Hide the Corpse is the (how do I put this?) latest corpse-hiding simulator on the PSVR2. Since I have had my PSVR2, it has made me realise that there are some really odd games out there. Case in point, we have Hide the Corpse, a game that does exactly what it says on the tin. There’s a body in the middle of the room, and you’ve guessed it, you need to hide it before someone finds it.
While it sounds incredibly morbid, it is more Weekend at Bernie’s than Wolf Creek.
The setup is simple; you spawn in a series of everyday environments, such as a flat, a flashy hotel suite, a museum, etc., and there’s a corpse named Gus lying in plain view. You need to make it disappear, or at least hide it well enough to fool the “inspector” who’s due to show up any second.
Putting the “fun” in Funeral
There’s something about physically grabbing a virtual arm, and genuinely being able to sense the dead weight as you drag it across the room. It really adds to the immersion. The headset’s haptics give a nice thump when you knock into furniture, and the adaptive triggers convey the weight of every time you try to pull, push and shove. Getting rid of evidence and fingerprints can be relatively simple work, but moving Gus is no easy feat. It’s a real workout, so wearing an old t-shirt might be the best option. Sweat stains can be a bugger to get out.
When the game is good, it’s really, really good. Only through VR will you sense the panic of realising there is a set of legs poking out under your sofa and the inspector is about to arrive at your door. (At least I hope all of you reading will only sense it through VR!) .
There is a timer which keeps you focused on getting your task done in time. It is more of a hindrance than a help at most time. It really ramps up the pressure and sets you into panic mode as the time ticks away. I’m convinced that this was an intentional aspect, and while I enjoyed it, I can see it annoying some gamers.
The vibrant visuals and sounds keep a game with such a dark premise bright and breezy. I do love the 70’s aesthetic and it is used very well here.
Death can’t be all laughs
But (and you knew this was coming), there are some negatives.
As with most VR games, the controls aren’t always fantastic. Picking up smaller objects often feels like you are wearing oven mitts. Sometimes the physics engine behaves; sometimes it doesn’t. You’ll spend ages carefully arranging your recently deceased companion in a hiding spot, only for a limb to clip through the furniture and stick out like a sore thumb (or toe, depending on the limb). The corpse itself is prone to occasional fits of violent rag-dolling, which looks hilarious at first, but absolutely frustrating after a while.
Content-wise, there’s a decent laugh for a night or two, but not much beyond that. A handful of environments, a few unlockable props, and some modifiers to keep you on your toes. After an evening with it, you’ll have seen most of what’s on offer, and the joke, as strong as it is, doesn’t stretch that far. The modifiers are good. They do change the game up somewhat. You can double the weight, you can add farting (yes, you read that right), and other effects, but it isn’t really substantial enough to encourage multiple solo playthroughs.
Performance-wise, it’s solid. No frame drops to speak of, and the visuals, while not a showcase piece like Horizon Call of the Mountain, are clean and colourful. Comfort is hit-and-miss, though. I’m a man of a certain vintage, and there’s a lot of bending and crouching, which is fine for short sessions but liable to leave you queasy (or sore in the back) if you overdo it. It’s the VR equivalent of dragging a drunk mate home at 4 am — you’re willing to do it once or twice, but you don’t want to do it every night.
Dying to play?
So, where does Hide the Corpse land? As a novelty, it’s exactly what you want from a VR game. Perfect for a party night where everyone takes turns making eejits of themselves. With each round lasting 4 minutes, it’s perfect for a pass-the-headset session with friends, but as a solo experience, it doesn’t have much longevity.
Think of it as the VR equivalent of a night of heavy drinking; fun to do occasionally with friends, but if you do it frequently on your own, you probably should seek help.
Hide the Corpse is a fun, bizarre, and very self-aware VR Title and well-worthwhile addition to the VR library that you will break out whenever you have people over.
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