Developer: NIS America
Publisher: NIS America
Platform: PS5
Tested on: PS5
void tRrLM();++ //Void Terrarium++ – Review
Slightly under a year ago, we reviewed Void Terrarium, which proved to be a very interesting and quirky game from NIS America. The game proved to have an interesting story and characters, and the rogue-lite mechanics were also quite pleasant. Even though the Mystery Dungeon-like format had its charms, the game was held back by a very slow pace, which you really had to get into. Nonetheless, the game was well received and it was a very enjoyable experience to play through. Now, we have the ‘++’ version, which is solely released for Sony’s PlayStation 5, which includes a few snippets of additional content. If you already own the PS4 or Switch version(s) of the game, don’t fret, you will be able to get the additional content as DLC. For now, however, we are taking a short look at the PS5 version. As always with rereleases such as this, we’ll keep things shorter than a regular review. Those wanting to read our original review for the Switch version can do so by clicking here.
While this journey to the end of humanity wasn’t new for us, we did very much appreciate seeing Robbie again. Robbie is a janitor bot, that has lost its purpose of cleaning up after humans, as the human race is all but extinct. Or at least, that’s what the robotic lifeforms on our now desolate planet think. It doesn’t take long for you to stumble upon what seems to be a ‘human-sized’ terrarium, to uncover a small girl in a sleeplike state. When soon after you meet a guilt-ridden AI, you decide to care for the little being of flesh and blood, but it will take a lot of effort to just get her up and running again.
In terms of the overall graphical quality, not that much has changed. The artwork is still very much the same, and it’s not like getting the PS5 version does a lot in that aspect. Of course, if you had to pick a platform, if you don’t own a previous version, we’d still suggest going with this one. Nonetheless, the overall charm remains the same, and we enjoyed diving back into this cute-but-eerie world. The character designs are so neatly designed and have a certain cute vibe to them, compared to the dark and colorless backdrops. The top-down view of the levels also has its charm, but Void Terrarrium++ derives most of its charm from the interactions that happen in-between dungeons, allowing you to get attached to the limited set of characters the game has to offer.
For the most part, the core loop remains the same, where you have to dive into different dungeons, collect materials, craft items and take care of Toriko. The game does manage to captivate you throughout most of the experience with its simple but engaging gameplay, but you truly need to get used to the overall flow. This is mainly due to the long pauses between different dialogue windows and the inability to speed things up in this department. The story is very much worth diving into, but at the same time, it does feel a bit like a drag for quick readers, as the game has no voice acting.
Conclusion
Void Terrarium++ is certainly a great game to pick up if you haven’t played the original yet. Dishing out the money for a nearly full-priced game, however, if you already played the PS4 or Switch version(s) is not really worth it. The extra content is nice but doesn’t really warrant buying the game again. It’s certainly advisable to look into the DLC if you want to relive the adventure again. For those who have a PS5, and have not experienced this game yet, it’s certainly worth the investment. We do have to mention that the slow pace is something to get used to in terms of dialogues and storytelling. While giving almost the same score as the initial review, we do feel this is the definitive version; if you do not own the title already.
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