Propagation: Paradise Hotel [Quest 2] | REVIEW

Horror and virtual reality are the PERFECT combination, especially when the developer puts a lot of care and attention into making the experience atmospheric and unnerving for the player. And believe me, Propagation: Paradise Hotel certainly hits the mark there, with its eerie horror escapade one that stands out as one of the more impressive I’ve played on the Meta Quest 2.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Propagation: Paradise Hotel puts players in the role of Emily Diaz, a young woman who finds herself one of the only survivors left in the titular Paradise Hotel following the spread of a mysterious disease. Unfortunately, there’s a lot more to this disease than simply killing off those it infects; it also turns them into monstrous zombies that want to tear you apart. Whilst you’re initially left isolated in the hotel and awaiting rescue, you soon hear that your sister is alive and somewhere in the hotel. You know what that means, right? Yep, it’s a fight for survival across the hotel halls as you slowly unravel the mystery behind what exactly has happened.

Propagation: Paradise Hotel feels a LOT like the classic Resident Evil titles. From the premise to the gameplay, everything about it is clearly inspired by Capcom’s famed franchise. As a long-time fan of the series, this ticked all of the right boxes for me, with a good balance of exploration and horrific tension keeping me fully invested from start to end.

With that in mind, you might have a rough idea as to what to expect from Propagation: Paradise Hotel. Players will work their way through the hotel, all whilst completing some creative puzzles, scouring for the items needed to progress, and fighting off the monstrous threat that always seems to be lurking around the corner. You’ve got to keep on top of your own resources too, with ammo and health items limited – you’ll also need batteries for your torch, especially when traversing through some of the game’s darker hallways. It’s typical survivor horror stuff (and I’d argue the puzzles could have been a bit trickier to solve), but it’s all executed effectively to ensure there’s plenty of satisfying tension as you play.

“It’s the fear of the unknown that gets you the most in Propagation: Paradise Hotel, whilst the gruesome sights you encounter act as a constant reminder that you are very much the prey in this deadly situation.”

When it comes to combat, players have access to two guns throughout the game: a pistol and a shotgun. Each is pretty efficient at taking down the wandering creatures out to get you, especially when landing headshots, though you do have to keep on top of your ammo count – especially since the zombies will often rise back from the dead after you’ve taken them down once. It adds a sense of urgency to the experience, though for the most part you’ll be done with an area before they have the chance to cause a problem again. There are some nastier monsters that rear their head later in the game too, but they just typically require a few extra shots to take down. Just be warned, whilst the difficulty of the game is fair, if you find yourself in a sticky situation and overwhelmed with enemies, you might swiftly meet your demise if you’re not quick enough to get away. It’s intense, but undeniably fun.

In many ways, the game keeps things simple, with both combat and exploration following the same tropes you’ve seen in other horror virtual reality titles. It never over-complicates things, but also offers plenty of moments of interactivity for players as they scavenge for resources or interact with puzzles to progress. There’s nothing here you wouldn’t have seen before, but at the same time everything is competently designed so it’s hard to complain too much. It also helps that the hotel itself is a treat to explore, with plenty of variety and grisly sights to be found on your adventure.

It deserves praise for its unnerving atmosphere that’ll constantly keep you on the edge of your seat too. Horror in virtual reality can be a bit predictable, and sure, Propagation: Paradise Hotel is guilty of having some of the typical jump scares you’ve seen time and time before, but it also provides scares by simply making the player feel uncomfortable. What’s that stumbling ahead of you? What’s that noise? What am I going to find at the end of the creepy hallway? It’s the fear of the unknown that gets you the most in Propagation: Paradise Hotel, whilst the gruesome sights you encounter act as a constant reminder that you are very much the prey in this deadly situation. It’s really cool, whilst the top-notch visuals (which look great on the Meta Quest 2) and eerie sound design really complement the whole experience.

Check out some screenshots down below:

That being said, the voice acting and cinematic presentation could feel a little weird and out-of-place, which did hurt the presentation a bit. I know, I know, it captures the vibe of the old Resident Evil games accurately and it does have *some* charm, but at the same time I feel like Propagation: Paradise Hotel deserved a bit better, especially since it absolutely nails the atmosphere. There’s also the fact that the game feels unfinished, with everything coming to a somewhat abrupt conclusion after around three hours with the promise that it’ll continue in the future. Jurassic World Aftermath did something similar and it left a bit of a sour taste, especially since it’s not implied before playing (such as labelling the game Part One or something). And sure, I’m GOING to play the next entry, but it would have been nice to know beforehand.

Developer: WanadevStudio
Publisher: WanadevStudio
Platform(s): Meta Quest 2 (Reviewed), PC VR
Website: https://www.propagation-vr.com/paradise-hotel.html