Trover Saves the Universe
Last updated: 2025-12-28
- Rick and Morty-style humor highly praised
- Polished and fun gameplay experience
- Seamless VR and non-VR compatibility
- Repetitive and shallow gameplay mechanics
- Divisive and repetitive humor elements
- Excessive and intrusive dialogue present
Emotions
The game's humor, particularly its crude, absurd, and dark comedy, is the primary source of amusement. Players highlight Justin Roiland's improvisational voice acting, Rick and Morty-style jokes, and chaotic dialogue as key contributors. Additionally, ridiculous gameplay situations and interactions between characters consistently elicit laughter.
Frustration stems from technical issues like game launch failures, VR calibration problems, and bugs disrupting gameplay. Repetitive mechanics, such as combat and jokes, along with overly verbose or nonsensical dialogue, also annoy players. Poor controls, limited VR support, and performance issues further exacerbate the frustration.
Players feel let down by unmet expectations, particularly regarding gameplay depth, humor quality, and VR immersion. The short length, repetitive mechanics, and high price contribute to dissatisfaction. Some also express disappointment in the narrative's pacing, forced endings, and lack of replay value.
Satisfaction arises from the game's unique and creative design, particularly its VR integration and immersive world-building. Players appreciate the humor, voice acting, and engaging narrative, as well as the ability to complete collectibles and achievements. The game's polish and alignment with the Rick and Morty universe also enhance satisfaction.
Excitement is driven by the game's innovative VR mechanics, chaotic humor, and immersive experience. Players highlight the unique gameplay, absurd situations, and Justin Roiland's voice acting as thrilling elements. The potential for real-life rewards and the game's replayability also contribute to this emotion.
Verdict
Mostly positive
Summary
Positive 77% · Negative 23%. Score: 23 / 100
Positives:
- The game's humor closely mirrors the style of *Rick and Morty*, with absurd, crude, and meta-commentary that resonates strongly with fans of the show. This is a defining feature for many players.
- Players consistently praise the game's well-executed gameplay, highlighting its smooth performance, intuitive controls, and engaging mechanics. The mix of platforming, combat, and light puzzles is particularly well-received.
- The game works well in both VR and non-VR modes, offering a polished experience regardless of the player's setup.
- The game introduces unique VR gameplay elements, such as second-person perspective and hybrid control schemes, which enhance immersion and set it apart from typical VR experiences.
- Despite its absurd humor, the game delivers surprising emotional depth and a well-crafted story, blending comedy with memorable character moments.
Negatives:
- Players consistently report that the gameplay loop is repetitive, simplistic, and lacks depth, particularly in combat, platforming, and progression systems. The mechanics feel unengaging and fail to sustain interest beyond short sessions.
- The game's humor is polarizing, with many players finding it forced, crude, or repetitive. Jokes often drag on, and the comedic style may not appeal to fans of the source material or those seeking more nuanced writing.
- Long, unskippable monologues and constant character chatter disrupt gameplay flow. Dialogue sequences often feel forced, overwhelming, or difficult to follow due to pacing or content.
- Some players find the game's humor, sexual content, or excessive swearing off-putting or uncomfortable, limiting its appeal to broader audiences.
- Combat is criticized for being rudimentary, repetitive, and lacking depth (e.g., no combos, limited mechanics). Controls are described as finicky, busy, or poorly optimized for certain situations.
Gameplay:
- The game blends platforming, puzzle-solving, and combat mechanics, often in a 3D or third-person perspective. This mix is a core part of the experience, though complexity varies from simple to well-implemented.
- Players control a seated alien (Chairopian) who manipulates Trover, an alien hero. This meta-narrative setup creates a distinctive second-person or third-person gameplay dynamic.
- Originally designed for VR, the game includes VR-exclusive mechanics (e.g., teleportation, throwing objects) and supports both VR and non-VR modes. This enhances immersion but may limit accessibility.
- Power Babies (collectibles) unlock upgrades or real-life rewards, while achievements encourage replayability. Some collectibles are time-consuming to find, adding depth for completionists.
- Dialogue is a key feature, with long monologues, moral choices, and yes/no responses that pause gameplay. Some players may find the pacing disrupted by extensive text.
Performance:
- Issues arise with specific hardware, including crashes on Pico 4 Ultra, compatibility problems with 12th Gen CPUs, and performance drops on recommended hardware. Some users report no issues on high-end systems.
- Users report minor issues like pixelation, clipping, and audio glitches (e.g., fixable by refocusing the game window). These do not severely impact gameplay but reduce polish.
- Frequent reports of the game failing to start or launch on Steam, often requiring workarounds like the OPENSSL_ia32cap launch option. This affects both VR and non-VR versions.
- While the game runs smoothly on high-end systems, wireless adapters add CPU load, and modern GPUs show performance improvements, suggesting optimization could be better targeted.
- Some users report zero technical issues on Windows 10, indicating the game can run flawlessly under optimal conditions.
Recommendations:
- Though primarily targeted at 'Rick and Morty' fans, the game is also recommended for those who enjoy experimental storytelling, absurd humor, or VR experiences, broadening its appeal to a niche but diverse audience.
- The game's appeal hinges on its humor, particularly absurd, black, and derisive comedy. Reviews emphasize that enjoyment depends on whether the player appreciates this style, with many recommending it solely for its comedic value despite other flaws.
- Many reviews advise purchasing the game only during a sale, citing limited replayability, niche appeal, or humor fatigue. A lower price point is often suggested as a prerequisite for recommendation.
- The game is frequently highlighted as a standout VR experience, with reviews suggesting it is significantly enhanced in virtual reality. Some note it offers replay value and is a must-have for VR owners.
- The inclusion of free DLC and excitement for future content, including potential sequels or horror-themed games, is mentioned as a positive aspect, adding value to the purchase for some players.
Miscellaneous:
- Players frequently compare the game's humor and tone to *Psychonauts* and *Rick and Morty*, noting its absurd, cynical, and black comedy style. This appeals to fans of these franchises.
- The game's narrative revolves around rescuing dogs from an evil entity, with a bizarre premise involving a dog embedded in a villain's eyes for power. This creative and darkly humorous concept stands out in player discussions.
- The game's humor is explicitly mature, with players warning it is not appropriate for children. This aligns with its *Rick and Morty*-esque tone.
- Criticism is directed at the developer for lacking updates and compatibility fixes, suggesting abandoned support. This frustrates players expecting long-term improvements.
- The developer has committed to making all DLC free, which players view as a positive and player-friendly decision.
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