Review of The Midnight Walk VR on SteamVR & PSVR 2: Artfully Grotesque Adventure

Sure thing, here we go. Dive in with me:

Okay, so "The Midnight Walk"—where do I even start? Picture wandering the twisted corridors of Tim Burton’s imagination—yeah, it’s a trip like that. The look of the game is this weird mix of beautiful and creepy, but what about the meat of it all? Is there enough to justify strapping a headset on your noggin? Hmm, let’s unravel this.

So here’s the scene: Developed by MoonHood, this game’s out there for grabs on Steam and PS5, with VR strutting in as optional. The price tag reads $40, and I checked it out using Quest 3 via Steam Link. May 8th, 2025—it hit the shelves.

Gameplay, or Something Like It

Alright, the name gives a clue, right? "Walking simulator" is the territory we’re meandering through. The emphasis here is definitely on the dark, cool-as-heck visuals and a narrative that tries to follow. Sprinkle in some light puzzles and these hide-and-seek shenanigans with monsters. Not gonna lie, the look of the game is where it shines, like developers hand-crafted every little bit and slapped it in after a 3D scan. It’s got this twisted vibe—yo, Tim, you watching this?

In VR, you’re this itsy-bitsy mouse-sized character, letting you stare at objects like you’re inspecting the pickles in your burger. The textures, the details—they’re a feast for the eyes. Lighting and composition? Yep, chefs’ kiss. But…wait, was I saying something about animation? Right, right—some parts rock this stop-motion groove, but then BAM—smooth animations cannonball in next. It’s like a dance that’s gone a tad awkward. I mean, is this a bug or what? Whoops, I’m lost again.

When it comes to puzzles, honestly, they didn’t really light up any brain bulbs for me. Felt like I was going through the motions, not much more. The monsters lurking around were creepy—don’t get me wrong—but was it scary? Meh, not horror enough. Back when I played "Dear Esther," it was a vibe kinda like this—a walk with some story bits sprinkled in.

Anyway, but I digress…sort of?

Immerse Me More, Please

You know, the world is mesmerizing, peering through VR is like, whoa. But wait a minute—where’s the full-on VR experience? You pick up a key, right? You’re thinking, “Oh, cool! Let’s interact.” But nope, it floats like a ghost into the door. Who needs to grab handles when you can just ‘Press A’ to hitch a ride on a flying thingamajig? Less magic, more hands-on, please.

The closest to VR magic was closing eyes to get audio cues. On PSVR 2, you actually shut your peepers. On a PC, you’re pulling triggers instead. Wow, way to feel immersed, right? Cue eye roll. No, but seriously—where was I?

Comfy? Eh, Mostly…

VR here is comfy-ish; the slow pace helps. But sometimes the game yanks your view around like it’s showing you the storyboard of an upcoming action flick. Sometimes the horizon ain’t level, and my stomach was halfway to Timbuktu, but not outright puke-worthy… a feather’s touch away, nonetheless.

So, are you sprinting to grab the game? Maybe, maybe not. Its visual curiosity is a pull, but depth, interaction, and a gripping story aren’t quite there. But hey, who am I to tell you what to like? You might dive headfirst in just to see the odd world unravel. And who knows, maybe Tim Burton might walk by, nodding approvingly. Or not.