Augmented Empire [Meta Quest 3] | REVIEW

Augmented Empire originally debuted on the Oculus Go back in 2018, with it immediately standing out as one of the platform’s more impressive story-driven releases. And now, the turn-based strategy experience has been refined and re-released on the Meta Quest, all whilst leveraging the platform’s mixed reality capabilities to make for an immersive experience that still manages to be a lot of fun six-years on from its original release.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Set in the city of New Savannah in 2058, Augmented Empire puts players in the role of X – a mysterious and elusive figure directing a ragtag team to do their deeds. The city is deeply segregated, with the elite basking in luxury while the underprivileged languish in dangerous, rundown areas. Your mission? To guide your crew of misfits to challenge the oppressive authoritarian regime. With intriguing characters and twists aplenty, it makes for a thrilling experience, whilst voice performances from notable actors such as Kate Mulgrew and Nick Frost really help bring some prestige to the storytelling.

At its core, Augmented Empire is a tactical, turn-based strategy experience, with players commanding their team in battles that emphasize line-of-sight mechanics and careful positioning as they look to dispose of their foes. Movement and combat unfold on a grid system, requiring you to find cover, flank enemies, and time attacks precisely, all whilst strategizing to ensure you get the upper hand over foes and keep yourself safe in the process. A unique reactive mechanic also adds an additional layer of intricacy to combat – attacks and defences rely on timed button presses, where accuracy determines whether you score a critical hit, scrape an opponent, or miss entirely.

Each character also has unique skills that unlock as they level up, allowing for varied strategies that the player is able to fine-tune to suit their playstyle. Players can collect items, interact with characters, or uncover lore scattered throughout each environment too, with more to the world than simply taking down your enemies in calculated showdowns.

“With its slick sci-fi narrative and enjoyable tactical gameplay, Augmented Empire is still worth your time six-years on from its initial release.”

It makes for an enjoyable experience that demands some real strategic prowess to succeed through, with some genuinely challenging scenarios to face that’ll push your skills as you progress. That being said, it could also be guilty of being a little bit repetitive the longer you play, and whilst you’ll still need to be strategic in your approach, you’ll also find yourself doing a lot of the same things over and over again. It never feels boring (especially with the swift button-pressing for maximum efficiency in-battle), but there were times where I wish it had a little extra spark just to keep the experience varied and engaging.

Augmented Empire’s newly introduced mixed reality features allow players to experience New Savannah like never before, with the game world becoming a diorama-like landscape that you can either place on real-world surfaces or simply let hover in front of you. While some players might prefer the traditional virtual reality setting that doesn’t take place in your living room (and that’s still possible), the mixed reality option adds a fresh dimension to the experience that really shows just how far the tech has come in the last six years.

Visually, I think Augmented Empire looks fantastic, especially when in mixed reality. The game boasts a wide scale of environments that capture the sleek essence of cyberpunk perfectly, with each locale meticulously crafted with plenty of attention to detail to help immerse players further in the grimy yet gorgeous world of New Savannah. Whether you’re admiring the neon-lit ambiance of a bar or the polished displays of a museum, the environments are a treat to explore.

Check out some screenshots down below:

It’s just a shame that these locales don’t offer more instances of interactivity. It’s great seeing this living, breathing sci-fi world in front of you, especially in mixed reality, so it feels like a missed opportunity that players can’t interact with it more or see the world itself utilise the player’s surrounding to its advantage. Maybe I’m being a little fussy, especially since this is a re-release of an older game that wasn’t developed with mixed reality in mind, but come on… imagine how cool it would’ve been.

Developer: Coatsink
Publisher: Coatsink
Platform(s): Meta Quest 3 (Reviewed), Meta Quest 2
Website: https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/augmented-empire/7618080518206990/