TEST Demeo PC Edition: what is the iconic role-playing game without VR worth?

Demeo is to this day a sure reference in the catalog of the VR (you can find our original test at the bottom of the article), making since its release more and more avid followers of live cooperative adventures inspired by the world of tabletop role-playing games Dungeons & Dragons. Several storybooks have since sprung up to provide a slew of additional content, and a lobby has recently appeared, allowing players to come together to socialize and have fun before heading out on an adventure. Today, it’s the PC version (announced from the start in the roadmap of the studio) which interests us, since it is now at the dawn of its release. But what is it worth compared to an experience VR perfectly executed? The studio’s promise Resolution Games to offer cross games between players VR and PC gamers is it held?

Let’s not cut corners, if the VR version instantly won us over, the PC version suffers from shortcomings inherent in its support.

First of all, let’s forget our virtual reality headset and bring out our keyboard-mouse combo to play a game from the world VR, and intended for the PC. It’s quite new since we are generally used to a port following the reverse pattern. Once the game started, we are not out of place, navigation in the menus is easy, the interface is perfectly clear and reminds us of the rulebooks full ofartworks heroic fantasy games inspired by the universe Dungeons & Dragons, that we enjoy leafing through.

The title offers a choice of a mode Skirmish allowing you to play solo or multiplayer, and it is towards the latter that we encourage you to orient yourself. Indeed, it is with this one that Demeo takes on its full flavor and reveals its richness and depth, skillfully blending strategy and group cooperation in a fantastical adventure. To do this, nothing could be simpler, since as usual, all you have to do is enter the four-digit code of the hosted table. Then follows the choice of our hero represented by a figurine chosen from five classes, ranging from Wizard to Bardpassing through theAssassinthe Hunter or even the Guardianthen our arrival on the game table which can bring together up to four players VR and no VR.

For this test, we brought together four members of the editorial staff (officially for work, unofficially to have a good evening) and a first observation appeared to us. Let’s not cut corners if the grind VR instantly won us over, the PC version suffers from inherent shortcomings in its support. The first striking thing, for someone accustomed to the original version in virtual reality, concerns the camera.

Although we are not as immersed in Demeo PC Edition as in the original version in VR, the mechanics and the strategic depth of the game remain the same, it is always a pleasure to embark on an adventure with your teammates in the dark depths of a dungeon.

Our first instinct was to look (or rather mouse) for our adventure companions around the gaming table, in order to chat face to face more naturally. But first disappointment, no matter how the camera moves, it seems riveted to the table, so don’t expect to establish a “physical” link with your teammates, since your only means of interaction will be limited to your microphone or the “laser pointer” used to indicate squares during tactical discussions. From a player’s point of view VRwe appear with our heads and hands fixed like statues, a little as if we were embodied by the computer. The high level of social interaction that makes the great immersive strength of the VR is therefore absentee subscribers. The environment of the basement, like a landmark of teenagers serving as a backdrop to our adventures, and reinforcing this attic side often associated with role-playing games, is meanwhile completely forgettable since it is impossible to contemplate.

Finally, while it is naturally enough to raise the head to see the entire map as we would do in a natural way, here it is necessary to zoom out and move with the keys of the keyboard to hope to see the whole level. It is therefore difficult to establish travel strategies or define our next route at a glance, it is a bit tedious, and PC players are always behind their counterparts VR. Note that Demoo PC Edition is set to QWERTY, which will cause you a little gymnastics to move the view on the board unless you switch your keyboard to English. Fortunately, your servant brings you the solution since a simple ALT + update solve the problem, here is your converted keyboard!

Now let’s move on to a second disconcerting point for those familiar with the VR that we are. Who says PC version, also says flat screen, and therefore total loss of the effect of depth and volumes, resulting in legibility of the action clearly behind. It was sometimes difficult for us to correctly locate our heroes, as well as the action in progress or the location of our opponents, especially when gathering several units on adjacent squares, or on different heights.

The title even benefits from some graphic improvements.

Similarly, selecting a character to move it seems less easy, as does putting an action or skill card on the right space, and choosing the location on which our hero should position himself during a melee hit is sometimes done by fumbling, it’s annoying. By migrating from virtual reality and its gleaming 3D effects, to the completely flat PC world, the visibility and apprehension of the action take a big hit, we lose the natural and instinctive side brought by virtual reality. A welcome option, however, allows you to erase certain elements of the decor following the movements of the camera, in order to keep a certain visibility on the characters, which improves things. On the other hand, there is one that we strongly advise you to deactivate: automatic centering. As its name suggests, this constantly refocuses the view on the action in progress, bringing us back to moving a monster or close-up on a dice roll, while we were quietly establishing our next turn on our side, which is particularly unpleasant.

Since we are talking about the roll of the dice, this one lacks flavor, we never know where it will land, and ultimately do not take pleasure in manipulating it with the mouse, a word of advice, do not try to roll it, but click just on it. For the rest, the HUD in game is perfectly readable and integrated, the information windows can be configured and sized, just like the mouse cursor, and the title even benefits from some graphic improvements concerning the illumination of the decorations during the effects of explosions or the use of spells. However, don’t expect a graphic slap, the visuals and textures remain identical to the PC versions VR. A bit of a shame, some will say, but it reassures owners of modest configurations, since Demoo PC Edition spins easily on small setups.

Good news for all owners of one of the versions VR originals of the game, since Demeo PC Edition is available for free on the store of your original purchase, so no need to go through the checkout again, which is a very good point. And if you were afraid of losing your progress, it is not so, because backups are also transferred from one edition to another provided they remain on the same store (backups are not crossed between stores) Oculus and Steam). In addition, the title also benefits from all the updates and extensions released at this time. Although we are not so immersed in Demoo PC Edition that in a world in VRwhich may disappoint lovers of immersive reality, the mechanics and the strategic depth of the game remain the same, it is always a pleasure to embark on an adventure with your teammates in the dark depths of a dungeon. Managing character powers and abilities is always a treat, and getting out of a bad patch as a group, or victorious over a level, always brings some satisfaction, as does getting new cards or shopping at the Cleepto’s Bazaar. The game is hard and gives pride of place to constant cooperation in order to survive. In this sense, it remains authentic and appeals to new players looking for challenges. Finally, be aware that a mode pvp customizable and new adventure books are announced later this year.

With Demoo PC Edition, Resolution Games succeeded in the bet of offering its universe and its adventures in cross-play on platforms with very different degrees of immersion, which is a real tour de force, and it must be admitted that it is quite magical. Going against the tide of console or PC game ports in VRthe studio therefore decided to take the opposite path and offer this excellent RPG from plateau to the greatest world. The community, already very active, will therefore grow without difficulty and will certainly attract new followers, and who knows, perhaps even arouse during the games and exchanges between players, a enthusiasm among PC users for the VR. Likewise, if using a headset for long periods of time puts you off, this could be an opportunity for you to consider getting into Demeo. Despite a PC Edition a notch below in terms of immersion or interactions, which may confuse virtual reality enthusiasts, the excellent gameplay of the base game is kept, the content remains intact, and that’s the main thing. the adventure Demeo is only in its infancy…

Read also: TEST of Demeo: the Dungeons & Dragons of virtual reality ; note that some defects such as the lack of content when launched or the absence of a save function have since been corrected.