Comments Off on Borderbots VR shows off a fascinating security simulation game

《边境机器人 VR》是一款混合了《职位模拟器》和《请出示文件》的极富娱乐性冒险游戏。阅读以下内容以了解我们的完整评测：

In the right developer's hands, video games can turn even the most mundane tasks into engaging journeys, and Border Robots VR is no exception. Set in an anti-utopian world that hilariously satirizes modern-day corporatism, the game's recent change in robot citizen behavior leads to you, as the city's only remaining human, being hired to do inspection work at a border checkpoint.

Your task is to make sure that each robot meets the daily regulations, with the work time divided into consecutive days, gradually introducing new mechanisms. Start with simple checks, such as making sure robot passes haven't expired, making sure their badges match the manufacturer listed, or checking that the robot's model number matches the machine in front of you.

Some badges are not directly visible and require you to rotate the robot's platform to see them up close. Some bots will smuggle illegal contraband, indicated by weight sensors, while others may perform undeclared body modifications. Once you're done, you can use motion controls to stamp approval or deny entry, with the PSVR 2 Sense controller's haptic feedback providing satisfying feedback. Ring the bell to summon the next robot and the cycle continues.

It's a simple and straightforward setting, but there's a great deal of depth to it, and the VR interactions add an exciting dynamic to what would normally be a tedious campaign. You continue to receive new tools even in the campaign's later stages, and this gradual introduction ensures that the game never feels overwhelming. Different rules ensure that no two missions feel the same, which creates some ridiculously funny situations like detaining robots for being flammable, while illegal contraband ranges from alcoholic beverages to cupcakes. These interactions provide an enjoyable sense of physics while maintaining the game's strong sense of humor.

Thankfully, Border Bots isn't as strict as Papers Please when it comes to making mistakes, and your progress is monitored through a point system. On a shift leaderboard competing against five other human agents, each correctly handled robot earns points and is rewarded when you build a winning streak. However, processing errors deduct points from your total, and the game is engaging enough to make me want to restart a mission if I make multiple mistakes.

Another incentive for performing well is that these points become a currency used in an online store that can be accessed in your apartment between missions. While some purchases directly affect gameplay, such as extra desktop monitors or faster checks, decorations allow you to buy new gloves, decorate your apartment with posters, and more, providing some nice personalization options.

I like that Border Robots doesn't limit the narrative to the apartment scene. There's a lot of events going on here, usually caused by your troublesome house robots, but the game sometimes gives you extra missions that affect the story. For example, rogue bots will come visit the pavilion and ask you to do something suspicious, which you can either accept or refuse, while other quests involve setting up traps. This led to multiple endings, and I reached the "good" ending.

It's a pretty rich quest that took me about 10 hours to complete, which might have been shorter if I hadn't reset the process. Crucially, the strong mission variety means the game never becomes repetitive or overly drawn out. There's no particularly original concept here, but Border Robots VR succeeds by ensuring it's a highly polished experience.

There is an extremely high level of attention to detail in the interactivity of this world. Similar to Post Simulator, the game explicitly focuses on enjoyable physical interactions rather than button mashing, such as actively touching on-screen buttons on in-game menus. Seeing people appear through 3D holograms with actual depth is also a welcome design.

That said, I have a few minor gripes with Border Bots. If you mess up and want to retry, there is no option on the menu to restart the mission. You have to exit the main menu and load your archive, which doesn't take long, but the process could be faster. Replaying previous campaign missions would also be a nice addition; currently impossible to do without restarting a new archive.

Borderbots VR Review - Final Thoughts

Border Robots VR offers a rich and engaging VR experience. paw Print Games and vTime Ltd have combined the best elements of Papers Please and Post Simulator to present a highly detailed VR-ready experience that delivers an entertaining but sometimes challenging campaign that never fails to overwhelm. Coupled with its vibrant presentation and great sense of humor, Border Robots is highly recommended.