Platform features can oftentimes place limits on what an experience can be like, and that has always been the case for video games. It is only through the creative thinking and ideas of developers and studios that allow players to enjoy a variety of adventures in many differing ways, and in the virtual reality realm, not many come close to what Schell Games has achieved, and that is most certainly the case for I Expect You To Die 3: Cog in the Machine.
A sequel to 2021’s I Expect You To Die 2, an early preview of the spy-themed puzzle series on the Meta Quest 2 provided us with quite an enjoyable time of living the life of a spy, with complex puzzles leading the way to what looks to be another wonderful entry.
For those that are unfamiliar with the series, it is essentially a puzzle game that uses the escape room premise to test players’ ability to observe, test, and figure things out. Cast as Agent Phoenix once more; it is up to you to stop the nefarious Zoraxis Corp and Dr Roxana Prism from overrunning the world with killer robots.
Solving puzzles is the way to go about that, and it is fair to say that the folks over at Schell Games have honed their craft over the years, with even more mind-boggling tests awaiting players this time around. The first three missions were all balanced quite nicely, with players having the tools and clues within reach, but trying to figure out what happens next is the real test in I Expect You To Die 3: Cog in the Machine.
The game never ventures near unfair territory, a problem that certain puzzle games can create, and that feeling of satisfaction when you finally crack the code of some of the puzzles certainly elicits a buzz unlike anything else. Then again, if you are feeling frustration at any juncture, the impact is equally significant, albeit in a negative way.
Players can attempt to puzzle-solve everything while sitting down, a decision that continues to be a double-edged sword in I Expect You To Die 3: Cog in the Machine. Pointing and summoning objects is still intuitive and easy, but being able to highlight the right object swiftly remains an inexact science. Similarly, various objects in any given room can require some tricky gymnastics to reach, since the point of view cannot be adjusted.
The entire process can be infuriating, especially if you are getting stuck on something, but hopefully, it can be refined further before the game’s summer launch. At the very least, I Expect You To Die 3: Cog in the Machine looks great in action, with good voice acting and visual polish to accompany the VR experience.
Combine all of that, and therein lies a likely impressive VR adventure that boasts both difficulty and entertainment that will appeal to most who like a headscratcher or two. Continuing the great form shown in the first two games, there is little reason to expect I Expect You To Die 3: Cog in the Machine to be anything less. For fans who have enjoyed the games thus far, this is great news, and for those who haven’t had the chance to, this would be a great place to start.
I Expect You To Die 3: Cog in the Machine will launch later this summer and will be available on both Steam and Meta Quest platforms.
Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.
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