Ghost Giant is a virtual reality puzzle game developed and published by Zoink for the PlayStation 4 through PlayStation VR and Oculus Quest.[1] It was released for PlayStation VR in April 2019 and Oculus Quest in February 2020.
| Ghost Giant | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Zoink |
| Publisher(s) | Zoink |
| Director(s) | Olov Redmalm |
| Artist(s) | Olov Redmalm |
| Writer(s) | Sara Bergmark Elfgren |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 4 Oculus Quest |
| Release | PlayStation VR April 19, 2019 Oculus Quest February 20, 2020 |
| Genre(s) | Puzzle, adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Gameplay
editIn the game, the player assumes control of the titular Ghost Giant. The Giant is tasked to assist a young boy named Louis by manipulating the game's world, lifting items and solving puzzles.[2] Players can also explore the world of Sancourt and interact with various non-playable characters living in the city.[3] For instance, players can use the PlayStation Move controller to rotate houses and discover what can be found inside.[4]
Development
editThe studio worked with Swedish writer Sara Bergmark Elfgren to create the story.[5] The main theme is friendship, as the player needs to become a "supporting friend" for Louis as they helped him solve various problems and puzzles in the game.[6] The game took 18 months to develop, and the team drew inspirations from homemade toys, such as miniature cardboard towns, when they were creating the game.[7] Announced during Sony's E3 2018 press conference,[8] the game was released digitally on April 19, 2019 for the PlayStation VR headset, while the retail release, handled by Perp Games, was released on May 7.[3] In November 2019, Zoink announced that it would be coming to Oculus Quest in December the same year, though it was subsequently delayed to February 20, 2020.[9][10]
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | (PS4) 80/100[11] (PC) 85/100[12] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Adventure Gamers |   [16] |
| Destructoid | 7/10[15] |
| IGN | 8.3/10[13] |
| Push Square |   [14] |
The game received generally positive reviews upon releases, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[17][18]
Mike Epstein from IGN described the story as "charming", though he felt that some of the puzzles were too simple.[19] Rich Meister of Destructoid stated that Ghost Giant "feels like a VR advancement of a classic PC point-and-click adventure game, albeit one with a great look, phenomenal sound design". He also enjoyed the story, though he noted its short length.[20] UploadVR praised the game's handling of depression and neglect, writing "Louis may be an animal, but the developer’s sensitive handling of these subjects gives him remarkable humanity".[21] Liam Croft of Push Square noted that the game "belong[ed] in the conversation for the very best PSVR game", writing, "Its utterly phenomenal series of scenes will live long in the memory, complemented by a narrative that demands immediate investment...Outstanding presentation that rewards exploration is the cherry on top of a title we won’t be forgetting about any time soon."[14] Pascal Tekaia of Adventure Gamers gave the game 4 stars out of 5, stating, "The game doesn’t revolutionize the virtual reality medium, but it throws players into a well-realized, charming world with simple yet satisfying gameplay and a surprisingly emotional tale."[16]
References
edit- ^ "PSVR exclusive, Ghost Giant, is coming to Oculus Quest later this month". KitGuru. Archived from the original on July 2, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
- ^ Fogel, Stefanie (June 9, 2018). "Charming Puzzle Game 'Ghost Giant' Is Coming to PlayStation VR". Variety. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- ^ a b Romano, Sal (April 11, 2019). "Ghost Giant physical edition launches May 7 in North America". Gematsu. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- ^ Wales, Matt (February 28, 2019). "Stick it to the Man dev's adorable VR puzzle-adventure Ghost Giant is out in April". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- ^ "PSVR's 'Ghost Giant' turns the world into your sandbox". Engadget. Archived from the original on February 4, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
- ^ Fingas, Jon (June 9, 2018). "PSVR's 'Ghost Giant' turns the world into your sandbox". Engadget. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- ^ "'Ghost Giant' Brings a Small Story with Big Heart Home to Oculus Quest". Oculus. February 20, 2020. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- ^ Espileli, Matt (June 12, 2018). "E3 2018: All PS4 Games From Sony's Press Conference". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- ^ Wales, Matt (November 29, 2019). "Adorable PSVR puzzle adventure Ghost Giant heading to Oculus Quest next month". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- ^ "Ghost Giant Releases on Oculus Quest February 20!". Thunderful. February 6, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Ghost Giant for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- ^ "Ghost Giant for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- ^ Epstein, Mike (April 11, 2019). "Ghost Giant Review". IGN. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- ^ a b Croft, Liam (April 11, 2019). "Ghost Giant Review (PS4)". Push Square. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- ^ Meister, Rich (April 14, 2019). "Review: Ghost Giant". Destructoid. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- ^ a b Tekaia, Pascal (May 31, 2019). "Ghost Giant review". Adventure Gamers. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- ^ "Ghost Giant for PlayStation 4 reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- ^ "Ghost Giant for PC reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- ^ Epstein, Mike (April 29, 2016). "Ghost Giant review". IGN. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- ^ Meister, Rich (April 14, 2019). "Review: Ghost Giant". Destructoid. Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- ^ "Ghost Giant Review: A Bold, Brave Adventure That Hides A VR Treasure". April 12, 2019. Archived from the original on January 16, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2022.