Happily Deceased in Space

By Grit Alone offers a truly remarkable experience in the realm of VR horror games, but it feels like it’s still in need of some final polish. The creativity that shines through is genuinely captivating, making it easy to overlook some of the frustrations. This game feels like a colossal endeavor by a small, passionate team, striving to deliver a unique sci-fi horror. With a bit more balancing, it could stand alongside classics like its inspiration, Dead Space.

What are we talking about here? Well, it’s a sci-fi horror shooter designed for VR, playable in stationary or room scale modes, and available on Quest, with this review done on Quest 3. Developed by Crooks Peaks, this game is currently priced at $18.99.

In By Grit Alone, you find yourself as an unnamed passenger on a cryo transport. An unexpected crash in a bizarre region of space wakes you prematurely, throwing you into immediate peril. You’re caught in a space-version of the Bermuda Triangle among some unsavory company. Before you can even encounter your ominous neighbors, you’re dodging defective machinery and zapping debris, only to be assaulted by insect-like aliens eager to remove your brain. Talk about a rude awakening!

Like Dead Space, this game doesn’t shy away from its roots, and rightfully so. Sporting a script co-written by Dead Space’s Antony Johnston alongside Emma Beeby, it draws inspiration without appearing derivative. Weapons have dual purposes, combining ammo and grenades, or transforming a blaster into a modular shotgun or marksman rifle, depending on how you hold it. There are moments when you must think like an engineer, manipulating ship systems to survive amidst enemy swarms. Even the signature stomp is present and useful, beyond just dispatching foes.

Remarkably, By Grit Alone revamps the turret section from the original Dead Space, making it genuinely entertaining! It’s an homage that stands on its own merits while still invoking nostalgia.

The game’s universe unfolds across various spaceships, each with its own story, akin to an anthology of nightmares. Though not every scene hits the mark, the subplot featuring Grace Grayson—an unlucky tax agent unraveling cult mysteries—shines. While you, the player, are silent, Grace’s audio logs fill the narrative void superbly. The cast delivers engaging performances, further enriched by immersive, room-sized holo-recordings of past events, momentarily alleviating the isolation felt during solo exploration.

In terms of worldbuilding and atmosphere, By Grit Alone nails what makes horror gaming tick. The soundtrack is sublime, elevating tension effortlessly. Even with basic visuals, the game manages to evoke genuine chills and suspense—a testament to its effective design. However, the difficulty balance occasionally warrants activating the optional invincibility feature.

It’s worth noting that this game is crafted for those seasoned with VR. While there are settings to mitigate motion sickness, like adjusting your turn rate, newcomers might find it challenging without their “VR legs.” Even sitting or standing offers a different experience, but moving about and interacting physically enhances the immersion, offering gameplay advantages.

Some might question the presence of an invincibility mode in a horror game, but it’s understandable. Certain encounters can be overwhelming, possibly unintentionally so, with rapid enemy swarms that can easily become overbearing.

Combat can be unrelenting, and its timing occasionally errs on the brutal side. The consequence? By the fifth death during a challenging set piece, invincibility might become your go-to lifeline. It’s unfortunate, as there’s abundant creativity in the game design. The bosses, the mechanics, even the soundtracks are spot on—it’s just a matter of achieving the right balance in their execution.

For those who choose to toggle invincibility, fear not; you still can’t breeze through every enemy encounter without strategy. Puzzles demand thoughtful engagement, unhindered by health concerns from unnoticed spider gnawing.

The weakest link emerges onboard a research vessel with SAW-esque puzzles, where sentry turrets introduce erratic challenges, further exacerbated by an unreliable shield mechanism. Fortunately, the rest of the environmental interaction is satisfyingly crafted, from fluid body tracking to weapon handling, elevating the overall experience.

By Grit Alone makes a lasting impact and keeps drawing you back into its chaotic world. Despite its basic graphics, the game delivers excellent atmospheric design, with great lighting and foreboding shadows. Though it concludes on a cliffhanger, with promises of free DLC, the journey to that point is infused with fantastic storytelling. The challenging combat is well worth enduring to witness its brilliance.

While it’s a demanding adventure, I’m excited to see how this journey might continue—whether through future DLC or perhaps a sequel. As it stands, By Grit Alone is an extraordinary dive into madness that’s not to be missed.