When comparing Space Rift vs The Gallery - Episode 1: Call of the Starseed, the Slant community recommends The Gallery - Episode 1: Call of the Starseed for most people. In the question“What are the best HTC Vive games?” The Gallery - Episode 1: Call of the Starseed is ranked 14th while Space Rift is ranked 50th. The most important reason people chose The Gallery - Episode 1: Call of the Starseed is:
More a walking simulator with puzzle aspects, this is a highly narrative focused game, meaning it should be accessible to many different types of potential players as there is no combat or worry about having to make split second reactions through the games controls.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Simple and intuitive controls
The cockpit interface for controlling ones ship (where the majority of the gameplay takes place) is pretty minimal but easy to understand. The player will not be bogged down with too many controls and menus, meaning it is easy to figure out what to do and how to do it.
Pro Good story
For an indie VR title, to see a fleshed out story is a very welcome thing. On top of this it is not a story that has been done to death, while some tropes are recognizable, the overall experience is quite fresh and well thought out.
Pro Gameplay has wide appeal
More a walking simulator with puzzle aspects, this is a highly narrative focused game, meaning it should be accessible to many different types of potential players as there is no combat or worry about having to make split second reactions through the games controls.
Pro Great graphics
One of the better looking games out for the Vive in its infancy, the visuals are fantastic giving a real sense of being in the environments. For those looking for a very good visual experience on the Vive, this would definitely be a game to consider.
Pro Puzzles feel natural and not overly complex
Many adventure puzzle games see obtuse clues and hidden items that require back tracking, making for an exhausting experience having to constantly research areas. The Gallery does not have this issue at all as each puzzle and items that need found feel natural and intuitive in the same way searching for something in real life does. There is never a moment where the player will have to continually research or apply objects in order to guess how to solve something, all conclusions come with ease (though not that the game is too easy, more that puzzle solving is just intuitive).
Pro Intuitive and reactive controls
The games controls work quite well and are very responsive. For instance when slowly pressing down the rigger button, the players hand in the game will start closing their fingers. Once the button is depressed all the way the player will now be showing a fist in game. This is all pressure sensitive and natural feeling.
Cons
Con Visuals are at times odd
Objects tend to not have any particular certainty of size. Sometimes a desk may appear as though it is for a child, while other times an object may be way too big for what it is. On top of this the textures when close to objects are not that great. basically it is quite easy to see that there is a lack of polish in the game, while it does not detract from the gameplay itself, it does interfere with the immersiveness of the title.
Con A bit too easy
While there may be some challenge at first, learning how to play the game, once the mechanics are figured out the gameplay itself can be on the easy side.
Con Poor movement mechanics
While this game doe use a teleport mechanics (as many other Vive games do, where you point to where you want to teleport to in a level), the actual mechanics provided in this game are lacking. It feels imprecise and can make for a frustrating time moving around.
Con Picking up objects can be difficult
At points in the game there are objects that need picked up off of the floor, players can run into an issue here when the floor in the game is lower than the users actual floor, making the objects out of reach. basically this seems to be a bug and not a calibration issue which will need addressed but currently is not.
Con First epsiode is short
An episodic game that will be much longer when all episodes are out, but is short for what is on offer within the first episode. Lasting at about 2 hours of play for $30.00, this may be a bit pricey for some.