Horizon Call of the Mountain serves as the premier launch title for the PlayStation VR2, delivering a visually stunning but mechanically uneven experience that struggles to balance its technical achievements with engaging gameplay loops.
A Familiar World Through New Eyes
While Aloy makes a brief cameo to ground the experience in the established franchise lore, the narrative centers on Ryas, a former Shadow Carja seeking redemption through a perilous mission. The game’s most compelling moments arise from the intimate character dynamics and political tension between its small cast. However, the primary antagonist remains obscured for the vast majority of the campaign, failing to provide the emotional stakes necessary to drive the plot forward with any real momentum.
The Climbing Conundrum
Ryas’s journey requires two primary skill sets: expert marksmanship and relentless climbing. Unfortunately, the latter dominates the experience. While the mechanics are functional and rarely result in failure, the act of physically pantomiming a scratching motion to scale cliff faces for hours is tedious rather than immersive. Even with the introduction of tools like ziplines and throwing ropes, the core traversal remains a repetitive chore that hinders the game’s pacing.
Combat and Crafting: The VR Highlights
In stark contrast to the climbing, combat in Horizon Call of the Mountain is a masterclass in VR fluidity. Robot encounters take place in dedicated arenas, utilizing a strafing and dodging system that feels responsive and fast-paced. Hitting precision shots on mechanical behemoths—aided by generous aim-assist—is consistently satisfying. The game also nails the tactile experience of crafting, requiring players to manually assemble ammo and tools, which adds a rewarding layer of interactivity to the preparation process.
Immersion and Visual Splendor
The visual fidelity of the Horizon universe remains the game’s greatest asset. The juxtaposition of overgrown ruins and high-tech machinery is breathtaking, and the game encourages players to pause and admire the horizon. This sense of awe is only broken when the player is forced back into the grueling climbing sequences, which turn the beautiful environment into a blur that players simply want to bypass as quickly as possible.
Final Verdict on PS VR2’s Showcase
As a technical showcase for the PlayStation VR2, the game succeeds; it is the perfect title to demonstrate the hardware’s capabilities to others, particularly through the passive, cinematic boat ride mode. Yet, as a complete gaming experience, it is held back by its overreliance on tedious climbing mechanics. While the combat and world-building are impressive, the six-hour campaign spends too much time on activities that fail to spark joy, leaving the player wishing they were fighting machines rather than mountains.
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