Transference Reviews
Though this sinewy psychological thriller may prove both disappointingly brief and overtly obtuse for some headset owners, as an exercise in pure, distilled atmosphere, it's one of PSVR's most bracingly effective offerings so far in 2018.
Transference doesn't have intense combat or elaborate bosses. Instead, the adventure is about the experience of being in an unknown world that feels wrong. This uncomfortable tone of fragmented memories, environments, and many jump scares to create a surreal horror experience. For so much Transference does well it length and expensive price tag will bother a lot of gamers.
Transference's distressing subject matter and eerie atmosphere make for a strong horror experience, even if some of its potential is squandered by a non-committal narrative.
It's a game worth checking out, but is far from the great narrative experiences other games of this type have come to be known for.
There's a lot to like about the way Transference tries to tell its story, but it often lacks direction which pulls you out of the experience.
Transference is a genuinely terrifying and atmospheric virtual reality horror game from Ubisoft, but it has some issues that keep it from reaching its full potential.
Transference is an experience fit for VR, and from that perspective, the game does a phenomenal job of providing tension, scares, and narrative beats. Those looking for value may feel a little short-changed, especially so without the implementation of virtual reality, but the overall package should leave you satisfied if horror and terror is your forte.
A strongly acted psychological thriller wrapped in the familiar framework of a VR-friendly "walking simulator."
Transference offers a unique experience. If it scares away with now known gimmicks, its unhealthy atmosphere, exploded storytelling and the imagination left to the player as well as the meta aspect of browsing a faulty software in a video game make it a unique and successful experience.
Review in French | Read full review
Transference certainly showcases the potential of VR storytelling in the style Spectrevision are attempting. Even if its short story isn't always effectively told, and some of the puzzles distract, the atmosphere that's been created through detailed world design, incredible lighting effects, and intense sound design makes for a terrifying experience.
Although Transference is an interesting narrative horror game, it struggles to carve out a space as a VR game and a traditional title. The story is undeniably something worth experiencing, but the gameplay is lackluster enough that more often than not it serves as a barrier to experiencing what Transference does best.
Transference is an ambitious experience that feels a little bit late to the party. It has an interesting premise and an atmospheric, well realised world brought to life with gusto, especially if playing in virtual reality. But despite all of this, it never truly transcends the slew of similar games that came before it and is over much too quickly.
Transference is a novel concept with with adequate execution.
Transference is an enjoyable thriller that retains its effectiveness in a non-VR setting. Despite gameplay simplicity and underutilized live-action videos, the strong atmosphere and a few memorable scenes help this sci-fi adventure leave a lasting mark.
Transference presents a unique premise and some interesting ideas but ultimately falls a short in realizing their potential. That said, it’s worth checking out in VR for its captivating audiovisual experience.
Transference is in some ways, a tighter twist on Bloober Team's Observer (with a dash of that company's Layers of Fear in the mix). But it never reaches the loopy and inventive highs of that game's head-messing. Not that there isn't merit to the strange and disturbing places Transference goes because it definitely has a good line in loopy. It just needed a bit more substance to the quieter moments.
Short, inconclusive, but monstrously intense, Transference represents the next step forward for narrative games.
Transference is a competent narrative-driven game featuring some well-crafted puzzles and an amazingly eerie atmosphere. Sadly, the narrative doesn't really go anywhere, despite a very interesting premise, with no twist and no surprises at all, making it very hard to recommend to people looking for an interesting story. Coupled with its very short length, Transference is not really worth its current price.
Transference ends as disappointment gameplay and story-wise. The option to play the game without a VR Headset is well-meant but poorly executed. We recommend to try the demo in the playstation store first before you buy this short and simple experience.
Review in German | Read full review
While Transference offers something unique in how it utilises sound, throwing in the mechanic of switching between alternate realities for puzzle solving, it sadly falls flat in its narrative and doesn't offer much to encourage you to come back and explore.