Experience the camaraderie of tabletop games in a whole new way.
In 1974, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) came into the world and set the tone for role playing games (RPG).
But it wasn’t just tabletop games that were affected by the creation and popularity of this new series. Video games and the RPG genre that still holds strong today, also show the influence of this more than 51-year-old series.
As the game has evolved, so too has the rest of world, offering up new ways to experience this type of deep and customizable experience.
The instance we’ll be talking about today is D&D’s foray into the virtual reality (VR) space.
While tabletop games are not new to this space – Catan VR, Heroes Battle: Darksword – the game which has brought users closest to the classic experience has been Demeo by Resolution Games (Spatial Ops, Home Sports). This game brought all the customization and excitement of D&D to a new and interactive platform, allowing players to experience the fun online without the need for a player to direct them on their quests.
But we’re not here to talk about the original Demeo, instead we’re going to talk about the newly released title by Resolution Games – which is sorta like a sequel but also, it’s own game – Demeo x Dungeon’s & Dragons: Battlemarked.
Because the title is quite a mouthful, we’re just gonna call it Battlemarked. The game launches today, Nov. 20, on the Quest series of headsets, PCVR and the PlayStation VR2 (PSVR2)
Create your characters, and head out on epic campaigns – two are available at launch – all of which are based on what those familiar with D&D will recognize.
Choose your class, customize them to your liking and head out to take on campaigns, with up to three other players in turn-based combat.
You’ll roll the dice, play your ability cards, and strategize with your team – or on your own if you prefer, controlling all four characters – as you work to complete quests and take down the enemies before you.
Before we jump into graphics and mechanics, let’s just discuss the gameplay for a short moment.
Whether you’ve played D&D – or any other tabletop RPG – or are experiencing this for the first time in VR, Battlemarked is inviting for all.
As you would with a normal tabletop game, you grab and move your pieces around the board, using your cards and team to complete the most difficult of tasks. Of course, what would a tabletop game be without the roll of the dice, as you’ll find the distinctive icosahedron popping up anytime you need to roll for attacks and other actions.
You’ll also have ability cards, some of which are predetermined based on your character, the others you’ll find as you work your way through the campaign. These may be found in loot bags or locked in chests, among other places.
Cards can do things like attack, defend and heal, offering single uses or needing time to cooldown before it can be used again.
Besides being able to experience the game board in a living and dynamic way, your characters also come to life; interacting with the attacks and movement you might expect. This added level of detail makes the whole experience more enjoyable – and is certainly something akin to what fans of Toy Story and similar series may have hoped for as kids.
Good news too is that your characters learn and develop as you play. As you play through the first two campaigns – Embers of Chaos and Crown of Frost – you’ll see your characters grow in skill and strength, becoming better the more you play.
Finally let’s talk about setting up a game – or playing on your own.
You can play this solo, and this means you’ll be working to control all characters and strategize with yourself. The game works and plays very well, but it detracts from the overall experience that you would get if you went out on an adventure with friends.
If you’re playing online, you can setup the game to invite others or play with whomever is available. The Quest headsets also offer colocation so you can find local headsets and play together.
During the review phase there were obviously fewer players online, but connecting to others through invites was simplistic and you could even leave the room open for others who wanted to join.
Because the game is cross-play with all headsets at launch, there is a large player base which allows not only a much more seamless experience but the chance to make new friends.
Now that we’ve got that covered, let’s move onto mechanics.
The game is very simple to play – use the grip buttons to move the board or use both to rotate or zoom in and out. You’ll also use the triggers for the majority of actions like picking up your piece, cards, and the dice. You’ll also roll by shaking your hand, though this more so grabbing the dice and throwing it – the rolling is more of an added flourish.
If you’re on Quest, you’ll have the option to use hand tracking – which is simple as you’ll grab and interact as you would expect; though moving, zooming and turning will require making a fist and moving, pulling or rotating. While the hand tracking isn’t flawless – there were many instances where closing one hand, even slightly, and moving it resulted in the board moving around – it’s certainly one of the more interactive ways to play this game.
You will, however, have to ensure you’re careful, lest the board move around.
Finally let’s move onto graphics before we call it a day.
No matter the headset you’re using, this game is extremely well done. The characters and world around you are detailed, and even in mixed reality (MR) the game board looks great against the backdrop of your space.
Probabilities are low you’ll experience issues such as glitches or framerate drops – none were experienced during review. This is also coming from the developer that created the original Demeo, and those who have experienced the game know the depth and detail that players will experience.
Other than that, there’s not much else to say besides: this is an excellent title for those who love D&D or the tabletop RPG genre.
Overall Battlemarked is a game that’s inviting for everyone, regardless of your affinity for the source materials on which it is based. Anyone can jump in and experience the action and adventure that comes with these games, except you get the added bonus of seeing the world come to life before your eyes.
The best way to play is absolutely with other people, and with the launch across multiple platforms there’s bound to be an abundance of players of all skill levels who will happily join your campaign and help you find victory.
Though if you have friends with VR headsets and an urge to play, you should definitely bring them along.
For those looking for more after you’ve completed the two launch campaigns, more looks to be coming in the future as DLC.
Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked, was reviewed on the PSVR2 and Quest 3 after receiving pre-release access from the developer.
