I can’t describe my excitement when Max Mustard first appeared on my Meta Quest 3 screen. Bright colors, wacky enemies, cute animations, plunger guns, and jet boots are all part of the ’90s platformer, but it’s set to debut in VR for the first time in 2024.
A VR platformer sounds a bit strange, until you think about the evolution of the platformer genre. The earliest examples of the genre were side-scrolling 2D games such as Trap and Super Mario Bros. Decades later, 3D platformers like Super Mario 64, Crash Bandicoot, and Sonic Adventure brought the concept into 3D space and revolutionized it.
Since there’s no 4D, it makes the most sense to bring this genre to VR. Now you can not only move your character, but you can also look around the world, better approximate 3D depth, and even interact with the virtual world using your own two hands.
The best Meta Quest games, like the Moss series, Ghost Giant, and Lucky’s Tale, have proven the success of this formula, but the original PSVR’s AstroBot Rescue Mission is the gold standard for VR platformers.
Thankfully, Max Mustard is here to try and take the game away from Astro, offering up similarly precise mechanics, secrets hidden within each level, jumping boots, and even in-game controller upgrades into what is now a classic . Adding a plunger gun to my controller is a great way to increase interaction with the world, especially in places that are difficult to reach with a joystick controller character.
I had my doubts, but those were allayed almost immediately with the cartoonish introduction to the game on Saturday morning. After all, the indie developer has only made one other game before – the popular but gimmicky Richie’s Plank Experience – but people spend their time in this vibrant world I can’t help but feel the enthusiasm for this new game every second of the game.
Platformers are always a collection-a-thon, but Max Mustard rewards you with upgrades in the item shop in exchange for collectibles.
As you’d expect from a platformer, the most basic goal of Max Mustard is to successfully reach the end of each level while collecting as many items as possible along the way. You’ll pick up coins of different colors, jump on the heads of bad guys, spin-kick crates to free trapped creatures, and collect power-ups that give you an advantage in certain scenarios.
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Happily, collecting coins isn’t just for pennies or bragging rights. Coins allow you to purchase upgrades from the item shop. One of the first cheap upgrades includes a camera rotation option, allowing you to easily rotate through each level without having to stand up or turn around in your seat.
The game can be played perfectly while sitting. I found the game to be most fun when played seated, which is something I wouldn’t say about most VR games.
The music is whimsical and the setting reminded me of the original Ratchet and Clank. Each world offers a wealth of variety, and you’ll navigate each level via a world map similar to many Super Mario games.
Max Mustard Challenge AstroBot Rescue Mission offers similarly precise mechanics, hidden secrets in each level, jumping boots, and even in-game controller upgrades.
The sound design is mostly good, but there were a few times where I felt the extra sound effects would have added extra depth. I also had to repeat some lighthearted story sequences because I got impatient and walked off a cliff, so I like to use the “skip” button during such scenes.
All in all, this is the VR platformer I’ve been waiting for, and totally worth the $29.99 price tag on Meta Quest. The game will also be available on PSVR 2 and Steam VR this summer.