world to move giant blocks, pull levers, and grab enemies, becoming as much a guardian as a player. Here, those same interactions are handled with analogue sticks and shoulder buttons, and while very little has changed functionally, emotionally it's impossible not to notice the difference. The visuals have been refined, and there are moments where the art direction really shines. (Image credit: Polyarc)The VR elephant in the roomSony PlayStation 5 (Black) at Amazon for £509Immediately, I noticed a disconnect as the camera has undergone a rethink. In the original VR game, you had the freedom to lean into Moss' immaculate, diorama-like worlds in search of secrets, hidden paths, and clues to solving puzzles. Now, the camera follows Quill through each environment in a more traditional way, so there’s a little arms-length to the action – it's less magical, certainly, but developer Polyarc deserves credit for making it work. Clever cutaway effects keep Quill visible whenever scenery gets in the way, while richer lighting and improved environmental detail make this fantasy world feel colourful and alive.The new dual-control system also proves more successful than I expected outside of VR. You're simultaneously guiding Quill while manipulating the world around her, rotating platforms, moving blocks and stunning enemies whenever needed. At its best, it feels wonderfully inventive, asking your brain to split its attention between two roles at once, in a similar vein to Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake. At its busiest, though, it can feel like trying to pat your head while rubbing your stomach, particularly when platforming, puzzle-solving, and combat collide in one space at the same time. The new game camera helps maintain the game's sense of intimacy, but it can never match VR's closeness. (Image credit: Polyarc)Thankfully, it's the puzzles that remain Moss' greatest strength, as every room feels handcrafted, each mechanism thoughtfully placed, and solutions arrive with a sense of satisfaction. There are moments when I wished I could lean in and just ‘look’ for a solution, instead of plodding around, but generally solving puzzles that make use of the dual-control mechanic is where Moss finds its best moments.Though exploration is equally rewarding, and new abilities such as the power to grow new plant-paths and reveal glass platforms make re-running past rooms interesting, with hidden scrolls and optional routes encouraging you to poke around every beautifully constructed corner, as well as secret armour sets to unlock.Get the Creative Bloq NewsletterSign up to Creative Bloq's daily newsletter, which brings you the latest news and inspiration from the worlds of art, design and technology.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You still interact with the world to pull and push objects around to help Quill, but it's not as 'physical' as in VR. (Image credit: Polyarc)Combat has never quite reached those same heights as the game’s puzzle-exploration, and little Quill is no Dante – her sword swings and sweeps are perfectly enjoyable in small bursts, but encounters rarely evolve beyond simple dodges and light attacks. Likewise, the move to a traditional camera occasionally exposes awkward platforming, with depth perception proving less forgiving than it ever was in VR. A handful of larger action sequences lose some of their impact, too, not least a thrilling escape from a gigantic, fire-breathing mechanical snake, where the timing can feel a bit clumsy.Fortunately, Polyarc is well aware of where Moss truly shines. The new Skip Combat accessibility option is a smart addition, allowing players to bypass the weakest sections and spend more time doing what the series does best: exploring its gorgeous world and solving its wonderfully tactile puzzles.And what a world it still is, particularly in the sequel, Book II, which remains the clear visual highlight, layering richer lighting, denser environments, and even more personality into Quill's adventure. Cobwebbed castles and lantern-lit swamps give way to pristine snowfields and ancient ruins bathed in soft pink light. Outside of VR the visuals have more fidelity – clearer, sharper – and Moss reinstates the position as a unique fantasy world you simply want to experience. The design is lovely, and the way the game plays with scale – the animal world living beneath the remnants of humans, scampering through rusted helmets and armour – feels magical in a kind of Jim Henson-does-Redeall way. Quill will still break the fourth wall for high fives and interaction, and remains an adorable Pixar-like protagonist. (Image credit: Polyarc)Quill offers Pixar personalityAt the centre of it all is Quill, who remains one of gaming's most adorable protagonists, who exudes personality through every tiny animation, from a flick of her ears to the swish of her tail. She simply bursts with personality. She still breaks the fourth wall to celebrate your victories with a high-five, still glances towards hidden clues when you're stuck, and still pauses to look directly at you with a smile that says more than dialogue. She has the warmth of a Pixar character and the bravery of a classic storybook hero, making it remarkably easy to become invested in her journey.There's no escaping that Moss: The Forgotten Relic isn't quite as magical as experiencing these adventures inside a VR headset. That sense of physically sharing Quill's world was unique, and no flatscreen adaptation could fully recreate it, but that's never really the point. This remastered collection isn't trying to replace the VR originals; instead, it opens the pages of one of gaming's most heartfelt adventures to everyone else.Sony PlayStation 5: Price Comparison £509View £568.98ViewWe check over 250 million products every day for the best pricespowered by The Verdict 8 out of 10 Moss: The Forgotten Relic review: still one of the sweetest fourth-wall-breaking games you'll play Sacrificing some of the intimacy that made the VR originals unforgettable, Moss: The Forgotten Relic still preserves everything else that matters. Gorgeous world-building, inventive puzzles and one of gaming's most endearing heroes make this a fantasy adventure well worth discovering. TOPICS Animation Nintendo Switch 2 Xbox Ian DeanSocial Links NavigationEditor, Digital Arts & 3DIan Dean is Editor, Digital Arts & 3D at Creative Bloq, and the former editor of many leading magazines. These titles included ImagineFX, 3D World and video game titles Play and Official PlayStation Magazine. Ian launched Xbox magazine X360 and edited PlayStation World. For Creative Bloq, Ian combines his experiences to bring the latest news on digital art, VFX and video games and tech, and in his spare time he doodles in Procreate, ArtRage, and Rebelle while finding time to play Xbox and PS5. View More You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. Logout Read more Gaming Mixtape review: a stop-motion-like, post-Spider-Verse aesthetic you can play Gaming Motorslice review: a liminal Shadow of the Colossus-inspired must-play Gaming Mina the Hollower review: goes beyond a Game Boy Color Zelda homage Gaming Call of the Elder Gods review: brilliant puzzles buried inside an oddly cosy cosmic horror Gaming Star Fox review: modern cinematic visuals, but still retro to its bone Gaming The Drifter (Switch 2) review: the most bingeable adventure game I've played this year Latest in Gaming Gaming A former Nintendo boss predicted the death of PlayStation discs almost perfectly Gaming Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review: prettier, smoother, but still feels like it's 2013 at heart Gaming Hear me out, GTA 6's graphics might be too good Gaming PlayStation just declared the death of physical games at the worst time for brand trust Gaming GTA 6 was so delayed that some players have been able to order it for free Gaming Star Fox review: modern cinematic visuals, but still retro to its bone Latest in Reviews Laptops The new ASUS ProArt PZ14 is a better Windows tablet, but far from a perfect one Headphones & Earbuds These headphones are a treat for people who love vocals (and can spare $1,700) Gaming Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review: prettier, smoother, but still feels like it's 2013 at heart 3D XPPen Pilot Pro review: an impressively engineered editing console with one frustrating flaw Phones & Tablets Forget the iPhone Fold – Honor just nailed the foldable phone Gaming Star Fox review: modern cinematic visuals, but still retro to its bone LATEST ARTICLES1I tried Maxon's free After Effects alternative, and I don't want to go back2'The only difference between the coworker sitting next to you and Intern is it works unlimited hours': New AI super-assistant sits on your desk, has a 'mind and voice' – and handles everything from email to coding3Save over 50% on Laser Engravers with these summer savings4The world is falling out of love with Netflix – and I think I know why5"I’ve finally learned to lean into the way that I draw" – Tim Probert on creating the art of LightfallSource: Creative Bloq AI Art — Published — Category: Image AI