[h2] OVERALL IMPRESSION [/h2]
A very beautiful but short game. It's visually stunning, but unfortunately, it doesn't really give me a reason to keep coming back. Interestingly, I have never kayaked in real life, but after playing this game, it actually made me want to try it out for real!
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[h2] CONTROLS & PHYSICS [/h2]
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[*] [b]The Kayaking Feel:[/b] I really enjoyed the actual feeling of paddling. The physics and movement feel great.
[*] [b]Customization:[/b] There is a ton of variety in the options. I highly recommend going into the settings right away to customize the kayak, controls, hands, and paddle to fit your preferences perfectly.
[*] [b]Checkpoint Physics:[/b] Passing through checkpoints in races feels awesome. Trying not to touch the hanging poles, which swing around with really cool physics if you brush past them, adds a nice layer of immersion.
[*] [b]Body Movement & Leaning:[/b] In some races, you have to do more than just paddle—you actually need to duck under obstacles or lean your body. There is a mechanic where leaning helps you turn the kayak more easily, though if I remember correctly, I ended up turning that setting off because it just got in my way and felt annoying.
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[h2] BASE GAME & PLAYABILITY [/h2]
[list]
[*] [b]Speed Trials:[/b] They weren't too difficult for me, and I frequently found myself quite high up on the leaderboards.
[*] [b]Free Roam:[/b] You can explore maps and do minor activities (like pushing an inflatable turtle into the open ocean with your paddle), but I found this mode pretty boring and uninteresting.
[*] [b]Time & Weather Variations:[/b] All maps feature day and night settings, and some even include a special Christmas mode. But my absolute favorite is the storm mode—complete with heavy rain, thunderstorms, and a raging sea—though unfortunately, it isn't available on every map.
[*] [b]Map Interactivity:[/b] It varies wildly. In Antarctica, it’s fun to smack penguins with your paddle. On the other hand, on the lighthouse map, there is a blurry-looking dog that constantly barks but completely ignores you.
[*] [b]Wildlife:[/b] You constantly notice various fish swimming around while you paddle, and on certain maps, you can even encounter a whale.
[*] [b]Environmental Hazards:[/b] There is various physical debris scattered across the maps that actually gets in your way and interferes with paddling. For instance, icebergs in Antarctica, floating garbage near the lighthouse, or the resistance you feel when paddling through thick grass and reeds on the beach map.
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[h2] MULTIPLAYER & OPPONENTS [/h2]
[list]
[*] [b]Dead Online:[/b] It's worth mentioning that the multiplayer is completely dead. You won't find live matches and will have to settle for competing solely against "ghosts" (transparent avatars) of players who completed the race before you, or against pre-set developer ghosts that represent target completion speeds, like bronze, silver, and gold.
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[h2] SOČA VALLEY DLC [/h2]
I bought the game on sale bundled with the Soča Valley DLC, and I think the DLC is honestly pretty cool. It includes unique features that the base game lacks:
[list]
[*] Way more speed trials (though I didn't finish them all because it eventually became terribly repetitive).
[*] Much better tracks built around river currents.
[*] A highly memorable waterfall drop.
[*] A unique encounter with a bear that pushes you away if you get too close.
[*] The scenery and views here felt much more unique.
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[h2] GRAPHICS & VR PERFORMANCE [/h2]
Maps with heavy vegetation always seemed like a pixelated mess to me whenever I tried to look at nature, like trees, bushes, and thickets. This was especially noticeable in the DLC because of the dense foliage.
[i][b]Note:[/b] To be fair, I am playing on a Pico Neo 3, and I definitely didn't have my resolution and anti-aliasing settings properly optimized at the time, as I was new to VR configuration.[/i]
