Robinson: The Journey | PSVR

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Crytek’s Robinson Crusoe-inspired science fiction adventure turned heads with its E3 2015 reveal, promising a prehistoric world in which players could walk with dinosaurs through the immersive medium of virtual reality. The enticing pitch from a proven developer lead many to hope, even expect, that Robinson: The Journey would be PlayStation VR’s so called ‘killer app’, but it doesn’t quite meet those expectations.

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by Sam
​Sant

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@SlamShotSam

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Developer: Crytek
Publisher: Crytek
Platforms: PS4 (PSVR)
Players: 1

In an age of advanced technology and interstellar travel, the spaceship Esmeralda tragically crash lands on alien planet Tyson III. One year after the disaster we join Robin, a young boy and the assumed sole survivor, who has eked out a stable existence on the planet’s surface with the help of his HIGS artificial intelligence unit.

This spherical, floaty companion became quite protective of Robin over that period of time; HIGS believes, in a very matter of fact way, that the best course of action is to stay firmly put and await rescue. When Robin’s domesticated dinosaur pup - who your AI friend thoroughly disapproves of, naturally - retrieves a damaged core during a game of hide and seek, those best laid plans quickly crumble. Containing enticing information on the Esmeralda and its crew, Robin opts to make strides out into the fantastic world of Tyson III in search of answers.

Throughout his trip you’ll solve puzzles, learn about real-world creatures, and appreciate picturesque vistas in a largely relaxed engagement that relies heavily on VR wonderment to carry you through. The varied environments each feel lived in and vibrant - especially on PS4 Pro hardware, which boasts immediately sharper visuals - whilst their non-linear designs make no concessions for the emergent technology.

​Unfortunately, that same technology hinders Robinson: The Journey in other areas. Turning can be set to smooth, which functions as you’d expect a standard first-person game to, or a ‘pie chart’ variation, which snaps the player a fixed degree in a given direction. They’re both somewhat disorienting after playing for a while, leading to unintuitive bouts of needing to come to a complete stop, turn slowly, then proceed in a straight line. Whilst it never never got as motion sick-y as the likes of VR Worlds’ Scavengers Odyssey, a persistent low level nagging did detract from the experience.

A Disney-like tale of a lost boy that longs for human companionship, but finds the same comforting dysfunction in an AI and a dinosaur.

Robinson’s climbing mechanics can cause similar negative effects, pulling your vision in uncomfortably close to geometry and, on occasion, requiring you to crane your neck in unnatural ways to reach for handholds. It’s a shame, as when the segments work they’re exhilarating, especially when taking a sweaty-palmed plunge and nailing the timing to grab a ledge and save yourself below.

PlayStation Move support will undoubtedly make climbing more natural and intuitive, allowing players to reach for handholds with their arms instead of hands strapped to their head. It’ll equally benefit wielding the multi-tool, which is clearly modelled after one of the controllers for immersion sake, but, inexplicably, the functionality isn’t available at launch. It’s coming via a free update, which is good, but so much of the game design seems centred around the control method that it frankly shouldn’t have released in its absence.

​Power on, regardless of the issues, and you’ll be rewarded with some stunning encounters that’ll prompt pause, leaving you marvelling at the majesty of a range of placid dinosaur species. Conversely, you’ll also face unnerving encounters at the sharp claws of some unsavoury carnivorous types. Tense stealth sections see you creeping around packs of raptors, physically peeking through gaps in scenery to best seize the opportunity to make a move, or throwing objects to distract them in an exciting realisation of the classic Jurassic Park kitchen scene.

If you’re spotted, another unfortunate issue comes to light in the poor placement of checkpoints. You’re sure to be sent back a decent trek whenever Robin meets his end, but whilst slow movement makes VR nice and comfortable for the most part, it does mean there’s no expedient way to get back to where you were. Considering this sluggish retreading of ground comprised a proportionally decent amount of the four to six hours it takes to complete the game, many will struggle to justify the price. ​

When all's said and done, even with its myriad of flaws, Robinson: The Journey is a charming jaunt. A Disney-like tale of a lost boy that longs for human companionship, but finds the same comforting dysfunction in an AI and a dinosaur. Crytek focused on creating a rich and interactive virtual world, to which end they succeeded, but it came at the cost of compelling gameplay.

Pros

• Probably the best looking PlayStation VR game
• Finely detailed and interactive non-linear environments
• Dialogue-driven narrative to keep you immersed

• Good dynamic between the central characters
• Exciting dinosaur encounters

Cons

• Can cause motion sickness
• No PlayStation Move support at launch
• Climbing mechanic can be dodgy
• Poor checkpointing
• Short runtime considering the price

Score 6/10

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Do you have PlayStation VR and fancy giving Robinson: The Journey a try? Then keep an eye out for our upcoming giveaway to be in with the chance of bagging yourself a copy.