Read on for our full review. You can read our review here.
After seven years of appearing on flatscreen devices, The House of Da Vinci returns with new challenges in the style of escape rooms as you attempt to find the famous painter and innovator who has gone missing. You’ll find dark and complex rooms with intricate details and riddles. The facts
What’s it all about? :
Platforms: ,
(Reviewed on Steam via Quest 3)QuestRelease Date: SteamDecember 4
Developer: Blue Brain Games
Price: $24.99
The game revisits Italy during the Renaissance periodThe House of Da Vinci begins with a short tutorial about basic mechanics for puzzle solving and getting around. The game is played as an apprentice to Leonardo da Vinci. He has disappeared since he told you about a new discovery he wants you to see. You are greeted by an amazing Italian landscape that invites you to explore and admire. As the tutorial described how to move around, I became immediately frustrated. The only way to move around is by teleporting, but only at certain points within each room. The presentation of the game is different from how VR users would move and advance through the story. The way you move in immersive environments is different, particularly when it comes time to change. The mechanic that works for a flatscreen user can be limiting to someone in a spatial environment.
Each room is designed for mystery and unease
Despite my gripes about the title’s movement system, I’ve got nothing but praise for its beautiful graphics. Blue Brain Games created beautiful immersive worlds, and the game runs seamlessly. The implementation of detailed textures and optimized mesh is smart. A carved wooden creature with faded paint is one of my favourite puzzles in the game. What I thought was an intricate part of the dragon was a geometric flat face that had impressive texture. The menu changes from chapter to chapter. The time shown by the tower behind the segments reflects when the narration ends. In a courtyard in Italy, I am standing still in the darkness of night. Next, the chapter concludes at sunset when the same tower is shaken by an accident. It’s so inviting, even with the looming disaster. The menu of the House of Da Vinci VR changes as you play. The House of Da Vinci VR has a mysterious nature. The puzzle interaction in the game is engaging and satisfying enough to keep you interested. You may find that the levers do not move when you expect them to. This means you will have to take some time to figure out why. Your gloved fingertips will move when you touch an object. This can indicate a possible point of interactivity. It’s important to pay attention to the clues to solve certain puzzles. There’s also “see-through” mode, which lets you see hidden gears or secret writings on walls. This dial is on the glove and allows you to fast forward or rewind time. You can get hints by pressing a button if a puzzle seems too hard. The House of Da Vinci’s VR puzzle of the day. Many of the puzzles in The House of Da Vinci VR are based on Da Vinci’s inventions. After spending a lifetime trying to solve them, it’s great to hear them come to life when the gears click. A globe that hid several gears was one of the challenges. The globe opened in half when I arranged the gears in the correct order. This made me applaud in joy. It was those little moments that brought intense joy to the experience.
Despite the victory of completing a challenge, the surroundings still kept me on edge. The mannequin in the darkness posed next to my globe was also ominous. The House of Da Vinci VR review – final verdict
A mysterious device in a dark room
The House of Da Vinci VR has been created lovingly with respect for its historical inspiration. Blue Brain Games’ impressive visuals are a testament to their ability to create immersive and engaging environments. As it is, the House of Da Vinci franchise has many sequels which have not been converted into VR. If this game is any indication of the series’ quality, I’d love to see the rest of them reach VR in the future.
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