Review - Moss: The Forgotten Relic

Roberto Nieves
3 minutes ago
6 min read

Developer: Polyarc, Blackbird Interactive

Publisher: Polyarc

Available on: PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2

Review System: PlayStation 5

Fantasy is not fantasy without the reader. That's right, you. The one who picks up a book and reads the words of lands and realms dreamt from the foundations of imagination. Without the reader, the world of fantasy isn't created and formed, leaving these tales of heroism and evil lost to the sands of the mind. Moss: The Forgotten Relic is a fantasy adventure where the star isn't our night rodent hero but you, the reader. With your turn of every page, the story unfolds. This is the story of Moss: The Forgotten Relic.

Originally exclusive to VR headsets, Moss: The Forgotten Relic has been converted into a 3D action platformer that no longer requires expensive VR headsets. Combining Moss Books I and II into one cohesive adventure, this charming quest of destiny is hearty in spirit and great in execution, creating an adventure that all should experience.

Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time, in a mystical land, there lies a kingdom. The kingdom knew peace and harmony amongst the living world, with plants and animals synchronized in peace and love. Suddenly, an apocalypse occurs, and evil creatures descend upon the land. Sir Argus, leader of The King's Guard, retrieves an ancient and powerful Glass, and in the ensuing chaos, gathers survivors, fleeing to the woodlands. The glass relic is hidden and time goes on.

A young mouse named Quill explores beyond the safety of her home. Through happenstance, she comes across the relic and brings it home, completely oblivious to the importance of this relic and to the land. Uncle Argus becomes alarmed and, calling to his sense of duty, hops on his steed and races to the castle to defeat the evil and protect Quill. Quill is left alone but promises to stay out until Uncle Argus returns.

A Call to Adventure

Time passes, and while she did promise not to pursue her, Quill is driven to save her Uncle. She is greeted by The Reader (the player), and through mystical powers, The Reader helps guide Quill on her journey. Bound by destiny, the two set off beyond safety and into the throes of danger. The quest to rescue Argus and potentially the entire realm of nature.

Moss: The Forgotten Relic began life as Moss: Book I and Moss: Book II. Released in 2018 and 2022 respectively, the two games were locked to VR headsets but were lauded for their interactivity and playability. The VR setting gave a unique interaction to the player as the player not only controlled Quill but also controlled the story’s progression. Players moved and manipulated obstacles and also controlled Quill as she navigated the various levels.

A Turn of the Page

The story takes place through a magical book that tells the story of the kingdom, the Relic and Quill’s place in it. Through wonderful narration by Morla Gorrondona, the reader turns the pages of this mystical book, unfolding the tale of Quill. The player is a co-adventurer in Moss as players control both the Reader and Quill. Whereas Quill handles exploration and combat, players move obstacles to form paths and solve puzzles.

For Moss: The Forgotten Relic, Book I and Book II have been combined into two distinct but one single cohesive adventure, with a few tweaks made to accommodate this new release, such as the ability to skip combat and focus on storytelling. Book I is approximately four hours long and Book II is about 6 hours long, making the total experience a little over 10 hours with replay value.

Stitching Things Together

The biggest change is in the format. Players can play without a VR set, and the game orients itself through a focused camera that locks onto Quill but is presented in a wider screen that allows for the level to be in view as well. The resolution and frame rate have been tweaked as well to accommodate this change. Controls have been adjusted to match this new gameplay orientation.

Players navigate through various levels on their quest to save Uncle Argus and the kingdom. The adventure in Moss takes place across different biomes, from lush forests to ancient temples. Players jump, climb, and run through various sections of the game, unlocking the secrets of the Kingdom, and all the while staying alive. Moss: The Forgotten Relic doesn’t feature any hardcore platforming or insane challenges, but it features just enough to keep players invested.

A Fine Presentation

One of the biggest strengths to Moss: The Forgotten Relic is in its presentation. While the game doesn’t use any sophisticated techniques like cel-shading, the game has a whimsical softness to the visual display. As mentioned before, the game is old through the pages of a book and graphically, Moss: The Forgotten Relic feels like a book come to life. The characters move with a fluidity that feels stemmed from an animated fantasy movie.

The narration and character voices are all done by Morla Gorronda, who has quite the range. The distinguished voice actress voices Quill, Uncle Argus, and the narrator, bringing forth a more distinguished storybook storytelling feeling. This is accompanied by music composition from Jason Graveswho create an eloquent score that makes the experience adventurous in spirit but with a heartwarming center.

Steel Yourself

In Book I, players go up against mechanical bugs. These bugs are easy to take down at first, but eventually, they return fire or try to blow themselves up to hurt you. Book I features more straightforward combat. Players dodge, slash, and jump their way through enemies. The combat is simple yet satisfying, bringing something that isn’t terribly easy but not taxing either.

The combat isn’t anything earth-shattering, but its simplicity and pureness work with the nimble and brave Quill. There are simple enemies to fight, but eventually, there are bigger challenges and thrilling boss fights, especially in Book II. These moments are big highlights to how the player and Quill work together to accomplish objectives.

A Big Heart

At some points, players can control enemies. This allows players to use an enemy to figure out a puzzle, or even use them in combat. I used an explosive enemy, a “ticker” to destroy other enemies, for example. In several instances, controlling an enemy helped solve pressure switches that were part of larger puzzles. It’s part of the larger example of the player having more direct involvement in Quill’s quest.

The biggest strength Moss: The Forgotten Relic has is its beating heart. Quill animates herself in her wonder and curiosity. She is fully aware of you, the player, and behaves as one would expect, given you are a God-like presence in the game. At times, she high-fives the players and shows joy in the little things, such as solving a puzzle. It’s this kind of awareness and 4th-wall breaking that makes Moss: The Forgotten Relic a special experience.

A Grand Adventure

Whereas Book I of Moss: The Forgotten Relic is a pure cozy experience, Book II amps things up with more of what the first game offers. This includes a new threat, a larger campaign, and multiple weapons to use, such as the Hammer and Chakras. There is even more interaction with the environment, and Quill further crafts a living, breathing world for Moss: The Forgotten Relic. A single playthrough of Moss: The Forgotten Relic takes approximately 10 hours, but there’s a good deal of replay value, from collecting collectibles to a no-death run.

As a whole, Moss: The Forgotten Relic is a more accessible experience, and I’d recommend it for those new to the genre. However, the firm mechanics and presentation make this great for those seasoned with various experiences. It’s a game clearly filled with heart and love for storytelling and crafting a fantasy that anyone can enjoy. I couldn’t help but be reminded of high fantasy of Tolkien while playing the game. It’s clear there’s inspiration here but Moss: The Forgotten Relic is an experience all its own.

Beyond the Headset

Moss: The Forgotten Relic should be commended for translating a VR game into a non-VR game that now anyone can enjoy. I’m glad that it is no longer restricted and priced out and can now be reached by anyone. The controls feel tight, the gameplay is great, and the story is solidly satisfying. This is a complete experience with a solid adventure.

If there’s any downer to the experience, it would have to be that there is no teaser of nod to a Book III. While the game ends conclusively, there feels like a Book III is a tale waiting to be written. Additionally, it would have been nice to see some behind-the-scenes footage as to how the original games, and this new collection, were made. This is somewhat of a missed opportunity.

Embark on Moss: The Forgotten Relic

Moss: The Forgotten Relic is an incredibly heartwarming and thrilling adventure that takes two games previously locked out and combines them into one complete experience. The adventure is brimming with a love and dedication that is woven into every pixel. The unique participation of the player in the game makes this a different and engaging experience in the genre.

While there could have been more added to the package, what we have is good. Moss: The Forgotten Relic is a strong adventure that anyone will enjoy. Hopefully, we will continue to see more VR-only games make their way beyond the headset that Moss has. Here’s to a Moss: Book III. Grab your sword. There’s an adventure to be had.