Journey to Foundation

Throught this review, I use the word "OK" to describe a lot of the elements of Journey To Foundation and that's it, this game is just OK.

The Foundation universe deserves a better game. The game benefits from what was created in 1951, and the story here is one you will enjoy. So are the choices and the ability to explore this world in much greater detail, thanks to the extensive encyclopaedia. But the gameplay falls short of not only the story, but also the potential of the game itself.

Journey to Foundation is a technically unpolished and conventionally designed game, but it makes up for its shortcomings with its narrative qualities and effective use of Isaac Asimov’s literary saga. Although it doesn’t feature any new mechanics, its core concept sets it apart in a refreshing way from most of its competitors in the VR gaming space. Players who want to avoid disappointment should simply keep in mind that this is primarily an adventure game, not an action shooter or a complex RPG.

Journey to Foundation is a game that is greater than the sum of its parts: the absolute merit of the original work is set against the backdrop of mechanics and ideas that are limited and already seen, but when put together manage to function as pieces in the complex and fascinating mosaic that Foundation has always been. Do not, however, expect a revolutionary or particularly challenging VR experience.

Journey To Foundation explores new territories in Isaac Asimov's world, in a superficial VR experience that would be much more enjoyable to explore in a more traditional format.

Journey To Foundation is an interesting ride through an alternate future of the galaxy. The story is large in scope, and every Chapter takes a fair amount of time to complete. No level goes by quickly, even with movement set to teleport. It would admittedly be a little boring if the levels go by too quickly. As the chapters in Journey Foundation are about an hour each, you’ll want to invest in a backup power supply if you want to play in one go. It is a great game with an immersive story, but you’ll want to give yourself a break occasionally. It is definitely worth a shot if you’re a fan of arcade shooters and VR shooters in general.

However, if you are into good storytelling, with a detailed back story, good voice acting, and are patient with the story to kick in; Journey to Foundation is the ticket. The game should take between six to eight hours to complete if you focus on pushing through the story. However, if you stop to peruse the encyclopedia it will extend your play through time.

Despite its limits, Journey to Foundation is a convincing and heartfelt homage to Isaac Asimov's universe. While individual gameplay elements aren't outstanding, their combination creates an engaging narrative adventure with replayability.

"Journey to Foundation" doesn't play in the league of VR greats like "Resident Evil Village" or "Half Life: Alyx". In film, it would be categorized as a B-movie, and this comparison is apt. The developers were ambitious and offer a good game structure with many elements. The solid story is carried by the game, which mostly offers a lengthy and uninspiring gameplay. Unfortunately, the technical deficits continue to cloud the overall picture, so that the purchase price of around CHF 40 is not justified at this point in time.