PotamWorks rhythm game Smash Drums has a mixed reality mode, aptly named Smashed Reality, and with me only trying MR after getting my Quest 3, I have finally had the chance to check out the Smashed Reality mode, and also the new addition Paint Shop mode.
Release Date: December 2nd 2021
Developer: PotamWorks
Publisher: PotamWorks
Price: £14.99 (Smashed Reality Free Update)
Reviewed On: Meta Quest 3
* Code Provided For Review *
All the tracks are available in Smashed Reality and Paint Shop on all single player game modes (arcade and classic) – meaning there is a lot of content already available to enjoy in this mode.
Smashed Reality offers four stages, one of which just plays in plain pass-through, meaning you just see your room. Then the other other three stages show cracks in your room that then break open to show a hole in your wall, with a different setting behind the wall. As the wall crumbles to expose the setting behind it and the drums (arcade) or threat board (classic) coming from the wall. This really looks great using the Quest 3’s colored pass-through.
Then with the release of the Punk Rock Legends track pack, Paint Shop mode was added, which is a fifth choice on the stage select in Smashed Reality. This has the same effect of the stage breaking through your wall, but your drum sticks fire splats of paint all over your room as you smash the drums. This effect looks great, and is the stage I always pick now for MR, as you can make a mess of your room with paint and don’t have anything to clean up afterwards.
Smashed Reality and Paint Shop modes are both free updates to the base game. So, neither of the modes are going to cost you any more than the £14.99 you would pay for the game.
THE VERDICT
Smashed Reality was already my most played Mixed Reality game on the Quest 3. PotamWorks have really made the mixed reality mode work great, from the walls falling down in your room to reveal the stage never getting boring, and seeing the stage in the background behind you wall works great. Then add the new Paint Shop mode and spattering your room with paint as you smash the drums being very satisfying, and a fun way to make a mess without needing to clean up, and this gets cemented as my favourite MR mode.
* This review covered the Quest 3 MR modes, these can be played using Quest 2 pass-through *
