The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners PSVR 2 Review. Alongside the second chapter’s release on PSVR 2, the original Saints & Sinners makes the jump as well. How does Skydance’s original zombie-slaying survival game hold up on new technology? Discover the truth in the bayou with PlayStation Universe’s review of The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners on PSVR 2.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Review (PSVR 2) – A PSVR Horror Gem Reanimated
As much as Saints & Sinners Chapter 2 impressed me earlier this month, I was still really curious to see how much the original would be improved by a jump in hardware provided by PSVR 2. The original game is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the relatively ramshackle PSVR, and often felt like it was stretching the hardware to breaking point. Still, those limitations did feel like a part of why its post-apocalyptic survival worked so well. In a sense, it replicated the nightmarish terror of tank controls in classic survival horror. So I had to wonder if it might lose something with more refined controls and better visuals. Clearly, I needn’t have worried.
A quick recap first. Saints & Sinners sees a character (you) called The Tourist enter a flooded New Orleans in a post-apocalyptic world. A mysterious man narrates your boat trip into the city, and the voyage showcases the brewing war between various factions and the undead. This is a place of rules undefined, so you best learn them as quickly as you can.
Much of the game sees The Tourist trying to survive by helping and hindering those left in New Orleans. Not only do the Walkers grow in number on the streets over time, but you also have to be mindful of an almost literal dinner bell that gets rung each day. It floods the area with Walkers, and if you can’t find a safe spot or escape in your little skiff boat, you’ll likely end up as a makeshift feeding trough for the shambling zombies. The focus on survival is higher in this game compared to its sequel, and that brings a specific kind of intensity.
Encroaching Dread of The Walking Dead
Even with the refined controls of the sequel in play and a better overall visual quality, vulnerability is never off the cards in Saints & Sinners. It’s still panic-inducing to think you’ve escaped Walkers by shutting a heavy mansion door only to hear the splintering of wood as they break through the rotting doorway. Or when trying to get to higher ground by climbing a drainpipe as several sets of decaying arms scrabble at your virtual feet. Even though there’s a quietness to most places in New Orleans, it never feels settled or relaxed. There’s always the threat of some dreadful thing on the horizon.
I was surprised to find that feeling still existed after the escalation of Chapter 2. The enhanced visual detail is probably chief among the reasons this is true. You can see through the gloom of a dilapidated New Orleans better than before, and the sense of scale is more intimidating than ever (even if those very large doorways do make you feel smaller than you should). The audio sounds better too, which is a key quality to have in a survival horror title. If the scrape of shambling feet and guttural moans don’t set you on edge in Saints & Sinners, I’d suggest you’re playing with the sound off.
It’s also a complete package. The Aftershocks update ramps up the survival aspect and matches the intensity of Chapter 2 with some truly brutal post-game missions in the Bayou. Here you race against the factions to retrieve valuable loot in more dangerous iterations of previously explored areas. It’s a real test of what you’ve learned during the main game and adds much to the overall package.
Walking Dead And Loving It
Long story short, Saints & Sinners is still a damn good time on PSVR 2. It now feels more comfortably in line with its second chapter, but retains its identity to ensure we have two different atmospheres for one overarching saga. Together, these chapters recreate the shifts that take place in Robert Kirkman’s graphic novel series whilst continuing a set of personal tales running throughout. It’s a welcome addition to the PSVR 2 catalog.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is out now on PSVR 2.
Review code kindly provided by publisher.