How much do we truly rely on our sense of sight? It’s a question that troubles me deeply. I’d like to think it’s not that vital, but more and more, I realize we can’t get around very well without all of our senses, but especially our sight. Which is what makes Blind, published by Surprise Attack Games, such a fascinating and riveting VR experience.
Wait, you say, why would you make a VR game where you can’t see anything? Well, like most things in life, there’s a catch. You can see your environment through the use of echolocation. See, your character has a walking stick, and by thwacking it against a solid surface, the area around you will be temporarily illuminated in a ghostly half light. This is vital to not only getting around the world of Blind, but to solving the many puzzles therein as well.
You don’t know exactly what caused your character’s blindness, but there was an accident it seems, since they used to be able to see. With only that information to guide you, you quickly find yourself in what appears to be a mysterious building, perhaps even a mansion. Given that you are so reliant on temporary bursts of sight, you will quickly realize that you also need to depend on your sense of hearing. One particularly challenging puzzle involved listening to a tune and replaying it on a large music box using buttons. I will say I needed some help from the devs for that one, but all the other puzzles I pretty much solved on my own.
I have to say, I was completely entranced by Blind. I thought I had seen everything that VR could accomplish, but this one is another potentially groundbreaking experience. If you own or plan on owning PS4 or PC VR, then you owe it to yourself to check this one out when it releases sometime later this year. It’s a truly unforgettable experience.
