Far Beyond: A space odyssey VR

Far Beyond: A Space Odyssey VR is a unique VR space simulation blending rogue-like elements with hands-on mechanical repairs and resource management. Players pilot a ship through star systems, using two large drones for scanning and mining resources essential for survival and progression. The game boasts AAA-quality graphics and a deeply immersive atmosphere with tactile VR mechanics that make repairing and upgrading feel rewarding.

However, it carries a steep learning curve centered around complex drone maintenance, which divides player opinions. The gameplay is challenging and strategic, requiring careful planning and time management due to limited battery life and resource scarcity. While the game is praised for its originality and replayability, it suffers from issues like difficult-to-read in-game text, occasional bugs, limited locomotion, and a sometimes tedious recycling mechanic. The developer support appears to have waned, leaving some bugs unaddressed. Overall, it’s a must-try for those seeking a thoughtful, challenging VR experience, but less suitable for casual or impatient players.

Highlights

Players praise the innovative gameplay mechanics involving manual repairs and upgrades of massive drones, which create a satisfying and immersive VR experience. The game's gorgeous AAA graphics and detailed environments contribute to a strong sense of presence. The strategic, resource-focused storyline and rogue-like challenge keep players engaged, with a palpable tension from managing limited fuel and battery life. The tactile feel of using tools and interacting with ship components is frequently highlighted as a standout feature.

Additionally, the game offers good replayability through procedural systems and difficulty settings, and the developer’s early support with updates was appreciated.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include a steep and sometimes frustrating learning curve, largely due to the complex drone repair system and difficult-to-read in-game text and blueprints. The repetitive recycling and fuel cell replacement mechanics can become tedious over time. The limited movement system, relying on teleportation within fixed ship areas, breaks immersion for some players. Several users report bugs and glitches, including tool loss, tracking issues, and occasional crashes, with concerns over the lack of recent developer updates or fixes. The tutorial is often described as too long, confusing, or monotone, which hampers early engagement. Finally, some note the game’s content is somewhat shallow, with limited variety in exploration and no combat or random events.