SYREN

Man I really wanted to like this game. I really wanted to recommend it to my friends, let people try it out, but I just cant. Im not going to write a book here, but Ill say a few things briefly. The graphics everyone are complaining about? Meh. They arent terrible. Thats the least of the games problems tbh. The problem lies in a few things, one of which is pretty much a core mechanic and will probably never be fixed. The AI is basically scripted and cheats. So if you are expecting an Alien Isolation experience, this isnt it. The AI will always be in the same place, every time, take the same path, and its basically up to you to figure out the "Trick" to get past it on that particular area or stage. This pretty much killed it for me. The second biggest problem is the controls on the HTC Vive. They are just awful. Im not talking about locamotion, Im talking how the game has you interact with things is just illogical give the controls you are using. Trigger to grab things? UP on the To...

**Updated review as of 25/02/2017 (I've left my original reviews below so you can see how well this has evolved in just a week or so worth of updates. EVERY issue i personally raised with the Dev at the bottom of this review has been fixed) - Pretty much every issue with the game from launch has now been resolved. The buttons are consistently in the lift between levels - the locomotion system works great, the new grabbing system with the grip buttons to snap objects to your hands works fantastically (though maybe needs a little tightening up to succesfully throw items any distance), the snap turn buttons can now be disabled entirely so you can very accurately move and use the roomscale. Honestly I hope everyone gets a chance to re-review the game either from now or after further bugfix updates (the sound still needs work - enemy footsteps can sound like theyre next to you when they are actually in a different room down a long corridor away) - but compared to some of the hobbled-to...

I am really disappointed to say I cannot recommend this game. Everything about it looked great in the videos! Graphics looked good, environment was underwater which reminded me of Bioshock, it looked like a horror game which I love. So everything looked like it was good to go so what happened? Well first thing is the graphics. While the graphics itself is not the deal breaker, on the highest graphic settings everything was just a blur making it hard to read text and, overall, the blur just made it difficult to feel immersed. Graphics aside there is a fair amount of bugs. From things glitching, being able to see through certain textures and walls, locomotion controls not working like it should, and some others. For the price I was expecting something polished and so far that wasn't what I was getting. So what was the final deal breaker for me, and keep in mind it might just be that I'm an idiot, but I could not figure out what to friggin do. The tutorial gave you a rundown...

EDIT: The Dev has seemed to make the graphics at least bearable but still not perfect, the anti aliasing is still dreadful. The game mechanics are a complete joke, there is none. It's complete trial and error to get through a room, no skill or quick thinking involved. The animations are hilariously bad and makes you lose all sense of immersion. The game mechanics need serious work before I would recommend this.

Okay so Syren is really a mess of a game. It has some positives, it is a functional VR game and has the odd neat idea. But the execution is awful. In fact, it's a mess of good bits and HORRIBLE DESIGN CHOICES that really just leaves me confused about how it exists. It's weird to see how the same dev team could produce the highs, and the lows at the same time. I'm going to release a series of videos playing through (in short form, hopping from greivance to greivance). The first part is available here which gives some context to the state of the game on release (note: not Early Access, full release!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HvYmDKokWI&feature=youtu.be However, for anyone who is looking for proper criticism right now, here you go: The mermaids are not scary, their AI is bad, the way they interact with you is awful (if you are being chased and they get within a certain range the game freezes you, regardless of whether or not you die, or if they are running into a wall for eter...

I really wanted to like Syren. This could have been the modern Alien Isolation VR. Its great that the Dev included touch pad locomotion and has included an Ultra graphics setting after feeback from the community. The control system is a mess (using HTC Vive). Gripping and holding with the trigger and pressing the top of the thumb pad just isn't natural. Holding and using a gun in the gun range is like holding a torch in reality and is uncomfortable and immersion breaking. Anything held collides with the scenery although there are some nice touches such as text can be scrolled on monitors or you can hide in the lockers. Graphics even at Ultra settings still look 'smudged' and are no where near the quality of the trailers. The Syren's themsleves are poorly detailed and animated as its like being attacked by a shop dummy. I really really wanted this game to be the 'hide em up' I was craving. Please Devs, make it as good as the trailers and throw in some decent controls.

If I could choose 'maybe later' as a recommendation I would. I bought the game but haven't played much of it, because the controls completely ruin it for me, I just can't stand them and it actually turns me off to the whole game. Trigger to pick up an object like a gun, and up on the touchpad to shoot, and when I played the gun was in an incredibly awkward position. Bad: Controls are so bad I can't get over them long enough to play 30 minutes of this game Good: The developers appear to be fixing bugs incredibly fast, these issues will likely not hold them back for long.

I've only put about 15 minutes into this game so far. After reading a fairly glowing review on upload I was like,. well this is a shoe in for my library! I'm pretty dissapointed thus far. at the highest graphics setting it's still blurry AF. the locomotion gets caught in weird places,. if you try the shooting range thing in the tutorial that has to be the most awkward way to hold a gun ever since you have to keep the trigger held down or you will drop the gun,. then point the vive controller like a wand and fire with the thumb pad... wtf,.. it's really buggy right now as well. like the open sign on the door just hanging in space after the door opens. it just feels very unpolished. for 20 bucks I was expecting polish. hopefully they will release some patches, optimize the graphics,. this could be a great game but in the state it's in now I wouldn't reccomend people spendingt 20 bucks on it.

Bought this today 2/22/17 - So based on the early reviews, I was worried about wasting my money. However, I decided to take a leap because they just patched the game this week. So here is my review... Game Settings - I picked ultra graphics (looks amazing if you can run it!) Then I chose the left touchpad locomotion because im sick of teleporting around in other games. This set speed is calibrated just right so i didnt get any motion sickness. Great job there! Tutorial - Very helpful! Got through that in just a couple minutes and everytihng is easy to understand. The only complaint I have was with how the character holds the guns as I have to tilt my wrist forward to aim. A more natural pistol grip angle would be prefered. Level 1 - (No Spoilers Here) Looks amazing, once again remind you that I selected left touchpad locomotion. It works great as you only need to gently touch it (it is sensitive so takes some getting used to) Getting through level 1 takes a bit of proble...

Tried it and couldn't get past the problems. Game is not finished is what I can say. Its another vr with alot of potential but is rushed out the door. More time spent could have made this great. It definitely has the vibe of alien isolation which is awesome but again its just not finished. A.I spawn random in front of you for immediate death thats unavoidable and have to start over. Clipping through walls when locomotion because I hate teleporting. Bad textures unless you use ultra settings. Dont even try anything below like many have said its super blurry without it making it almost unplayable or enjoyable. Again more time spent and these coulda have been a great vr title. Were all craving vr content but we all don't need a bad game too.