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When I started, I didn’t think that Animal Crossing would be a strong influence. Sushi Ben is reminiscent of Nintendo’s popular social simulation. It begins with a casual conversation, as you depart your home for the new worlds in Kotobuki Town. Release Date
: Out now
: Big Brane StudioPrice:
$25The next seven hours felt like I’d been transported directly inside a manga and what follows is the classic underdog story of a local community fighting to save its existence. Greeted by a surprisingly buff elderly hermit, I immediately knew what I was getting in for.QuestSushi Ben – The FactsViveportWhat is it?PSVR 2: A single-player slice-of-life 3D narrative adventure game inspired by anime.
Platforms:
, ,
(reviewed on Quest & PSVR 2)Release Date
: Out now
Developer
: Big Brane Studio
Price:
$25
The next seven hours felt like I’d been transported directly inside a manga and what follows is the classic underdog story of a local community fighting to save its existence. You discover, upon visiting the sushi bar in the town, that Ben is under threat from unscrupulous buyers who want to make him sell up. The story is light-hearted and the mission becomes obvious. This is usually done by exploring the city and playing a variety of minigames. The fishing adds an extra personal touch, as you are usually tasked with finding the seafood that someone has requested. You must control your rod manually and reel in what you catch. Sushi Ben allows you to activate a “Story Mode” that will skip these minigames. This way, you can proceed without issue. I’m told these minigames will be updated with “additional depth” but presently, most of them aren’t particularly remarkable.
Where Sushi Ben truly shines with its strong cast, humor, and story. Kotobuki Town’s residents are a funny bunch of people with charming personalities. There is the strong but surprisingly kind farmer, who has the ability to communicate with animals. The local American, who plays table tennis too serious, and Pot Chan, the postman’s pigeon, who makes deliveries. The expressive presentation is a big part of this. Sushi Ben is a highly stylized game with 3D panels that look like manga. The 3D visuals add character and depth to the already well-developed story. This is a game I enjoyed greatly, especially as someone who has spent countless hours reading and watching manga. The Japanese voice actors also added to the enjoyment. The walking speed can be changed. Both smooth and snappy camera turns are supported by adjusting rotation speed, or varying degrees. With a slider for seated height, a sitting mode can be selected.
Dialogues can automatically play without any button input and English subtitles can be selected. Dialogue boxes are able to be resized and moved at any time during cutscenes, for improved visual accessibility. You can turn off the controller vibrations and set your watch to either your right or left hand. Also, you can change the skin color and your hand. Sushi Ben’s ending is dramatic and feels like it was more of a mid-point than an end. This is the end of this story, and I’m left wanting more. The story is not yet known, but once you reach the end you are free to explore the city. Quest 3 has 90fps compared to Quest 2’s 72fps, and Quest Pro utilizes eye-tracking technology for dynamic rendering. Sony’s PSVR 2 headset is a great choice for its sharper graphics and 120fps native performance. But it’s great no matter what your hardware. This VR adventure is let down by the basic minigames and abrupt ending. However, the manga-inspired visuals make it one of the best VR experiences in recent years. If you’re searching for a new VR narrative adventure, Sushi Ben comes recommended.
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