Downward Spiral: Horus Station
OpenCritic Rating
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Downward Spiral: Horus Station Trailers
Downward Spiral: Horus Station - Extended PC Gameplay Reveal
Downward Spiral: Horus Station - Announcement Trailer
Critic Reviews for Downward Spiral: Horus Station
Downward Spiral: Horus Station is a unique take on zero gravity that feels fairly true to what it would be like. The trouble is this makes for a dull experience when not in VR. While everything feels as though it fits well, the trouble is that the abhorrent camera speed makes the only real challenge looking at things. The combat isn't hard, but still manages to be frustrating. In VR the experience may well be completely different, but without that hook, the game is an easy pass.
Downward Spiral is an adventure that gives you the most when its played with PS VR and Move controllers. Without them, the game loses its charm and the shortcomings are more evident: non impressive graphics, slow progression, bugs... It's not a game for every PS VR owner, but if you love the space flicks from the 70s you probably will enjoy it.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The 3rd Eye Studio gets, without a high budget, a new space odyssey that mixes well the moments of action, the exploration and the puzzles. This trip is better with VR. Music, atmosphere and weightlessness make magic and move the player to this Horus Station.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
With choices between flat or VR, solo or co-op, and Explore vs. Engage, Downward Spiral: Horus Station can be tailored to the player's preference. I found the solo VR mode to be an amazing VR experience that amply demonstrated the incredible immersion value of VR in a spooky, broken space station. The Engage mode, which translates to "you get shot a lot" when playing, was not as compelling - the shooting aspects weren't all that good and served only to detract from the somber, creepy mood.
Downward Spiral: Horus Station neither succeeds nor fails in any spectacular fashion, and as such, it just sort of exists. This is a boring experience that doesn't do anything truly unforgivable, but is also unsuccessful in offering anything worthy of talking about. Downward Spiral: Horus Station is a thing, but you really don't need to experience it.
Downward Spiral: Horus Station isn't without issues, but this is an experience worth having for PSVR owners. The Zero-G gameplay remains fun throughout, and a wide assortment of weapons and tools helps to allow players some freedom in the way they dispatch enemies. With death being meaningless, and a story told without any real clues to go off, some players may not feel rewarded enough by simply progressing to the next room. The inclusion of multiplayer does give more reason to head back to floating in a lonely space station, provided that an online population shows up at launch. Sci-fi and VR fans should give the $19.99 Downward Spiral: Horus Station a try.
And until then, the game is still solid enough to be worth a playthrough, especially at its price point and if you're a fan of VR. While I'm still not sure splitting the games into chapters was necessary, it works to provide a bit of a break between lengthy sections spent meandering through airspace, which helps ensure the game's main gimmick doesn't become too stale. Downward Spiral: Horus Station is drifting in the right direction, even if it sometimes loses its grip.
