The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapter 2: Retribution for PS VR2 is finally here and it does not disappoint. Action-packed, this game transports you to a post-apocalyptic New Orleans where survival is determined by how many disgruntled zombies you can knock off the fastest.
Setup
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners and its sequel are VR roleplaying games that blend survival horror elements with a branching storyline, creating a tense and immersive experience.
In Chapter 2 of The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, players continue to assume the role of The Tourist, surviving in a zombie-infested New Orleans while navigating the complex dynamics between various human factions.
While there are new areas of the city to explore this time around, the game still maintains its focus on the fact that humans are often the scariest monsters in a post-apocalyptic world. However, Retribution introduces a new enemy, a formidable and intimidating figure clad in armor, who adds a fresh layer of terror to the game.
Additionally, the game is structured such that players who are novices, may find it tough to keep up. Especially those with no context about the original storyline. Chapter 2 gives little to no context for the current scenarios.
The Walker Experience
In a survival horror VR game, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of darkness, where hordes of flesh-eating monsters could suddenly appear and overpower you at any moment. With the PlayStation VR2’s HDR OLED panels, this fear is heightened even more, bringing to life night missions in Chapter 2: Retribution which pales in comparison to Quest 2. The Rampart High School, decrepit and falling apart, is now officially terrifying.
Retribution also introduces night missions, which require a greater reliance on hearing rather than vision, as even UV goggles can’t provide much visibility. While the first game already emphasized a sense of claustrophobia, these tight spaces become even more panic-inducing when combined with near-complete darkness. These segments are a standout addition and potentially the best part of the game.
Arsenal
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 2: Retribution provides an option to import your saved progress from the first game, allowing you to pick up where you left off. However, even if you choose not to do so, the game provides you with a leg up right at the beginning.
Unlocking the old school bus base and providing crafting tables with recipes, along with a well-stocked backpack containing an array of materials, food, and weapons, including firearms can leave the hardcore players a little unsatisfied seeing as they haven’t had the opportunity to earn them.
Retribution features some new weapons, including the Sawed-Off Shotgun and the exciting addition of The Chainsaw which prove essential during the game’s thrilling night missions. These missions offer the game’s biggest rewards, but also the most dangerous, with more aggressive, and numerous walkers making for intense showdowns.
The Chainsaw lets you cleave through the hordes of zombies with satisfying effects.
The chainsaw comes with its own risk-reward element: while it provides a satisfying and powerful attack, the noise it generates attracts more zombies to your location. Melee weapons prove to be the real deal time and again as they don’t make noise or require reloading, although their tendency to degrade is a downside.
On the PlayStation VR2, these battles are even more frighteningly detailed, with haptic feedback and 3D audio adding to the immersion. While a lot of the content remains the same, improved AI for both human enemies and walkers creates unexpected scenarios that require nuanced approaches. The added difficulty makes for a more interesting experience.
Game Hurdles
In The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 2: Retribution, there is now an opportunity to return to the home camp with new loot is quite satisfying, and players can now decorate their abode with loose items without worrying about breaking anything.
Levelling up crafting stations by collecting and recycling items makes players more powerful and better equipped for the next day’s adventures. The story is, however, quite simple and often involves repetitive fetch quests and fighting the same type of enemies.
While The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 2: Retribution is still an enjoyable game, it lacks the polish of Chapter 1. The game engine’s glitches occur quite often and end up ruining the player experience. Bugs on the PS VR2 version of the game cause the player to suffer, including quests that stop updating mid-game.
Often you notice zombies getting stuck on invisible obstacles and struggling to reach the player. While it gives the player ample opportunity to get rid of them, it defeats the purpose of the game.
Additionally, due to the limitations of Meta Quest 2, the graphics in the game could be better. The draw distance is average, with a noticeable pop-in. However, the game does make clever use of narrow alleyways and streets to mask these limitations.
Be cautious when playing or making enemies in the game. They have the power to kill you and prevent you from retrieving your weapons without which, survival is a distant dream in the game.
Verdict
Playing The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 2: Retribution without playing the original is like joining a movie halfway: confusing and jarring. If however, you have context, this sequel is an excellent continuation and a great game. It contains everything that made the first one incredible, along with some new improvements and additions.The game’s action has undoubtedly improved compared to its predecessor, which focused more on stealth. Additionally, the PS VR2’s impressive level of detail, haptic feedback, and all-new dynamic lighting systems, combined with the headset’s low black point provided by OLED panels, create a truly eerie atmosphere that will immerse you in the zombie apocalypse. It can be challenging to overlook the game’s issues, but the overall experience is well worth the effort.