Recently I covered a game called Witchblood, which offered a fantastic diorama style 2D Metroidvania game for Quest users. I enjoyed it a lot and wished that there were more game in the genre for VR platforms. Little did I know that there was another, albeit one in a first person perspective.

That game is Genotype, and it’s now one of my favourite games on the system.

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PRIMED AND READY TO GO
After being stranded in a blizzard, you soon find yourself crashing into a mysterious research facility. With your partner dead and a disembodied voice guiding you through a headset, you soon find out that something is very wrong here.

It turns out that the scientists here have been cultivating alien flora and fauna here, which suddenly turned against them and have taken control of the facility. To make matters worse, you’ve been infected by the spores in the air and will die in less than 24 hours. Luckily your friend, William, knows how to cultivate a cure that will not only help your infection but will also kill off the deadly plant-life too.

Even though it’s hardly an original setup, it’s great seeing this destroyed research base in VR. From the snowstorms outside to the artistic direction of the scientific base, it’s just a joy to be in. It all fits so well, and makes you want to explore and find out more.

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Genotype is all about traversing a sprawling research base, and much like a traditional Metroidvania you’ll be frequently gated off by areas that require specific biometric keycards or abilities to get through. What sets this game apart though is that you won’t be collecting items in a traditional way, but rather assimilating things via the GRAID gloves that you acquire at the start of the game.

These gloves essentially serve two functions: the left can be used to absorb a variety of different items, including health packs, ammunition, keycards, and much more; the right glove, on the other hand, can summon an alien creature by pulling on its cord. It’s a nice twist on the traditional item gathering, and fits well within the experimental context of the game.

The creatures are by far the biggest draw of the game, with a large variety available at your disposal. Early on you’ll have one that acts like a pistol and another that can latch and pull on certain objects, but will soon develop into things like a protective shield and a flamethrower. It’s nice that these monsters often can be used as a means of progression, as it helps to make them more satisfying than just using as a means of combat.

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Speaking of progression, as is typical in the genre, it feels slow-paced – but intentionally so. You’ll need to search every nook and cranny for resources in order to proceed further, or craft your own via the upgrade machine. What makes it work, is that the gameplay never feels slow as the game is designed to keep the pace moving at all times – and the save and fast travel system both work well to ensure you never end up getting frustrated.

Part of that I think is down to the careful sprinkling of combat encounters along your journey to help break up your walk between areas. They always seem to have just enough enemies to feel challenging, without ever feeling like a slog. I was particularly fond of the creature design too, even if a handful of them can be a chore to fight – in particular the smaller and faster ones. Still, I enjoyed the combat overall, especially the boss encounters which – whilst not overly spectacular – still proved enjoyable to take down.

VERDICT
I never realised how much I needed a 3D Metroidvania in virtual reality, and Genotype does it almost perfectly. With a compelling world to explore, and a plethora of interesting upgrades, this really is one of those underrated games that everyone needs to add to their Quest collection.