Moss: The Forgotten Relic

The transition to standard screens has done nothing to limit just how pretty this world is. Moss is gorgeous and really nails the sense of scope and scale we feel as an outsider looking down into a tiny world. I was just as hooked playing through this collection as I was when they released in VR. I sincerely hope that Moss finds its audience with this release. The world of Moss is rife with potential. Quill is about as endearing a main character as there is and there is room for so much more. Polyarc have done a wonderful job translating a VR experience to standard screens and deserve a ton of love for doing so.

If you’re at all curious, then you should check out both Moss and Moss: Book II, especially now they’ve broken out of the confines of PSVR. Yes, both games are better suited to VR and are designed in a way that leans heavily towards the platform, but the adjustments made to bring both of these games to the PS5 controller are serviceable to the point you’ll resist forking out for a VR headset and all those accompanying cables. Both Moss games are short, but don’t let their length put you off as they’re meant to be breezy and accessible for the average PlayStation gamer to enjoy. Don’t miss these PSVR hits because now they can be enjoyed by the whole PS5 community.

Those without a VR headset can now be captivated by the adventures of the little mouse Quill in Moss: The Forgotten Relic, a pair of games that form a single epic. While the immersive quality of virtual reality is inevitably lost, the exuberant visual presentation and the fairy tale told by an excellent narrator captivate and give strength to a campaign that, although it has a somewhat clunky platforming gameplay mechanics, is entertaining enough with its environmental puzzles and charm.

Even if Moss: The Forgotten Relic loses a little bit of the personal magic that it's become known for with the removal of VR, Quill’s charming adventure absolutely manages to stand on its own two paws as a slightly more traditional puzzle platformer. More than anything, I’m grateful that anyone who couldn’t handle Moss in VR finally has a chance to try out a truly special game.

Moss’s world is stunning, its fairy tale nature is incredibly charming, and aside from a couple of minor issues with the camera (and one weird bug that briefly stalled my progress) this is a very smooth remake that doesn’t feel compromised by breaking free of its VR-exclusive origins. It may be simple, but its combat and puzzles are satisfying and amusing. But for me, Moss’s appeal comes back to Quill and her world, wondering what would happen to them and wanting to see this story through. Moss is a game about a mouse, but Quill has the heart of a lion, and this book is better for having her in it. I’m grateful to have gotten to spend time with her, and for the story we shared. High five, Quill.

Moss: The Forgotten Relic contains 2 lovely adventures that are easy-breezy and memorable with gorgeous presentation and intuitive gameplay. With that being said, they're so much better in VR that these iterations are a substantial downgrade.

Bundling up both Moss games, previously only playable in VR, Moss: The Forgotten Relic is to be praised for making these titles accessible for a wider audience, but some magic is lost along the way.