Moss: The Forgotten Relic, a compilation of the VR titles Moss and Moss: Book 2, succeeds in shedding its virtual reality origins without compromising the core experience. The game establishes a unique player-character relationship, casting you as the 'Reader' who guides the brave mouse heroine Quill. This intentional distance between player and protagonist is central to the game's appeal, fostering a connection built on teamwork and shared adventure.
The narrative begins with Quill discovering an artifact called Glass, which enables her interaction with the Reader. This bond propels her on a quest, initially simple but evolving as she navigates dangers and the machinations of mischievous Starthing creatures. While not a deeply philosophical tale, Moss's story is a charming fairy tale that grows with each telling. The presentation enhances this, with auditory cues like page-turning sounds and a narrator who brings the story and its characters to life. Dramatic moments are visually depicted on the book's pages, which the player turns to advance the plot.
Quill is the heart of the narrative, portrayed as brave yet aware of her limitations, strong but not unyielding. Her vulnerability and triumphs forge a strong emotional connection with the player. When challenges arise, Quill offers guidance, and her resilience in the face of minor setbacks—like falling off a cliff—along with her infectious joy upon success, make her a character players will genuinely want to see succeed.
The gameplay mechanics, while originating from VR, have been adapted effectively for traditional platforms. The environments are compact, a remnant of their VR roots, but developer PolyArc has managed a smooth transition. Minor issues such as occasional difficulty in identifying interactive objects or awkward camera angles are rare and do not detract significantly from the experience. The game is forgiving, with generous checkpoints mitigating any frustration from occasional softlocks that might require a quick restart.
Combat and platforming are integrated seamlessly. Quill can run, jump, climb, and attack with a sword. The Reader's role involves immobilizing enemies or manipulating the environment to create paths for Quill. The most engaging puzzles arise when these elements combine, requiring coordinated actions from both Quill and the Reader. These often involve simple yet compelling tasks, such as using an enemy to activate a switch or manipulating environmental elements to progress.
Moss: Book 2 builds upon the foundation of the first game, introducing a larger scope, new characters, and expanded combat options. Quill gains a chakram and a hammer, adding versatility to her abilities. The chakram can be embedded in surfaces for puzzle-solving or combat, while the sword gains a dash for traversing gaps. New enemies, like metallic pill bugs, add further challenges and can be repurposed to open new pathways. A significant addition is Quill's ability to climb vines, which, combined with the Reader's power to grow them, opens up more complex traversal and puzzle opportunities within the overgrown ruins of Moss's world.
While the original Moss game is enjoyable and offers memorable moments not fully captured in summaries, Book 2 provides a recap for new players. The overall difficulty is accessible, but the combination of puzzles, exploration, and the engaging narrative creates a compelling experience. The Forgotten Relic successfully immerses players in its world, allowing them to be both a participant and an observer in the story. The game unfolds its lore organically, teaching players about the world and its mechanics through shared discovery with Quill, rather than through extensive exposition or codices.