I first performed Kinmoku’s VIDEOVERSE on Steam Deck. I bear in mind the precise second I booted it up, pondering I’d spend perhaps quarter-hour or so with it earlier than doing one thing else and returning to it over the weekend. I ended up placing in over an hour into it and was hooked. It felt like a recreation made for individuals who grew up with the early web, boards, and clearly skilled the Miiverse.
VIDEOVERSE has now launched for Swap, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles by Ratalaika Video games. I used to be curious to see how the expertise would translate over and whether or not it will play effectively with a controller. For the previous, I can say sure, however the latter leaves a bit to be desired proper now on Swap.
VIDEOVERSE is a story-driven, decision-based recreation the place you work together with varied characters in a fictional social community in a recreation console titled the Kinmoku Shark. I don’t wish to spoil something, however I’ll say that if the phrases “MSN Messenger” imply something to you, VIDEOVERSE is for you. Although I already performed VIDEOVERSE, it nonetheless hits as arduous on a revisit two years later.
Again in 2023, I believed it wouldn’t be value taking part in for many who didn’t develop up in a selected period. Trying again, I feel I used to be fallacious. VIDEOVERSE may also be a window into an period earlier than somebody’s time as a result of it nonetheless has a lot that’s relatable, not solely with the friendships and relationships in-game, however with the way you see elements of the web simply change into worse over time.
Visually, I like VIDEOVERSE’s aesthetic and the themes included for the in-game Videoverse. Kinmoku’s character designs, the sunshine animation work, and menus all really feel excellent for the period. These are complemented by essentially the most nostalgic previous web sounds. I don’t assume I’ve seen something encapsulate these previous chat apps and the expertise of interacting with on-line pals in addition to VIDEOVERSE does even right now.
As for the Swap port, it’s good for enjoying on the go along with contact controls, however I’m not a fan of the pure button controls when taking part in docked. They don’t really feel as responsive and I bumped into a problem the place the cursor wouldn’t seem generally once I used my Swap 2 Professional Controller. When you plan on shopping for VIDEOVERSE on console, I like to recommend taking part in it absolutely handheld with contact controls when you can. In an excellent world, a Swap 2 Version with mouse controls would exist. Barring the management points, among the textual content can look blurry on Swap 2 when performed through backward compatibility.
I additionally assume VIDEOVERSE is the proper recreation to play on the weekend or a vacation break in a number of sittings. I didn’t even notice I had almost 10 hours into it on Steam till I noticed my playtime a number of weeks in the past. It felt like I simply performed it over a number of days again in November 2023.
VIDEOVERSE is the closest to a time capsule from the early 2000s web in recreation type but. It should make you are feeling nostalgic, bear in mind previous on-line friendships, and would possibly even push you to make some new ones. A short while in the past, I noticed somebody submit about what media you affiliate with a selected time period. After I consider friendship, the 2 items of media I affiliate with it are VIDEOVERSE and Tenacious D’s track “Friendship.” VIDEOVERSE is a reminder that we actually had it higher in some methods again then, and it’ll at all times be there for you in
Model Examined: Nintendo SwitchReview Copy Offered by Ratalaika Video games
