POOLS is extra of an revel in than a recreation. You’ll technically see it via to crowning glory in about an hour. However amid the brevity of our time with it, there is a palpable sense of environment that’ll go away you on edge.
POOLS is an off-kilter horror strolling simulator the place you will have to navigate advanced mazes of tiled hallways, swimming pools, and slides.
There aren’t any enemies. There’s no cut-off date. There aren’t any mechanics past strolling or operating round those hallways.
However the recreation faucets into the area of interest liminal horror of the “Backrooms” idea, oscillating between tight darkish corridors and abnormally massive areas, with vivid water slides virtually appearing as bounce scares.
There’s one thing extremely unnerving concerning the recreation’s six ranges, which expertly set up to scare the crap out of you with none type of conventional “frightening” stuff. It is purely vibes, and they are going to soak into your pores and skin.
Visually, it is a actual looker at the PS5 and PS5 Professional, emphasized by way of an excellent use of lights. The sound design, too, despite the fact that minimum, can truly carry the hairs at the again of your neck.
We scoffed on the recreation’s means once we first booted it up, however inside of 20 mins, we have been twitching on the within reach sounds of sloshing water, and nervously drawing near massive inflatable geese as they bobbed round. There is no rating right here, so that you virtually begin to assume you are listening to issues as you buckle down and do the water.
It’s a creepy revel in on PS5, nevertheless it’s taken to a brand new degree on PSVR2. Robotically, there isn’t a lot distinction rather than the facility to bodily climb up ladders with the usage of the Sense controllers.
Alternatively, Sony’s headset truly lends itself to the dimensions of the sport. We peered down reputedly unending pits, and twitched round to the sight of ladders being tucked into vents by way of unseen beings. And there is subsequent to no visible disparity between PSVR2 and the flat display screen model, making this one of the crucial perfect visible showcases on Sony’s headset.
Very similar to every other PSVR2 titles, like Kayak VR: Mirage, POOLS is a skinny gameplay revel in, however you aren’t there for that. You’re there to be transported elsewhere. In Kayak VR, it is stunning vistas. In POOLS, it’s creepy tiled hallways.
So whilst it’s a short-lived revel in, it’s one we couldn’t assist however recognize. It indisputably caters to a distinct segment target market, nevertheless it briefly creates a singular and aggravating environment that performs together with your head, much more so you probably have the PSVR2 strapped to it.
