So, you’ve found yourself with a PSVR2 headset! Congratulations – you now have access to some very powerful tech that’ll make for some very immersive and thrilling gaming experiences. Maybe you’re someone that’s new to VR and are looking for a casual introduction to this new virtual space. Maybe you’re someone looking for something lighter to try out. When I got mine, I bought a handful of games to get into right out of the gate. The VR mode for Resident Evil: Village has been amazing, but terrifying (I’ve only been able to play in 15-20 minute bursts before I get too overwhelmed). The inventive physicalities of Horizon: Call of the Mountain were beautiful but I didn’t feel ready to confront my fear of heights. Then there’s What The Bat? a game made by the Copenhagen-based company Triband.
Sometimes the right title comes to you at the right time in your life, and this is certainly what happened with What The Bat?
It’s been a long time since I’ve played something like What the Bat?. From the start, the overall presentation had me hooked instantly! In many ways, it brought me back to 2008 playing games like Boom Blox and Wii Sports. The same light-hearted attitude and minimalist aesthetic are very much present here, as well as a healthy dose of absurdist humor to spice things up. Not to mention, a literal elephant in the room that makes for some unexpected interactions while you make your way through the various levels.
As the bat-handed protagonist, you go through a hundred mini-games where you get put in scenarios ranging from the mundane to the audacious. Have you ever fried an egg with bats for your hands? Is that snack stuck in the vending machine? Give it a couple of whacks to get it loose. Gotta dodge a series of lasers and spotlights in order to vandalize a priceless painting in the middle of an exhibit hall? You’ll figure it out, and you’ll have a great time doing it.
There was a wide variety of activities and I was still left wanting even more by the end.
I really enjoyed the photo op levels, each providing a nice benchmark as you continued onto the next step. That, and the island levels involved some fun physicality in order to complete the various tasks. The highlight mini-games felt like the ones that took place in Batville. I loved being in that town, picturing what life as a Batizen would be like. I also saw that a couple of progress flags were hung on some of the buildings. It was a nice touch that left my heart nice and warm.
What The Bat? is tied together by a very loose story that by no means feels obligated to delve into an intensive narrative.
Its bright, inquisitive soundtrack is also a lovely compliment to the gameplay. It’s a sign of confidence when a game is able to shoot for the stars and hit it big, without the need for groundbreaking gameplay and hyper-realistic graphics. Sometimes, the simple things are all that you need to have a good time.
While I did run into some issues during my playthrough (particularly in the museum stage), most were due to trying to play within the small standing area. It took a bit of extra fiddling that I worked around pretty easily, so I never lost momentum with the game.
Any other issues that came up were quickly resolved thanks to the nifty reset button that’s on the bottom of the right bat.
Overall, What The Bat? is a lovely videogame experience! One I highly recommend for both newcomers and veterans to the VR space! Especially those who are looking to have some fun with their PSVR2 headsets. What The Bat?’s minimal esthetic and absurdist humor will leave you with a big smile on your face. And by the end, I’m willing to bet you’ll be eager to find your next adventure. VR or otherwise.