British VR developer nDreams is mainly known for serious, AAA-style games. Titles like the recently released Reach, Synapse, Fracked and Phantom: Covert Ops. However, the studio has taken a more light-hearted approach on the odd occasion with games like Fruit Ninja. Wreckin’ Raccoon is definitely in the latter camp, with 131XR finding a silly yet enjoyable game in its review.
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Wreckin’ the Joint
Over the past couple of years, the Meta Quest has seen a shift in player patterns. While premium titles like Marvel’s Deadpool are still being released, it’s actually the smaller, funnier, and cheaper games that are taking hold. And that’s because the demographic of players has been getting younger, loving games like Gorilla Tag and Animal Company. And it’s this group of players Wreckin’ Raccoon is most firmly aimed at.
You’re a raccoon, and a mischievous one at that. Able to climb most surfaces, you have free rein to explore a roadside diner in search of food. Being a raccoon, that means you can cause as much or as little chaos as you like: the more the merrier, really.
Wreckin’ Raccoon Review
As 131XR finds in its review of Wreckin’ Raccoon, this is a game designed for those who aren’t after too much rigidity in their VR gaming. Sure, there are tasks to complete by way of a smartphone – how a raccoon has a phone is another question – but these aren’t necessarily mandatory. You can simply run around, eating food, annoying customers and destroying the diner.
There is a grumpy chef and pest controller to deal with, but mostly the diner is one giant play area. And that’s one of the core fundamentals of Wreckin’ Raccoon, almost everything is interactive. Throw food in the fryer, squeeze mustard over someone’s face, or run around with a chainsaw; everything is usable in some fashion.
It’s not the deepest game in the world, there’s no real narrative to speak of or quest to complete. There are plenty of other story-driven single-player games out there for that.
Modern VR Chaos
Wreckin’ Raccoon is just the latest in an ever-growing number of VR games that are more like kids’ TV shows than engrossing video games. Some of these have been far better than others. For example, the recently reviewed Freaky Lab VR and I Am Security were found to be rather shallow. However, games like Shop and Stuff, I Am Cat and Wreckin’ Raccoon prove that when done correctly, this genre can be hugely entertaining.
So what do you reckon? Do you think these short, zany games have a long-term future in VR, or is this just a fad? Let us know in the comments.
