Subjects of study aren’t always explored in games, with AAA blockbusters as Assassin’s Creed and Civilization taking most of the bluff; in this case history. So it’s a shame that attempts at more differentiation such as science, are either trivial in the case of Surgeon Simulator, or licensed riffs that serve no purpose. When I first heard about VEV: Viva Ex Vevo’s premise and how it was attempting to squash this I was immediately intrigued, only to find out it’s got heavy characteristics of the previously mentioned negatives. Here’s why.
Gameplay:
Upon playing VEV: Viva Ex Vevo for the first time, I was completely lost. This is partly due to how badly the game presents it’s objectives, (which I’ll talk about later) and the fact that they are so bare. You’ll be collecting energy while other lifeforms try to take it. It’s a pretty neat idea, think a full 3D agari.o or slitheri.o. Yet, the game is always long in it’s easiest chunks, feeling strenuous no matter the difficulty. On top of this, even more problems are present in VEV: Viva Ex Vevo.
Story & Design:
If Viva Ex Vevo just had the problems I just mentioned, it might skirmish around a 4 or 5 territory. But the continuous issues that players will find will diminish any praise left. Controls are awkward, so much in fact that I was unsure if I was moving in the right direction at the beginning, or if I was at all. A combination of this and poor draw distance make the game a completely frustrating experience when you die. This is the opposite of relaxation, which the developers had clearly intended.
Presentation/ Visuals & Audio:
If there’s one salvageable thing about Viva Ex Vivo, it’s the graphics and initial menu presentation. Upon starting the game you’ll be greeted inside a really well textured science lab, which continues throughout the gameplay. Sound design isn’t on the same level but is still bearable in chunks, unlike the rest of the game.
Conclusion:
After playing a handful of badly designed stages, VEV: Viva Ex Vevo is the type of game I’d expect at a cheapo tech show. Among the vaporware and broken reveals, it’s shown as a barely functioning tech demo. In fact, watching something as poor as that, would be far more lively than sitting through this interactive sludge.
VEV: Viva Ex Vivo gets a 3/10 (Painful)
We’d like to thank Truant Pixel for giving us a code!
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