Polyarc offers a big adventure and a harrowing story in Moss: Book 2. The game was originally released for PSVR in March 2022, and it's coming to the Meta Quest 2 on July 21, 2022. This sequel continues Quill's tale after the fall of Sarffog and provides much more information about the history of Moss and the Arcane's plans. As the story progresses, Quill and the Reader will meet new and returning characters, strengthen their bond, and fight the monsters that threaten to eliminate life as they know it.
Moss: Book 2 picks up right where the first game left off. Quill and the Reader have made it to the castle after defeating the giant snake that kidnapped Argus. Once Quill reunites with her uncle, they begin forming a plan to stop the Arcane by defeating the rest of Sarffog's more powerful allies. Throughout the story, Quill and the Reader's bond is tested as they attempt to take on a variety of formidable foes. This sequel has higher stakes, a much grander adventure, and some emotional moments that enhance the immersiveness.
The Reader starts out turning pages of a book, and after each milestone more of the book is narrated in cutscenes. However, most of this Zelda-inspired game takes place in diorama-style rooms with the Reader looking in and Quill moving through them. Each room has a puzzle to figure out, and a lot of them also include combat encounters. While progressing, Quill will receive new powers that give her and the Reader different ways to interact with the rooms. Throughout the game, there are also collectibles to find, as well as cosmetics to change Quill's look. The controls for moving Quill and the Reader are very intuitive on the Meta Quest 2, and the transitions between reach room make it very comfortable play.
Moss: Book 2 has pretty much the same controls as the first game. The Reader can interact with the environment, and Quill physically traverses each stage. The button layout on the Meta Quest 2 is simple, and it's easy to control Quill and the Reader simultaneously. Each level is carefully crafted with a lot of subtle details, and the environments Quill visits range from harsh snow in the mountains to beautiful, sunny gardens. There are also different types of enemies and several improvements to combat, including new weapons.
All of the weapons feel completely unique in combat because Quill's attacks, combos, and speed will change for each one. Additionally, some enemies will only take damage from a specific weapon. Each weapon can also be used to interact with the environment in different ways, and as more are unlocked, the puzzles become more intricate. There's a good balance between combat and puzzles in Moss: Book 2, but, overall, the environmental challenges are more difficult than the fights and boss battles.
There are a lot of interactions that the Reader can have with Quill and other characters. The way that Polyarc includes the player as their own character in the game creates a lot of emotional investment in the fate of Quill and all of Moss. The visuals and background music also enhance the story by setting the tone based on the emotion of the scene. This is especially true for the boss fights, which feel very intense with the Reader and Quill both fighting at the same time.
There are a few challenging boss fights in Moss: Book 2, as well as some difficult puzzles to solve. Although the game can be challenging at times, the difficulty is just enough to keep things interesting without causing any frustration. The puzzles and fights grow gradually harder at a rate that eases players into it. With more boss fights, different environments, and new weapons, Moss: Book 2 is a fantastic game, and it's a worthy follow-up to Polyarc's highly praised debut title.
Moss: Book 2 is available for PSVR and Meta Quest 2. Screen Rant was provided a Meta Quest 2 digital download code for the purpose of this review.