Sushi Ben Assessment (PS5 / PSVR2)

Sushi Ben is a calming VR title with immaculate vibes. As a newcomer to the quaint fishing village of Kotobuki City, you end up intertwined with the destiny of a beloved, freshly shuttered sushi restaurant. Providing to assist the massively overworked proprietor, you got down to restore provide chains for meals, interacting with the various quirky residents all of the whereas attempting to forestall a realty firm from shopping for up the complete city.

Gameplay is a group of fundamental, surface-level mechanics: you need to fish, catch bugs, seize ghosts — the listing goes on. Most are innocent enjoyable — the desk tennis phase is particularly good — so long as you don’t run into any bugs. Collision detection on the bug web is everywhere, and the fishing rod has a complete host of issues, notably when water is concerned. Whereas a number of the gameplay moments are one-offs, you’ll retain a group of instruments to make use of all through the surprisingly giant world.

Whereas the dimensions of the city is spectacular — there are various nooks and little hidden particulars too — it is also largely an empty world that artificially extends enjoying time by making you stroll in all places. There’s a sure lifeless high quality to the Pokémon-esque environments while you’re not actively collaborating in quests.

Fortunately, the presentation does assist shut this hole. The sport is totally voiced in Japanese, and dialogue is offered like a visible novel, however with the added aptitude of cutaway panels like one would anticipate out of a manga. This works even higher in VR because the panels are given an additional stage of depth, virtually as if they have been part of the world you end up inhabiting.

In the end, the sport’s charming visage is sufficient to overcome some mechanical shortcomings and supply a sport that is equal elements stress-free, charming, and goofy.