Towards the tail end of last year, Resolution Games announced that it was partnering with O𒉰dd Raven Studios to bring its VR title Carly and the Reaperman to the Oculus Quest platform, including both the Quest and Que𝕴st 2. The game is officially av𓄧ailable now on the Oculus store, bringing Carly and the Reaperman’s fantastic VR setting, challenging puzzles, and original concept to the Oculus Quest with free cross-play available on both PC and Mac.
Carly and the Reaperman was originally released as Carly and the Reaperman: Escape from the Underworld, and is best described as a co-op experience in which one person can take on the role of Carly, with the other person playing as the Reaperman. I was unableဣ to play with a second person in time for this review, but the fact that the game can be played via online co-op with either the Quest or PC/Mac (or a combination of both) is a huge selling point. Even as a solo adventure, though, Carly and the Reaperman absolutely shines as a sol♔id platformer.
The story begins with Carly finding herself in the underworld as the newest arrival. As she explores the city an🍷d takes on the task of helping lost so👍uls find their peace, the Reaperman hovers from above, helping her navigate the world and manipulating it to help her get from point A to point B. Who knew the underworld was full of puzzles to be solved?
Although Reaperman can’t just pick up and move Carly herself, he’s able to zoom, spin, and move the world that Carly is in (which are essentially the levels). Reaperman can pick up blocks and platforms that allow Carly to successfully make🃏 her way through each level. Puzzles eventually require more complex solutions than just carving out Carly’s path, though, such as memory game-style pattern matching or having to complete a level in a certain amount of time. All of the puzzles - from platforming to the more mentally taxing puzzles - are all fun and challenging. Carly and the Reaperman is one of those games with puzzles that provide rewarding and satisfying feelings after successfully completing a particularly difficult puzzle.
The platforming mechanics (when playing as Carly) are equally as successful. Jumping from one spot to another feels tight with weighted physics that you’re truly able to feel. The game does well to not make things too easy. Reaperman can’t pick up Carly, nor can he pick up a block or platform that she is standing on. That is to say, he can pick up the item, but Car𝓡ly falls to the ground. No platforming loopholes here! Carly is able to pick up sprites along her journey, similar to any other platforming game that has coins or rings to be collected throughout each level. She is also able to interact with NPCs to uncover more of the story, as well as birds who reveal mysterious details of the world and why Carly is there.
What’s most impressive about Carly and the Reaperman is its VR capabilities. Playing as Reaperman is a delight, and manipulating each level is incredibly satisfying. I often find myself zooming in when Carly needs to run through a hallway or other enclosed corridor just to feel like I’m literally running behind her. I never played the game when it was originally released, but I have to imagine that Resolution Games 🐼improved upon the original gameplay for the game’s Oculus release, which speaks volumes for its upcoming Dungeons &💎amp; Dragons-style VR title, Demeo. If Carly and the Reaperman is anything to go by, tabletop RPG fans are in for a well-executed world of excitement when Demeo releases next month, especially since the game will feature cross-platform play between VR headsets and a standalone PC version - just like Carly and the Reaperman.
If you own an Oculus headset, you owe it to yourself to check out Carly and Reaperman. The co-op concept works great in VR, and I’m looking forward to playing the game with my nephew this weekend (v🦩ia his PC version). From its platforming to its VR capabilities, Carly and the R🎶eaperman on Oculus Quest is definitely a title you don’t want to miss.
Score: 5 out of 5 Stars
An Oculus Quest copy of Carly and the Reaperman was provided to TheGamer for this review. Carly and the Reap🐠erman is now available on Oculus Quest and Quest 2