VR roguelikes are ubiquitous on Meta Quest, so any new arrivals need to do something special to stand out. The latest to make its mark is Vex Mage from Nervous Systems and Fast Travel Games, combining high action with spell casting. Once again, our friends at 131XR have dug deep to review Vex Mage for Meta Quest, finding both potential and issues alike.
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Just Another Roguelike
Roguelike games come in all shapes and forms, some methodical rather than fast-paced, others more strategic than arcade-like. Vex Mage certainly goes for the no-holds-barred approach, evoking the boomer-shooter style gameplay of Doom.
Delivering a dynamic slice of magic-based combat, you’re tasked with clearing out arenas full of monsters using a selection of spells by combining different elements. This makes for a highly diverse play style inside chaotic environments. But while the gameplay delivers an enjoyable experience, issues, including a broken menu system, hamper the game.
Vex Mage Review
In Vex Mage, you start with a selection of spells that can be assigned to each of your hands. Each offers its own unique attributes, ranging from specific elemental damage to differing fire rates. And as 131XR notes in its review, Vex Mage then allows you to merge both for a combined assortment of bonuses. And as this is a roguelike, there’s a base selection to start you off with, more to unlock the further you progress.
Early on, 131XR states that “Vex Mage is good”, with the aforementioned casting system its key selling point. But there’s more, as the game has been designed to be very fast, both in your movement and the rate at which you’re attacked. Enemies will attack from all angles, which may seem overwhelming; however, there’s a ton of verticality to the game. Not only in the way the arenas are designed, but also in the fact jump high and slow your descent down. It’s not quite flying, but it’s close.
131XR is also complimentary about the graphics, finding they look great for a Meta Quest title running this fast. Alas, it’s not all glowing feedback, unfortunately. While there are minor issues, such as text boxes moving when you try to read them, the biggest issue 131XR faced was that of the menu system. Upon completion of a level, or when dying, the menus appeared in the far distance, making them completely illegible. It’s a fundamental flaw that 131XR says needs to be addressed before Vex Mage can be truly recommended.
What’s Next?
Vex Mage launched for Meta Quest on 16th October, with the Steam edition landing a few days later on 21st October. As mentioned, the biggest issue 131XR encountered was the menu system, which Nervous Systems has yet to address, as no updates or patches have been rolled out (at the time of writing).
Not to worry, though, as there’s a demo version for Meta Quest, giving you a chance to test the first 15 minutes of the game for yourself.
Let us know your impressions in the comments!
