Thriving in the Void

By Grit Alone takes a bold shot at being a standout experience in the world of VR horror games. It’s one of those games that offers an exhilarating ride but still leaves you wishing for a touch more polish. What really stands out is its heartfelt creativity, which is so captivating that you can’t help but admire it. However, I can see why some players might find themselves a tad frustrated. By Grit Alone embodies its title perfectly—it feels like a true labor of love from a small team striving to create something that could one day be seen alongside classics like Dead Space. But getting the balancing act right is crucial for that to happen.

So, what are we dealing with here? By Grit Alone is a VR horror-shooter set in a sci-fi world you can explore while being mostly stationary or moving around a designated area. It’s available on the Quest platform, and I played it on the Quest 3. Released by Crooks Peaks, the game is currently priced at $18.99.

In By Grit Alone, you find yourself in the role of an unnamed passenger who wakes up early due to a dire crash in an inexplicable and precarious part of space. It’s a bit like finding yourself in a Bermuda Triangle in space, and you’re certainly not alone. Strange neighbors await, but before you even see them, you’re busy dodging broken machinery and trying to stay alive amidst debris explosions. Then, things get even more chaotic when you’re ambushed by insectoid aliens eager to separate your brain from your body. It’s not what you’d call a gentle wake-up, and that’s just the beginning. Soon, you’re navigating a gothic ship right out of the Warhammer 40k universe, battling alien-infested environments, and dealing with an AI that might not have your best interests at heart.

Comparing this to Dead Space is no small feat, and I say it with all seriousness. Beyond just the surface-level nods, Antony Johnston, who penned Dead Space (2008), joined forces with Emma Beeby to co-write this game. The inspiration is clear—every weapon in the game comes with dual functionalities; for instance, your ammo can serve as grenades, and your blaster can switch roles between being a shotgun and a marksman rifle depending on how you hold it. Certain segments require you to put on your engineer hat, as you manipulate ship subsystems amidst waves of adversaries. Crooks Peaks even carried over the iconic stomp attack—it works on more than just the enemies, mind you.

They’ve even managed to improve the notorious turret sections from the original Dead Space, making them genuinely enjoyable here! That’s the brilliance of By Grit Alone—it wears its influences on its sleeve but also carves out its own identity.

The variety in exploring multiple spaceships adds an interesting twist. Instead of delivering a straightforward narrative, you’re thrown into an anthology of horrors. Not every location in the game is a home run, but the ongoing story thread focusing on Grace Grayson—a dogged government tax agent turned survivor—is a definite highlight.

Grace transitions from chasing down cult tax evaders to a Ripley-like figure leading others to safety. While your character remains silent, Grace’s audio logs fill the void and bring the world to life. The voice cast shines, with top-tier performances throughout. The inclusion of holographic recordings of past events allows for a welcome respite from the solitude, with AI guidance aiding you as you venture through each ship.

When it comes to worldbuilding, atmosphere, and pacing, By Grit Alone has a firm grasp on what makes horror games captivating. The soundtrack is a triumph. While I’m tough to frighten, this game had me jumping and cautiously progressing through its environments. Delivering this kind of experience with relatively simple graphics is truly an achievement. The only caveat is in balancing—it would be nice to set aside the optional invincibility toggle at times.

For those seasoned in VR, By Grit Alone caters specifically to you. Options are available for mitigating motion sickness, like adjusting the turn rate or tweaking vignette settings, but the game definitely pushes players yet to find their VR footing. Anticipate frequent turning. Thankfully, control options accommodate both dominant hands, allowing weapon manipulation with either hand.

While you can play the game seated or standing still, I recommend engaging with it physically—ducking when needed and moving around enhances immersion and offers gameplay perks, like speeding up when navigating vents.

If you prefer a more relaxed experience, the game allows for invincibility throughout, a godsend to enjoy the story carefree. You can also unlock all chapters with a button press, skipping challenging sections if desired.

Some may question the need for such a feature in a horror game, but it’s justified. By Grit Alone can get quite intense, sometimes feeling unintentionally ruthless. Enemies like buzzing flyers, charging behemoths, and creepy arachnids can swiftly overpower you.

While stomping serves as a great defensive tactic, it doesn’t solve the issue of flyers sneaking up and spraying you with acid. Health stations are sparse and single-use, which complicates healing during combat.

Certain set pieces can be harsh on the average player. A boss encounter featuring an infected pipe organ calls for multitasking best suited for co-op play, while a sequence fleeing razor-toothed worms through explosive-laden hallways feels manic.

That inconsistency is what trips the game up. These cool moments often fall out of sync, turning fun into frustration. Usually, after about five attempts, the invincibility toggle becomes an appealing option. It’s a pity when it happens because the creativity behind these challenges is evident. They’re visually striking, with unique mechanics and a stunning orchestral score, but the timing needs fine-tuning.

Even with invincibility, there’s still a considerable challenge. You’re not free to waltz past enemies, and the puzzles remain clever. Invincibility simply helps you avoid constant restarts due to a missed enemy.

The mechanic that lacks impact, however, is the shield ability. Used against unpredictable turrets on a science vessel, its clunky activation dampens what could have been an intriguing experience.

Thankfully, that’s an isolated shortcoming. Interactions with the game world, body tracking, weapon handling—all are enjoyable. Whether wielding the primary blaster or an incendiary flamethrower, combat feels engaging, and grenade throws are on point.

By Grit Alone leaves a memorable mark right from the start, pulling you through a captivating series of nightmares. Despite its basic graphics, it boasts a strong atmospheric design enriched with fantastic lighting. It concludes on an intense cliffhanger, with free DLC already hinted at, but the journey leading up to it brims with quality storytelling. Though combat challenges persist, embracing them is rewarding.

After a long while, a horror game has captured my attention like By Grit Alone. It’s no venture for the weak-hearted, but it’s one I dearly hope to see completed, whether through DLC or a sequel. As it stands, it offers an incredible and thrilling dive into madness, worth every tense moment.