Red Matter 2 – Test, Adventure

The ultimate graphics demo?

Already part 1 of the atmospheric space adventure teased amazing things out of the quest. For Red Matter 2, the Spanish developer Vertical Robot has massively modified the Unreal Engine to go one better technically. Whether it’s metal planks with a dull finish or the finest scratches on the glass: All of this makes the technology puzzles in Red Matter 2 in VR look really three-dimensional, while I walk in amazement through the glowing machine park.

Even protagonist Sasha seems overwhelmed at the beginning of his adventure. Unfortunately, since the plot ties directly to part 1, spoilers cannot be avoided. If you want to catch up on the predecessor first, you should read no further. Or do a little research online about the story, as the underlying twists from Part 1 might overwhelm newcomers. The world is still caught in a fictional cold war between the western-looking Atlantic Union and the Russian-tinged Volgravia. After Sasha’s consciousness was freed from a simulation and transferred into the body of a security guard, he goes in search of the escaped Stas Volkov. The injured colleague was just able to make an emergency call and various video messages.

Atmospheric sneak tours

The search leads through space stations throughout the solar system. I sneak past lasers in winding corridors, manipulate analogue machines, hack flashing mainframe computers and have a few exchanges of fire with sentry robots. Some jump sequences with the jetpack are also nicely integrated into the exploration, even if the hover flight isn’t controlled quite as sensitively as in Lone Echo 2 (for testing). The handling of Red Matter 2 looks much more contemporary overall than in the predecessor: If you want, you can still move by teleportation and fine-tune common comfort options, including a vignette or alignment according to the hand or line of sight. I run through the halls in the classic way with the left stick. As a moderately sensitive VR player, even the small jetpack hoppers don’t make me nauseous here.

The uncertain staging provides a pleasant thrill right from the start. This is not only due to the red matter, the side effects of which give me violent hallucinations again and again. In my visions, the coveted research object is already covering entire space stations with its growths. Reading scattered messages, it becomes clear that various scientists also had their concerns about the research.

Great setting, but not in German

Also, I’m not sure what my professionally-dubbed Liberator Beta or my Volgravian superiors are up to. Is it really only because of the lack of approval that beta mostly clumsily irons out my questions? At the beginning of a new area, however, it usually provides me with useful instructions for the puzzles there. Unfortunately only in English: There is neither German text nor a corresponding dubbing. Also, I’m alone in space here instead of having an elaborately animated companion at my side like in Lone Echo 2. That didn’t really bother me: the solitude fits well with the concept of the quiet exploratory adventure. For example, during the environment and mechanics puzzles, I collect technical components in order to use a plan to repair a terminal. Or I can make a remote-controlled drone work. Her flamethrowers eventually help me overload some heat sensors and open an emergency exit. Gradually I reach further, mostly linear levels with small junctions with my space capsule.