In order to play in VR mode you’ll need the following: a PlayStation camera, a PSVR headset, and two PlayStation Move controllers. Playing in VR mode is the way to go as The Solus Project fits perfectly in the VR space and adds intense immersive depth to the gaming experience. Using the PlayStation Move controllers took some getting use to at first. You move your character as you hold down the Move button on the right Move controller. You can look right or left with the PSVR headset and it will move you in that general direction while holding the Move button down. The left Move controller buttons X and O will turn your character quick left or quick left; these snap-to-turn motions are used to prevent motion sickness while in VR. Another great controller feature is the ability to turn on teleportation so to can point the left Move controller out a little bit in front of you and teleport to that spot. This helps a lot in case you don’t feel confident in jumping to pillars or ledges. You can increase the speed of your walking in the options menu. The game default it to 40% but i found 90% was perfect for me. It’s all about how comfortable you are with the VR and avoiding motion sickness. The T button is used to access your inventory while you hold the X on the right Move controller. To drop items in your inventory you hold the Triangle button on the right Move controller.
Once you start the game, the first item you’ll pick up is a PDA called Wilson, which will becomes a vital part of the gameplay. Wilson monitors survival aspects such as your health meter, body temperature, food calories, water levels, and determines whether you are getting enough sleep. Wilson will automatically become your left Move controller as it’s displayed the entire time you play through the game. It is very important you constantly check your levels as they are always going up and down. The survival aspect in The Solus Project is nailed perfectly; you’ll feel like everything is balanced just right, making it never feel like you’ve been cheated. If it’s cold outside, raining, or you’re in water, your body temperature will go down resulting in hypothermia. If you don’t drink enough water you become dehydrated. If you’re not eating enough you starve to death. It’s on you as the player if you die a lot because most likely you weren’t paying attention to Wilson.
From the time you crash land on the unknown planet, you’ll be exploring majority of The Solus Project going section to section to solve the mystery of the planet and learn of the civilization that inhabited it before your arrival. Sections are broken up into mini islands and underground caves that are pretty big. You’ll explore hidden areas to find tons of item to scavenge to help with your survival and solve puzzles. Loading between each section seem to take forever, which breaks up the fluid gameplay and immersion factor of the VR experiences. In VR every section is highly detailed and looks gorgeous, especially when you’re up on a  high mountain top looking over the land. It’s easily one of the best looking PSVR games out with a dynamic weather system with day and night cycles. It can look breathtaking in the right setting; it can also scare the bejesus out of you as a meteor shower rains down trying to kill you or a tornado starts up right in front of your path. You can tell Hourences and Grip Digital took their time with the finer details and shadows to handcraft the scenery and atmosphere just right.
The Solus Project isn’t a perfect game performance wise since I did encounter some weird glitches, but nothing game breaking. Between playing the traditional way or in VR, I feel the game shines best in VR. The environments and atmospheres that the planet creates makes you feel uneasy at times along with the smooth ambient music and sounds in the background that sound life like. If you’re playing in VR, there are tons of options to tweak so that you’ll feel comfortable enough to play long sessions without feeling nauseous in VR. Overall, it’s a long campaign that lasts up to 15 hours, which is better than most VR games that only last anywhere from up 4 to 5 hours. Not once did I need to adjust or recalibrate the PSVR headset and PlayStation Move controllers as some VR game require you to every time you play. The motion controls feel spot on, allowing to point to teleport to where I wanted to pick up items. Some might this dismiss this game as a walking simulator, but it’s a full sci-fi exploration adventure. It may not be for everybody, but there’s so much more to this game than it seems. So don’t miss out on this hidden gem. If you have a VR unit, I highly recommend picking up The Solus Project to explore its beautiful alien world.
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