Sci-fi/cyberpunk themed game from developer IRIS VR, LOW-FI is back this week in this latest update 0.51 entitled, “KARA 5 is Alive”. In case you didn’t know, KARA is the synthetic mortician who resides in the police station who you can now “chat-up” and do some fetch quests. Take a look at the latest LOW-FI gameplay video we made to get-up-to-speed on how this cool, Blade-Runner inspired game is coming along.

With more gameplay systems in place now, LOW-FI looks set to be quite the immersive game in VR or regular flatscreen. We have followed the game since it was on Kickstarter, and have been impressed with how in the last year, it is finally coming together, especially after a rather humble beginning being quite devoid of features. The game aims to release in 2023 having been in development for a number of years. It offers a sandbox play area where you are the new sheriff in City Block 303. It is your area to rule with an iron-fist, but beyond that, players can decide to play-nice cop with the inhabitants and not kill them, and take bribes instead. You can see this in the game’s contract missions.

However, it’s not all plain-sailing as we suspect some gamers will be put-off by the lack of NPCs roaming the streets in the on-foot sections. This will be more apparent coming from games like Cyberpunk 2077 where the streets are littered with roaming NPCs. Whilst the game suggests there will be 100s of crimes to solve, the fact that your character can fly in the patrol vehicle, scan and either shoot down, be bribed, arrest or release without charge numerous nefarious characters in-flight, these crimes are quite simplistic. That said, there is still time for developer IRIS VR to add more to the sections where players spend time on the ground. There are already contracts which players receive from the Metacorp building. These are quite simple quests where once you find your target, you have a choice to shoot, or let go after being bribed with credits, locations of stashed items or feelings of compassion for the story given.

Our main complaint though is that so far, none of City Block 303’s inhabitants attempt to escape, or shoot back at the main character, and do wonder if this feature will eventually be worked into the game for the sake of challenge. We will have to wait-and-see, but considering the time remains of 2023 and how much more is left to add to the game, it might not happen. That said, we’re quite excited to see how the game pulls-together in its final months of development. If anything, from what we have seen and played thus far, PSVR 2 gamers will be in for a treat as they explore the City Block 303 locations.

LOW-FI will be available for PC via Steam, PS5 via the Playstation store alongside PC VR and PSVR 2 gamers later this year. We await with baited breath.

STORY:
As the player, you are “low-fi”, the street name given to those who cannot merge with the platform, a ubiquitous virtual reality simulation where most of the population now live their lives. You are a police officer and have been transferred to a particularly crime ridden section of city-block 303. The only inhabitants of note in your jurisdiction are other low-fi, and the human intelligence (or lower) artificial life forms who have remained among the citizens after the AI singularity.

GAME DESIGN:
LOW_FI is a massive open-world sandbox style adventure with action elements.

The emphasis is on exploration and character driven story. Like a holodeck program, the player is free to explore the city, further narratives, or just hang out in the arcade and spend their credits if they so choose..

Moral grey areas can be explored via player choice in most situations through their actions or dialogue trees. They can for example chose to take a bribe in a given situation, rather than arrest a criminal, or even frame a third party for personal gain.

You are free to fly around your entire jurisdiction (section 303). Credits are awarded during your shift for both time and for duties (busts, etc.). Credits can be used at black market shops, dark web delivery systems, vending machines etc., for anything from ship upgrades to bribes or just some decorations for your capsule apartment.

We really want LOW-FI to feel like a real world. Completely non-linear and open ended with plenty to see and do.

GAME FEATURES:
-Massive non-linear open world
-Hundreds of crimes and stories to solve and explore complete with branching narratives and dialogue
-Photo-realistic NPCs
-3D positional Audio
-Augmented Reality within Virtual Reality with multiple overlay programs
-AI companions (biological and synthetic)
-Gun-play (Optional)
-Arcade Mini-games