Goals of One other intrigues with its inventive journey, although it is pissed off by gradual pacing and uneven PlayStation VR2 assist. This is our full assessment.
Having jumped throughout the PixelJunk sequence over time, Q-Video games’ newest undertaking has held my curiosity ever since its unique announcement. The studio stood out throughout the a long time for its artistically considerate flatscreen experiences, so its return to VR after 2016’s Useless Hungry caught my eye. Goals of One other delivers one other distinctive expertise, although its flaws are quickly obvious.
What’s it?: A philosophical journey primarily based on the theme of “no creation with out destruction.” It is also on Steam however with out PC VR assist.
Platforms: PlayStation VR2 (Reviewed on PS VR2 with PS5 Professional)
Launch Date: October 10, 2025
Developer/Writer: Q-Video games
Worth: $34.99
Goals of One other carefully follows the theme of “no creation with out destruction,” and your environment are dropped at life by means of pleasingly memorable visuals that nearly really feel like strolling right into a retro recreation. Every little thing’s represented by means of bubbles, and Q-Video games makes use of an especially literal strategy the place you actualize this dreamlike world by capturing them. Subtlety is just not the sport’s robust level, however that is not a nasty factor.
Gameplay footage captured by UploadVR on PS VR2 with a PS5 Professional.
This surrealist narrative begins on an intriguing notice, navigating 4 curious tales without delay because the Man in Pajamas, who’s all the time accompanied by the Wandering Soldier. Goals of One other is usually compelling at its greatest, symbolizing themes like coming of age or taking motion earlier than it is too late, which may really feel sadly nostalgic. Although every story unfolds throughout totally different places, these tales deliver us nearer to understanding our recollections.
Some tales really feel overly drawn out even with a 6-7 hour marketing campaign, with a brand new recreation plus choice unlocking upon completion that carries over your objects. You swap between these tales repeatedly, and a few segments final for much longer than others. This typically leaves Goals of One other affected by gradual, inconsistent pacing and a disjointed strategy. One phase includes snapping crayons by holding each Sense Controller triggers, which will get actually tedious when it’s important to repeat {that a} dozen instances.
On all PS5 consoles, Goals of One other makes use of reprojection from 60Hz to 120Hz. Taking part in on an ordinary PS5 makes use of 1080p decision, whereas Q-Video games beforehand confirmed to UploadVR that taking part in on PS5 Professional will increase this to 1440p decision. You’ll be able to’t select between prioritizing increased efficiency or increased constancy like some video games present.
Efficiency is usually easy on the PS5 Professional and the stylized visuals imply reprojection is not majorly noticeable past the “cinema mode” cutscenes. Nevertheless, I had constant framerate drops nearly each time you end sections the place you shoot disembodied spirits. I am uncertain if that is an intentional impact, however the temporary slowdown is barely jarring.
Progressing by means of this marketing campaign does not require capturing completely every thing, however you could spray your path forward with bullets to actualize them. Sure objects stay completely affixed as soon as in place, providing you with the peculiar views of every thing from trash cans to doorways commenting on human nature. If something, it is symbolic in its suggestion of contemplating different views.
Your arsenal is not large, not that it must be, and steadily unlocks throughout the sport, beginning with the soldier’s gun with limitless ammo. You may finally get hold of grenades and a rocket launcher, helpful for clearing by means of areas extra rapidly with the trade-off of restricted ammo. Giving the Wandering Soldier discovered objects scattered throughout every stage replenishes your inventory whereas giving him a second to get philosophical, too.
Some sequences additionally contain capturing down “enemies” as their spirits, typically following the formulaic rule of three earlier than they return to their… effectively, not our bodies as such, however designs. Have you ever ever tried capturing a Ferris wheel’s rogue spirit to return every carriage again into its place? For all of our sakes, I sincerely hope not. It is memorable, although repeating this course of throughout totally different tales quickly will get repetitive. Your mileage might range right here relying on how a lot you interact with the broader tales.
Goals of One other has only a few consolation settings. Your solely motion choice is synthetic stick-based locomotion, whereas the digicam settings have snap rotation at adjustable settings with a fade you possibly can’t flip off. Clean digicam turning is accessible with out adjustable speeds. Other than just a few audio sliders, that is it. Subtitles cannot be turned off, both.
Haptic and headset suggestions cannot be switched off in-game, although you possibly can flip this off from the PS5 settings menu. Adaptive triggers are additionally supported.
My greater difficulty is that Goals of One other evidently wasn’t initially designed with VR in thoughts, which is especially noticeable when the sport constantly swaps your digicam perspective. You are continuously shifted from first-person view right into a “cinema mode” for cutscenes, an comprehensible selection when it is highlighting an occasion you would not be capable to see. Nevertheless, this happens all too repeatedly even when having a quick chat with somebody standing in entrance of you.
This occurs rather a lot, which is not helped by some gameplay sections utilizing a compulsory third-person digicam. Quite a few scene transitions go away you in full darkness for a number of seconds or all of a sudden change to a vibrant white display with nothing else occurring. You additionally hold getting despatched again to the primary menu, which typically is okay as a result of the overarching narrative unfolds right here after clearing a narrative. However Goals of One other continuously sends you again even with out persevering with that a part of the story, and I do not perceive why.
This all considerably impacts your immersion, which means it is arguably a greater flatscreen recreation than in VR regardless of the latter’s higher gunplay, if just for larger consistency. Physicality can be disappointingly minimal. Weapons are swapped utilizing a button press somewhat than an on-body stock system, and the identical applies to reloading. I am not saying this wants handbook reloading or something that in-depth, however with gameplay I would like greater than to easily go searching and level a gun.
Goals of One other VR Evaluation – Last Verdict
When you intend to play completely on PlayStation VR2, Goals of One other has its advantages and downsides in comparison with flatscreen. Taking pictures feels extra pure with movement controls than an analog stick, first-person mode is preferable, however you possibly can inform this wasn’t initially designed for VR. Physicality is minimal, and constantly being taken out of the first-person perspective will get annoying.
Goals of One other is a inventive, considerate effort that is given me lots to consider, and I am glad to see extra experimental titles like this nonetheless being made by Q-Video games. However when the VR assist feels this missing mixed with the sport’s gradual pacing and repetitive parts, I can not totally advocate it on PlayStation VR2.
UploadVR makes use of a 5-Star ranking system for our recreation opinions – you possibly can learn a breakdown of every star ranking in our assessment pointers.
