Yesterday we dropped our review for the first Moss game, following the improvements made to coincide with the release of the Meta Quest 3S. It was a fantastic little game already, and the recent update only made it even more impressive.

However, I was more excited to try out the second Moss game since I never had the opportunity to play it before, so this update gave me a good reason to rectify this situation.

But, can it live up to the original?

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PICKING UP ANOTHER BOOK
Moss: Book II picks up immediately where its predecessor left off (meaning you should play that game first!), thrusting players back into the enchanting, storybook world of Quill, the brave little mouse. This time, Quill’s quest is even more perilous as she continues her fight to save the kingdom from a menacing new villain, the Arcane, a force bent on destruction. Guided by you, the Reader, Quill journeys across vibrant new environments, from towering castles to vast forests, to retrieve the shattered pieces of an ancient glass that holds the key to defeating her enemies.

As with the previous game, chapters are broken up via storybook sections where the reader is transported back into their world as they flip the pages of the book. They’re a nice way to help add to that fairytale feeling, and these sections are just as effective as in the previous game.

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Honestly, with regards to gameplay, Moss: Book II doesn’t really do a whole lot different to the first game. However, what is here is certainly far more refined. Platforming seems better due to how much more fluid and responsive Quill’s movements are, and the combat has also been expanded from before; in particular, the introduction of arcane magic gives Quill far more options than before.

Puzzle-solving remains a key element, but they feel more complex than before as they require a deeper understanding of both Quill’s abilities and your interactions with the world. You can manipulate the environment more extensively, moving platforms, rotating mechanisms, and assisting Quill in creative ways. These additions make the gameplay feel fresh without deviating too far from the original’s charm. 

That philosophy too extends to the game’s levels too, as visually they also seem far more varied than the forests and castles of the original. There’s snowy peaks, magical realms and more to explore – which certainly helps make the game stand out on its own compared to its predecessor. Having played both in quick succession, I was happy to find that I never got tired of the second and this expanded sense of variety is likely the reason for that.

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As with the previous game, this new update gives an extra boost to the game’s visuals whilst adding in some quality of life adjustments. It’s honestly pretty hard to compare the game graphically to what came before as this was my first time with the sequel, but it’s a really stunning game. The amount of detail in the environments and characters are staggering, and you wouldn’t believe that the game is coming up to three years old at this point.

VERDICT
Moss: Book II is a step-up from the previous game in pretty much every way – and that really is quite amazing when you consider just how good the original was. With more variety to the levels, and more refined gameplay mechanics, it’s an absolute must play for any VR owner – just make sure that you play the original Moss first!