Candy Give up is out now on PlayStation VR2, and we went hands-on as soon as extra. Learn on for our impressions.
4 years since Candy Give up first arrived on Quest and Steam, the cel-shaded roguelike is again with at the moment’s PlayStation VR2 launch. Tasked with combating your approach up via totally different areas utilizing one in every of six important playable courses, our former Senior Editor thought of Salmi Video games’ difficult shooter to be a strong effort with room to develop in our authentic 2021 overview.
Come 2025, the post-launch updates have not stopped. Final yr’s “Resurrection” replace delivered gameplay changes and up to date visuals on Quest 3, whereas earlier this yr noticed Salmi Video games launch Chips Revamp: Half 1 that aimed for “higher steadiness” throughout the sport. A public roadmap confirms there’s extra on the best way.
So, how does this PlayStation VR2 version examine? Fairly nicely, going by my three hours of hands-on time; there are no revolutionary variations in comparison with different platforms, although PS VR2 comes with timed unique new content material. I’ve not discovered all 20 of the brand new or improved upgrades but, however double-back holstering for bigger weapons is a helpful addition.
There’s not a lot of a narrative to fret about right here past some discoverable lore, and Journey Mode sees you ascend via the sport’s 4 important areas with randomized ranges. Lessons just like the Medic and Sniper present some good selection, whereas Trainee provides a neater different that does not get counted in the direction of the web leaderboards.
Just one class is initially obtainable; the remaining are steadily unlocked via strategies like killing a selected boss or therapeutic a set quantity throughout your entire runs. Demise means an entire restart, and there are no extra everlasting means upgrades, although shortcuts may be unlocked for reaching greater ranges sooner.
It is customary stuff for roguelikes that shortly turns into difficult, and you may’t simply go weapons blazing into each scenario. Candy Give up’s clear arcade-style motion leaves you shortly looking for cowl, as staying nonetheless is a assured ticket again to your base. You possibly can’t be too hasty both, lest you fall foul of a visit mine like I did on my first run.
Touchdown these kills feels rewarding with good haptic suggestions within the Sense controllers, helped by a good vary of enemies out of your customary troopers to exploding bots. Operating via areas armed to the tooth with shotguns, numerous pistols, and grenades stays entertaining.
My private spotlight is the improve system, letting you swap out a good number of power-ups like well being upgrades or higher harm. You will steadily energy up your skills via chips which can be positioned into each of your wrists, however stated upgrades solely apply if that particular hand is holding your weapon. It is the type of VR-specific design I respect.
Some elements betray its older VR design although, particularly the visible assists. You possibly can swap off your ammo rely from showing, although you may’t flip off weapon descriptions when shifting them nearer to you. It is useful when selecting up one thing for the primary time; I do not essentially know what skills that merchandise has, and this makes good sense for chips. With weapons, I would like the choice to show that off.
PS VR2 screenshots taken by UploadVR
I’ve some smaller gripes too. Adaptive set off help is definitely welcome in comparison with Quest, although it does not really feel carefully tailored for particular person weapons, and headset haptic suggestions could possibly be extra reactive. On a number of events, I would begin the sport just for the menu to be nowhere in sight even when I recenter my place, solely to search out it 90 levels to my proper. That solely syncs up if I flip left simply as far and recenter.
Hardly dealbreakers by any stretch, however I would like to see it take additional benefit of PlayStation VR2 the place doable. A few of my PlayStation VR2-specific complaints are already within the public roadmap, so I am hoping these updates come via quickly.
It is price noting that whereas Candy Give up beforehand confirmed it will launch with gentle and dynamic foveated rendering, Salmi Video games finally disabled each after additional testing. Talking to UploadVR, CEO and founder Yacine Salmi defined this choice.
“The sport appears considerably higher with out foveated rendering, and the efficiency tradeoffs weren’t well worth the visible artifacts launched. Our rendering type (and post-processing stack) does not appear to lend itself nicely to foveated rendering. We’ll discover additional efficiency enhancements post-release to see if we are able to push the decision even greater whereas sustaining 90fps.”
Regardless of this exclusion, Candy Give up runs easily even in additional intense moments. I’ve solely performed this up to now on a PS5 Professional although, so I am unable to communicate for a base PS5, and Salmi Video games states this runs at the next decision on the newer mannequin. It appears nice in motion, and Candy Give up’s low-poly artwork type means it is by no means been essentially the most demanding recreation anyway.
As somebody who hasn’t performed since my earlier interview with Salmi Video games, I loved this opportunity to return. If roguelikes have by no means been for you, this is not prone to change your thoughts and whereas it is not an entire clear sweep, Candy Give up is a welcome addition to the PlayStation VR2 library. I will be leaping again in quickly.
Candy Give up is out now for Quest, Steam, and PlayStation VR2.
