I’m starting to think that Oculus Studios can do no wrong. They’ve had some amazing AAA games published on the Quest, including Batman Arkham Shadow and Asgard’s Wrath 2but they also occasionally drop smaller titles too, such as the recently reviewed Shattered. As such, when I discovered that they published an indie horror title with a phenomenal comic book art style, I just had to give it a shot.

It certainly has a budget price tag, but can Lies Beneath live up to the fantastic reputation of their other releases?

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COMIC BOOK CREATURES
Right from the opening, Lies Beneath grabbed me with its comic book aesthetic. With a brief, stylish tutorial to guide you through the basics and a virtual comic book to set the scene, it does a great job at preparing you for the terror that you’re about to enter.

And that terror revolves around a girl called Mae who narrowly survives a car accident after it swerves off the road in order to avoid hitting someone walking down the middle of it. Her father isn’t quite as fortunate as Mae, as his body is missing with a trail of blood leading away. As she searches for her father around the town she grew up, Mae is forced to face her past if she wants to find out the truth about what happened.

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The game goes all in with its comic book narrative, as not only do we have the aforementioned virtual comic acting as mid-act cutscenes, but the game itself is full of speech bubbles representing Mae’s thoughts. It’s a great way to help you traverse the world without getting lost, and reduces the need to rely on the game’s lighter (which explicitly tells you where to go) to find your way around.

Even though the game is heavily focused on its narrative, the gameplay is largely that of an action horror game. Whilst there are some very light puzzles now and then, and some exploration that will lead you to supplies or collectibles (which handily reward you with additional resources at the save points), you’ll mainly be fending off enemies with your small arsenal. Your first weapon, and probably the most useful one, is a revolver that can deal pretty hefty damage to even weaker enemies; but along the way you’ll grab a few more firearms and obtain a range of melee weapons. Your inventory slots are very limited, since two out of your four slots are reserved for a couple of specific larger weapons, so you’ll have to think carefully about your loadout as you go on. I personally opted to store all my firearms and then always keep a melee weapon in my hand, but you’ll probably find a system that works well for you.

The main reason I opted to keep a melee item handy was because the game does not hold back in terms of difficulty. Ammunition is tight and enemies are plentiful, so it can be worth learning your foes and deciding which ones are worth taking down. Using your lighter assists with your aiming and highlight the enemy’s weakspot, but sometimes you may just want to make a break for it instead.

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There are 20 chapters in total split over three acts, each of which culminating in a boss fight. Despite seeming like a lot, chapters fly by relatively quickly and the whole game can be beaten in a few hours or so. This breezy length works in the game’s favour, as its decision to focus purely on action ensures that it doesn’t outstay its welcome. Just as you start to get a bit bored of enemy types, you’ll soon find yourself pitted against the act’s spectacular boss fight before being taken to the next area.

Overall, it does a good job at doing what it does. Despite being almost five years old at this point, there’s an impressive level of polish to the game with its smooth performance, sharp visual style, and decently immersive controls. Sure, it may not be a AAA experience, but if you’re after a budget VR horror game then this does a mighty find job.

VERDICT
Lies Beneath is a compelling horror title that draws you in with its wonderful art style and intriguing Lovecraftian narrative. It may have some issues, and the high difficulty may deter some players, but it’s definitely worth sticking with if you’re after a creepy good time!