A Player's Guide to Moss: The Forgotten Relic on Consoles

Moss: The Forgotten Relic compiles the critically acclaimed VR titles, Moss and Moss: Book 2, reworking them for standard consoles. This guide provides a breakdown of the core gameplay mechanics to help new players understand how the unique VR experience has been adapted for traditional controllers.

Understanding Your Dual Role

Two Layers of Play in Moss

Character Control

You guide Quill’s movement and actions like a traditional action-adventure hero.

World Interaction

You also act as the Reader, directly manipulating parts of the environment from above.

Your perspective is fixed in each area, similar to looking into a diorama. This design is a holdover from the game's VR origins but functions effectively in this standard console version.

How to Control the World

The game maps the Reader's interactive abilities, originally designed for motion controls, to a standard controller.

Reader Interaction Methods

Direct Interaction

Shoulder button·Healing and object use

Use the shoulder button to “reach” into the world, letting the Reader heal Quill or manipulate specific objects directly.

Guiding and Pulling

Blue cursor·Puzzle control

Move the blue cursor onto interactive objects or certain enemies, grab them with the interaction button, and reposition them to trigger switches or solve puzzles.

Mastering Advanced Mechanics

As you progress, you will unlock new weapons and abilities that require combining your control of both Quill and the Reader.

One key example is the hammer. While it can be used for standard heavy attacks, its charged attack is essential for puzzles and defeating armored enemies. To perform the charged hammer attack:

As Quill, press and hold the attack button to create a ghostly blue outline of the hammer at her location.

Charged Hammer Sequence

1

Place the hammer outline

Hold the attack button to create the blue hammer outline at Quill’s position.

2

Lock it in place

Release the attack button so the hammer outline remains where it was created.

3

Reposition Quill

Move Quill to another location before triggering the strike.

4

Trigger the impact as the Reader

Move the cursor over the stored hammer outline and press the interaction button to bring it down.

This delayed action allows you to trigger switches or strike enemies from a distance while Quill is safely positioned elsewhere.

What the Adaptation Offers Players

Moss: The Forgotten Relic makes a celebrated series accessible to a broader audience that does not own VR hardware. This addresses a common request from players who wished to experience the Moss saga. While some mechanics are clearly rooted in VR design, the controller-based adaptation successfully translates the charm and innovative puzzle-platforming gameplay. The combination of controlling Quill's action-adventure gameplay while simultaneously manipulating the world as the Reader offers a distinct and engaging experience.