This review is strictly for the vr version of the game.  The quick review is this: It’s the best experience I have had to date with my vive and I highly recommend it.
 
Now for a little more detail.  I was skeptical of this game since it is a port from a standard pc game.  I’ve read that porting a game is a recipe for disaster for vr.  The port does come with some down sides.  Since the game wasn’t made with motion controllers in mind, most of the interactions are point and click.  For example: you have a can that you want to open up and eat the food inside.  With the motion controllers and playing other vive games you may get the idea that you can set the can down, pull a pipe out, and swing for the fences with your controller to have the pipe smash open the can.  This is not the case.  You simply drop the can on the ground, pull the pipe out, point the cursor at the can and pull the trigger “simulating opening the can”.  The other negative in its current state is the inventory system.  Right now you have to cycle through everything which is a bit cumbersome.  The devs are working on an update to this issue and supposedly will have it out in the next couple days, so this will more than likely be even more of a non-issue than it currently is.
 
Now on to the positives of the pc game port.  This is an actual, fully-realized game.  This isn’t a cool concept. Its not a wild 10 minute tech demo that has you salivating for more. My previous favorite experience was the gallery.  The gallery is $30 and lasts about 3 hours.  It’s a wonderful experience and great use of vr, but its over before you really get into it.  The Solus Project does not have this problem.  I am currently 5 hours into the game and have only scratched the surface of this world that you get to explore.  The devs say that you can beat it in roughly 17 hours, but can take up to 50 if you explore all the areas.  I long game like this is what the vive needs. There is depth to this game that you simply won’t find on any of the current made for vr games on steam.   Now let me take a moment to break down a couple aspects of the game.
 
Controls:
 
There are several different options you can do to move around the planet.  The standard teleport option which most games use is also available for The Solus Project.  For those that can handle it, you can also use one of the track pads to move around.  In the options I have set the walking speed to 30% and love the experience that it provides so much more than teleporting everywhere.  It’s a nice slow pace that will probably take me ages to complete the game, but its at a pace that I feel like I’m actually walking through the caves.  Overall the control options are good enough to allow you to play the way its most comfortable for you.  I also need to mention that the motion controls are definitely utilized in the game.  I mentioned above that the interactions are mostly point and click.  While this is true, the motion controls still work great.  When holding up the torch, you can move it around to change the angle of the light hitting off the cavern walls, point the flashlight where you want, etc.  the controls are 1:1 in terms of movement, just don’t expect to swing a sword around and have it physically hit something.
 
Graphics:
 
Holy crap is this game gorgeous.  Again, this is what sets this game apart from most games out for the vive.  These devs have taken a lot of time to make the caves look as organic and natural as possible.  The Unreal engine really shines in this game.  The feeling of being in a large alien cave chamber is indescribable.  The pacing of the game also lends to the visuals constantly changing.  By the time I was getting used to the cave scenery, the cave would end and you would be thrust into a gorgeous outdoor scene with alien beaches, rock formations, meteor showers, crazy storms.  It really pulls you into the game and gives you the feeling that you are on this alien world.
 
Audio:
 
The audio is perfect.  The general creepy ambiance they have created with the sound is superb.  I  hate horror games and jump scares. This is definitely not one of those games.  However walking around in a cave is inherently creepy.  Add in that this is a cave on an alien planet and the creepy factor goes up a couple notches.  There have not been any jump scares or anything scary that I have experienced in the game.  The creepiness and general foreboding as to what is behind the next turn is greatly enhanced by the audio.  I’m pretty sure it has spatial audio in the game.  There have been several times where I know I’ve heard something behind me.  Being able to pinpoint sound locations also adds to the overall atmosphere that they have created in the game.
 
Gameplay:
 
This game so far is more of a walking-simulator where you are the lead in a mystery story that is unraveling before your very eyes.  You aren’t going to feel like a badass like when you play holopoint or SPT. If you are in to movies like interstellar, or books like The Martian, you will absolutely love this experience.  I have been awestruck by the beauty of this game, and I have had to tell myself that I’m really just in my basement and nothing is going to hurt me if I keep moving forward.  The puzzle’s have been non-existant to really easy so far, but I’ve only just begun.
 
Overall, this is the exact type of experience I was dreaming of when I first learned that VR was becoming a reality.  This game gives you the ability to travel the cosmos and explore an alien planet while you try to survive and figure out what’s going on with the planet.  Not too bad for only $20!  I can’t recommend this game enough! Go buy it now before the devs realize that this is at least a $50 experience. You won’t regret it.