I almost burned down my apartment playing Riven in VR

Depending on who you ask, virtual reality is either dying or has never been better or exists outside the realm of normal humanity and only weirdos care about it. Since I belong to the latter category, I’m still on board. Oh, me I know that Sony is not really supporting PlayStation VR 2. I am aware of this fact! Most of the best PS VR2 games are also available on Oculus Quest 3 or Steam, and the best PSVR game has yet to stream. But none of that matters because I almost burned down my apartment today playing Riven in VR. And it was one of the best gaming experiences I’ve had all year.

Before we get into it, let me say this: yes, it was my fault. I live alone. I’ve mentioned this before, but the best case scenario for my death scenario is that they find my body holding a controller, playing Final Fantasy 6. The worst case scenario is that they find my body holding a controller, playing the Arrogant Kaiju Princess and the Detective Servant. Yes, this is a real game. No, you probably don’t want to ask. And no, I don’t own it. Still. We’re going to have to do better than just ten percent off the price during a Steam sale. But once I buy it – I promise I’ll be found dead playing it.

Riven VR is so immersive it’s dangerous

The thing is, I’m alone. And, being alone, this morning I decided to reheat some frozen bagels in the oven, because after ten years as a TV writer, you make a pretty good living. Knowing that it would be about 20-30 minutes until the bagels were as warm and fluffy as your mother’s, I decided to try playing Riven’s new take on virtual reality. I can’t use VR as much as I’d like, and being a fan of the original, it seemed like a fun way to while away a few minutes before checking out those bagels I mentioned recently. Breakfast would be done soon!

Now, I had already played about an hour of the Riven remake in 2D on my PC and Steam Deck and I really enjoyed it. This is extremely clear for a remake, but even in its enhanced state, it feels like a game out of time. While FMV-filled panoramic puzzle games were all the rage in the 90s, Riven feels rarer now. More mysterious. Or I’m just getting a dose of something I haven’t had directly injected into my veins since I was in high school.

But in virtual reality – dear god – Riven shines. I’ve played a lot of VR games, but Riven should be included with any VR headset made by any manufacturer. It’s a wild hoax that Riven isn’t on PS VR2 (outside of its use as a Steam headset). I don’t think it would just save the eternally immortal genre that is virtual reality; but i think so THIS gaming is what virtual reality is made for. It’s a tactile experience designed to move and use your hands.

The difference between playing in 2D and VR is far greater than even in the underrated Star Wars squadrons. You can spend your time in Riven. you are It is assumed to take your time. As the sounds of the ocean wash over you, you make your way between the islands, solving various little puzzles. But most of the time there is no sense of urgency. You go at your own pace as you explore a beautiful world. It’s relaxing. Hell, I’d say it’s more calming than some of the virtual reality meditation apps I own. There was a point, overlooking a cliff, when I just sat on my floor and took a break. It’s so compelling. It’s so comforting.

Not to mention this playing the game is easier in VR. While no one would ever mistake me for an intelligent person (I really am the dumbest person on Earth), it’s easier for me to pick out small details when solving problems in virtual reality. 2D still gives you plenty of ways to examine your surroundings – but it’s more natural to walk around a rusty rig, look at every angle and poke it with your handheld controllers. It’s easier to crane your neck, looking for a way out or the right lever to get a transporter to appear.

Riven is much better in VR

Also, getting on those transport cars is amazing. Since I’m guessing that almost none of you will be playing this game in VR, I’ll just say that using transport in Riven is more fun than any VR roller coaster I’ve ever tried. Some people go to Dave & Busters and pay $5 for that. I can just bore the game going back and forth between islands. At one point early on, one part made me realize how great BioShock’s opening scenes would have been in VR. It caught me. It swallowed me whole. I kept thinking about taking a break, but I kept finding another door to open, another pipe to mess with, another lever to pull.

Until I heard my fire alarm and remembered that I am, once again, the dumbest man alive. I tore off my VR headset and somehow – without realizing it – my entire apartment was filled with smoke. No little. Well, enough that it was probably a risk to my health. I’m not even sure how I missed it. I usually have a big fan behind me when I play VR because my air conditioner decides to go on vacation in the summer. Maybe that blew my mind. I was also wearing special prescription glasses under my VR headset (because I’m so hot), so maybe that kept my eyes from watering. Or maybe my brain smelled burnt toast and thought, ‘Eh, it might be time to die, but at least this isn’t when I was playing Arrogant Kaiju Princess and Detective Servant.’

Fortunately, I was able to lower my fire alarm – almost falling off the landing in my haste – and opened all my windows and vented the apartment. I threw the toast into the sink and poured water over it. I sprayed Febreeze everywhere, adding to the future survival of this planet. I lit some candles and turned on an air purifier that I haven’t touched since 2020. Then a neighbor knocked on my door and asked if I needed help. I did not do it. I said I burned some food I was making. They looked at me like I was a giant idiot, because I was. I filled my house with smoke trying to heat up the simplest breakfast in the world.

I’m not too happy that my apartment – right now, at this very moment – smells like a bakery arson. Knowing my apartment’s ancient ventilation system, it will probably smell like this for a few days. Fantastic. But honestly, it’s rare that I get it that lost in a game. Even in virtual reality. There is usually little distraction. A lens is smudged. A glitch snaps me out of it. Virtual borders appear even when I am in the middle of space. But that didn’t happen here. It was beautiful. I was finally getting what I always wanted from virtual reality: to go somewhere else and forget everything else even existed. I just, you know, have to try not to almost kill myself the next time I do it.

Riven (2024)

Riven is an original remake of the classic 1997 puzzle adventure and sequel to Myst, with stunning visuals and an expanded story. With the titular world on the brink of collapse, you help Atrus bravely try to rescue his wife from his despotic father Gehn.

Platform(s)

PC, Meta Quest

releasing

June 25, 2024

DEVELOPER

Cyan Worlds Inc