Masters of Light PSVR2 Review

Gameplay

Graphics

Audio

Value

Summary: An enjoyable box to the beat shooter for those looking for a quick VR fix.

3

Battle for Betelgeuse

After releasing on Meta Quest earlier this year, Coven’s wave-based VR shooter Masters of Light has made its way to PSVR2.

The setup is fairly simple. Players swing their fists to use their light-based powers to defeat increasingly complex waves of enemies as they attempt to rescue the Sisters of Light who have been imprisoned by an encroaching darkness that threatens to engulf the entire galaxy.

Rescuing these celestial spinsters endows our hero with more powers and new abilities to master that in turn help you push back the darkness. Initially, you’ll have to rely on your fists. Punching with either arm shoots out a ball of light that hurtles toward enemies while holding down the triggers on either controller will send out a beam of light that locks onto foes and makes it easier to target and destroy the multitude of machines with your balls… of light.

As you progress through each of Masters of Light’s 36 stages the complexity of the enemies and your arsenal of weapons expands. These additions include a shield you need to hold up to your face to deflect blasts from baddies tossing projectiles in your general direction, and a shockwave that can clear out several enemies at once.

The tactics you’ll need to employ to wipe out each wave of geometric nightmares become more complicated as each stage progresses. Early doors finishing a stage is as simple as blasting each bad guy as they appear, however, before long you’ll need to start considering the speed of each enemy, their attack patterns, and whether you need to wait for them to reveal a weak point before blasting them.

Successfully snuffing out a wave of crystalline foes feels rewarding, especially during the more fraught later levels that become a workout for your brain and body as you attempt to shoot down the enemies with some quick jabs, block an incoming projectile and then counter with some couple of straights of your own like a celestial boxing match.

The presentation is nice enough, though nothing particularly special. This star-struck shooting gallery has some beautiful, though basic, celestial backgrounds that remain static throughout. The enemy designs are more functional than threatening. Each strange crystal structure has a clear attack pattern but looks and feels more like odd machines designed to test your skills than an army of malicious beings coming to blot out all the light in the universe.

The music is also decent enough. Master of Light’s synth-packed soundtrack is fitting and helps you bounce along to the rhythm of each battle, bopping along as you blow up waves of bots with your ballistic boxing skills.

The voice acting is competent, and each sister you interact with plays their part well but the dialogue feels somewhat superfluous for what is essentially a celestial shooting gallery. Still, I always appreciate some context for the on-screen action, especially in VR when world-building is an even more important part of helping to immerse you than in regular games.

Final Thoughts

Masters of Light is a creative and fun box-to-the-beat, shooting gallery, with a unique aesthetic and a decent attempt at world-building, despite its somewhat barebones design.

The controls are responsive, and using your fists to fire beams and balls of light to push back the ever-encroaching darkness is enjoyable enough. Even if the crystalline agents of the big bad lack a sense of menace.

If you’re looking for a quick VR fix or something to get you moving in the morning, Masters of Light, especially during its later levels, will certainly fill that niche. However, if you’re after a more immersive and engaging VR experience, you’re likely to be disappointed.

About the Author

Gareth Newnham

Masters of Light PSVR2 Review