Last gripe: the nature of this game has you tilting your head up a lot. I did like the ability to tackle the locations at different times of the day, as it not only changes up the visuals but adds a slight change in your climbing strategy as well. There is also a very modest sense of progression here as you can unlock some cosmetic items for your character, but they have no impact on the actual game itself. Certainly you can lose, but the systems while well-executed are pretty simple. This is partly why I think of it more as an experience. With only a few locations and relatively simple gameplay (you sometimes need to chalk your hands for increased grip, you need to manage your stamina, but you are mostly just pointed upward and looking for a solid handhold along the way), The Climb lacks in content and replay value. The experience is far more immersive and considerably less clunky when making use of the Oculus Touch controls. Now, The Climb can be played with a controller – a necessity given that the game came out well before the Oculus Touch did, but this is absolutely best experienced using the sensitive controls and motion tracking of the Touch. You need to be able to execute on it – and in a timely fashion or your stamina will give out. As such, mentally mapping out your path is not enough to succeed. The Climb is an action game however, as well. Sometimes the options are singular or simple, but at other times the way forward can be somewhat vexing as you have to decide which is most likely to lead to success. To this end, The Climb is like a giant adventure or puzzle game as you have to focus your strategy on the best way to ascend the rocky surface above you. Conversely some hand positions if too far apart – or if only one hand is currently anchoring you in – will cause stamina to deplete very quickly. Hands work better together, when they can support weight in unison. By no means is The Climb a hard game, but the basic formula is tied to a primary resource – stamina. Of course that progress does have its challenges along the way.
Hardly a walking simulator, there is a clear objective and you have to take your time and work up the sheer surface with some careful thought as you progress. On the one hand, it is less game and more experience.
Let me start off by saying, I think The Climb is going to be divisive among Oculus players. However, a lack of gameplay depth and overall number of environments could give some gamers pause when they try to decide if this is a journey worth undertaking. The Climb is an excellent experience, one that works exceedingly well with the Oculus Touch controls.