As a die-hard fan of Steven Knight’s iconic early 20th-century gangster series, Peaky Blinders, I was head-over-heels to learn that a new video game was in the works. But unlike 2020’s Peaky Blinders: Mastermind, which had players operating heists via puzzle-game mechanics, Maze Theory’s new VR title, Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom would place players directly in the middle of the action, standing side-by-side with Blinders such as Tommy, Arthur, and even Aunt Polly.
After having played a preview build for the game, I can whole-heartedly say that this is one of the most exciting titles not only for the year of 2023 but for the VR community as a whole. Especially for those of us that love the world of the Peaky Blinders, this is a game and story that should really be experienced to see how far VR has come. Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom is going to be one of the best available for the hardware.
Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom Preview Biggest Takeaways
- Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom allows players to visit iconic locations and meet the characters they love from the series.
- There’s a fine amount of detail to leave even the most die-hard fans happy.
- Vocal performances are fantastic and really make you feel like you’re part of a new Peaky Blinders sub-plot.
- Gameplay sees a vast amount for players to do, from collecting items to shooting out rival gangs in the streets of Small Heath.
- Though the gameplay is fun, there are major issues with hand-tracking, making your in-game hands get caught on environmental objects.
The Good
From its opening moments, Peaky Blinders The King’s Ransom makes a great effort to make you feel as if you’re the newest recurring character for the current season of the show. And as such, you’re given a pretty great role; Tommy and Arthur’s estranged cousin from their mother’s side. The context as the player being this character feels like it fits well within the lore of the Peaky Blinders’ world, making you seem like you have a real place in the story.
The preview also made sure that you got a chance to visit the proper places and people in a timely manner. And this is sure to line up with the final form, as far as I know. You enter Small Heath and begin meeting up with Tommy as he gives you the first of many missions to complete as he clears your name, allowing you to hopefully make your exit from Small Heath by the story’s end. And from there, the story takes many twists as things never go well right off the bat for the Blinders.
The locations in-game look absolutely amazing. From the interior of The Garrison, the dingy streets of the industrial district, and even Watery Lane make you feel as if you’re on the set for the show. Cillian Murphy (Tommy Shelby) and Paul Anderson (Arthur Shelby) bring their a-game, making their virtual presence feel just as real and gritty as they appear on-screen. It’s especially fear-inducing standing next to a life-sized Tommy Shelby, as his dark presence has the ability to make you grow silent, thanks to Murphy’s performance.
As far as gameplay goes, the game is stellar. It’s a pretty linear title, but it’s almost like a sandbox at most turns. Though you have missions to execute during these linear paths, you’re able to freely roam in smaller areas, giving you a chance to find collectibles such as cigarette cartons or bags of gold, as well as uncover useful lore-filled letters that expand things even further. Plus, you can just screw around with environmental objects too, which is pretty unique and breaks tension.
Though it comes in much later, I really enjoyed the gunplay that Peaky Blinders The King’s Ransom has to offer. Even in this preview, it’s actually very responsive and surprisingly satisfying. It really felt like my shots at enemies were on point and that I didn’t have to compensate for any weird controller or movement issues at all. This is one of the better shooters to play, at least on Quest 2 currently.
Related: Preview: Gripper Shows It’s a Jack of All Trades
The Bad
As far as bad things go, there were only two things that I noticed while playing. The most noticeable thing was the fact that my hands would weirdly get stuck on objects and I’d have to kind of untangle them. Say I had to pull a door open from one side to the other, my hand would get stuck after opening it when I’d try to return it to my body. It was just really odd and not something I’ve ever experienced in a VR title thus far.
The other weird thing I noticed was that the physics felt a bit floaty. When I’d jokingly toss things, I felt as if they flew up into the air just a bit too far and would come down with not much momentum at all either.
The Peaky
At the end of the day, I have to say that I am truly impressed with just how perfectly it seems that Maze Theory has tackled Peaky Blinders The King’s Ransom. The immersion alone is astounding, as a true fan of the series. The gameplay too is just really fun, and I didn’t put it down until my headset died.
This is most certainly going to be one of the best VR titles available once it releases, and I’d argue to say that it may be one of those essential ones too, particularly if you’re a Peaky fan. I cannot wait to see the game’s full release. It’ll be interesting to see if the playable character makes it out alive or not.
Peaky Blinders The King’s Ransom will be available on March 9, 2023, for the Meta Quest 2 and PICO 4. You can wishlist it right now on Steam as well!
Well, now you know all of our thoughts on the upcoming Peaky Blinders The King’s Ransom VR game! it’s sure to be a blast once it launches. If you found this preview review helpful in any way, then be sure to check out some of our others, such as “Review: Chasing Static Offers a Great Story and Setting But Fails in The Gameplay Department”. And don’t forget to like Gamer Journalist on Facebook as well in order to get the latest on Peaky Blinders The King’s Ransom news, guides, and review!
