Tools unlocked through the course of the game, like the ability to create ziplines in specific situations or toss a rope above your head, add some variety, but it never manages to overcome how unenjoyable basic climbing is.Ĭombat, on the other hand, can be thrilling, and it doesn’t take long to feel like an expert marksman.

It just isn’t fun to perform, even if it does work. Moving Ryas’ arms to propel him up a cliff face or climb a rope rarely ended in failure, but it meant the vast majority of my time involved pantomiming the motion of a cat scratching a wall while my face was inches away from a cliff. That latter skill makes up the majority of the game and is, unfortunately, an element I did not enjoy. To succeed in his mission, Ryas relies on two important skills: he’s great with a bow and arrow, and he’s a hell of a climber. There is a big bad, but they reveal themselves surprisingly late – too late to inspire any passion about confronting them. Call of the Mountain’s story focuses on a small cast of characters with familial and political histories, and watching those relationships bump against each other is the most interesting part of the narrative.

The primary gameplay of Call of the Mountain, however, struggles to find fun at a basic level which ultimately sours the larger experience.Ĭall of the Mountain features a perfunctory cameo from Aloy to remind you that you are in her world, but this game follows Ryas, a former Shadow Carja who has been offered the rare opportunity to receive a pardon for his crimes, as long as he tackles what could be a suicide mission. Firing off an arrow with a bow in VR feels great, and getting a chance to see the world of Horizon from a novel perspective can be exhilarating. Call of the Mountain is meant to be PlayStation VR2’s showcase piece, and in some important ways, it functions as exactly that.

Horizon call of the mountain vr2