Custom PC - UK (2020-08)

PixelRipped 1995 isbasicallyStranger

Thingsfor1990skids,puttingyouinthe

pyjamasofnine-year-oldDavid.Immersed

inmid-1990sgamingculture,it startstoget

weirdforDavidwhenthecharactersofhis

gamesbegintobleedoutintotherealworld,

andplatformprotagonist‘Dot’enlistshis

helptodefeattheevilCyblinLord.

ThemeatofPixelRippedinvolvesplaying

fictitiousversionsofclassicgamesfrom

theera,likea virtualROMforretrotitles,

onlywithouttheofficialbranding.It offers

a whirlwindtourofthedecade’sgaming

highlights,includingnodstoSonicthe

Hedgehog,StreetsofRage,SuperMario

WorldandCrashBandicoottonamea few.

You’llalsofindyourselfgettinghandson

withdifferentsystems,fromplayingconsole

gamesona CRTTVinyourbedroom,to

headingovertothelocalarcadetoplayonits

free-standingmachines.

The other half involves interacting with the

game’s ‘real world’. Alongside the relevant

game controller, David can also wield a toy

NERF gun, which he uses to shoot enemies

thatbleed out into reality. Often, you’ll need

todo this while continuing to play the 2D

game on your virtual console, which is a neat

littlegimmick.

You can also use your NERF gun to distract

yourparents when they try to interrupt

yourgaming time. An early level sees you

trying to quietly play games at night. Make

toomuch noise and mum will wake up, and

you’ll have just a few seconds to grab the

TVremote and shut off the game.

Pixel Ripped unapologetically attempts

topush your brain’s nostalgia buttons, and

it does so relatively well. There are two

keyissues, however. First, the in-game

NPCs aren’t especially convincing. Your

virtual mum’s animations are rough, and

she also splutters random

lines of dialogue that upset

the immersion.

Also, Pixel Ripped’s selection

of 1990s games prioritises

variety over depth, never

spending much time with one

of its fictionalised games before

moving to the next. Its nostalgia

is also rather selective, focusing

almost entirely on console games. If your

1990s memories are less Sonic and Mario

and more Doom and Quake, Pixel Ripped

isn’t for you.

On the plus side, Pixel Ripped is a

very comfortable VR experience. The

game is virtually entirely static, with little

requirement for your avatar to physically

move around the game world. This,

combined with the blend of classic and

VR-specific control schemes, makes it ideal

for introducing players to VR gaming.

Pixel Ripped 1995 is a perfectly enjoyable

slice of gaming nostalgia, a bright and breezy

return to a dynamic gaming decade. That

said, unlike the games it cherishes, Pixel

Ripped is unlikely to be remembered 25

yearsfromnow.

REALITY

CHECK

GAMES / VIRTUAL REALITY

Nausea-free parkour,

X-Wing simulation

and 1990s gaming.

It’s Rick Lane’s

roundup of the latest

VR happenings

PIXEL RIPPED 1995

REVIEW

OVERALLSCORE

70 %

VERDICT

An entertaining, if

rather disposable,

blast from the past.

PIXEL RIPPED

+^ Fun concept

+^ Neat blend of old and

new gaming

+^ Ideal for new

VR players

PIXEL TRIPPED

-^ Not much depth to
each game
-^ Some presentation
issues