Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Stellar sequel to a beloved VR adventure.
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Moss: Book II
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
Quill is back in MOSS: BOOK II, a sequel to 2018's Moss. Immediately following the events of its predecessor, Moss: Book II picks up where a young mouse named Quill rescues her uncle. But now she finds she's on the defensive as you've upset the Powers That Be, desperate for the magical glass Quill holds, and vowing to take over the world. To fight back against the Arcane and bring peace to Moss, Quill requires your help as the "Reader," who guides the young heroine through this adventurous tale (tail?). As with the original game, Moss: Book II folds in three gameplay elements: platforming, puzzle-solving, and combat. You'll run, hop, climb and jump through a trap-laden castle. You'll instruct Quill to manipulate the environment to carefully traverse the terrain, and use weapons (like a sword and giant hammer) to destroy enemies and smash open items you need along the way. Played from a top-down perspective, you'll also meet familiar faces from the first game, face off against boss characters, and find secrets strewn throughout the levels.
Is It Any Good?
This adventure lives up to its impressive predecessor -- if not surpassing it -- in all departments. While the story may not blow you away, Moss: Book II is is more of an emotional tale, which makes up for it. It's also longer than the original Moss, at about 5 or 6 hours, plus there are secrets to look for to add to the replayability. Thankfully, the Legend of Zelda-inspired puzzles and platforming challenges are also tougher than the first game, both of which force you to think through how to complete the level. But it's not too difficult either, so you won't feel like tossing the VR headset off out of frustration. Boss battles also require you to apply tactics, plus Quill now can change out weapons. Each weapon feels unique during combat, as the attacks, combos, and speed changes for each item (and some enemies will only take damage from a specific weapon).
This gear can also be used to interact with the environment in different ways, which is key as the puzzles get tougher over time. (Pro tip: Without spoiling anything, you may see something to interact with that's far from Quill or requires some thought on how to reach the area, but as the "Reader" you may even be able to touch it yourself, so try that first!). From a production standpoint, Moss: Book II looks and sounds great, too, but some visuals could've been sharper. If you like adventure games, be sure to download Moss: Book II for a memorable ride. It's well worth the price of admission.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in video games. Is the impact of the violence in Moss II affected by the implied blood effects when some of the enemies are defeated by Quill? Would the impact be intensified if the violence was more realistic?
Do you think that virtual reality has arrived as a platform yet? Or has this been overhyped for years and there isn't yet a "killer app"?
Game Details
- Platforms: Oculus Rift , PlayStation VR
- Pricing structure: Paid ($39.99)
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Polyarc, Inc.
- Release date: July 19, 2022
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Adventures , Cats, Dogs, and Mice
- ESRB rating: E10+ for Fantasy Violence
- Last updated: December 1, 2022
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