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video game reviews

Terra Alia: A Multilingual Adventure VR Just Got Updated. Is it Better?

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I was sent a free copy of Terra Alia: A Multilingual Adventure VR to review for my blog. You can read the original review here. I was asked to revisit the title and reevaluate my initial review based on recent improvements and a new online multiplayer game mode. As always, while I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will remain unbiased.

If you’re looking for accessories for your VR headset, like magnetic prescription lenses or a high-quality charging cable, get it at ZyberVR. Use discount code CHURAPE for 15% off. You can also always buy me coffee. 

What is Terra Alia?


Terra Alia is a VR RPG that attempts to teach its players a new language. Magic and technology in Terra Alia are powered by words and phrases in another language, and it is up to the players to explore the world and learn them. The game accomplishes this through its minigames and puzzles. Players must speak the words to learn them and eventually cast them as spells. There are also word-matching puzzles that help players practice and associate the new words and phrases they learn. The power is out there, it’s up to you to find and harness it.

What’s new?

The most important change this time around has to be the performance. While the game ran fine when I first picked it up, there has been a noticeable improvement. Combat and movement feel smoother, and the voice recognition is better. It wasn’t unplayable before, but there were some challenges I couldn’t complete because the game didn’t understand me. It is cool to see that the team is hard at work trying to make their game better.

There are also three new locations to explore, with new quests to complete. The new locations are neat, and they come with some noticeable improvements to visuals and animations.

The biggest change is the inclusion of the online multiplayer game mode. This is a four-player game mode (2v2) where players race to be the first team to fill their vocabulary meter. There are holograms scattered across the field that players must find and correctly name. The mode is available in ten languages, and a creative way to think about multiplayer.

Impressions

I have to commend the team for working so hard to make this game work. You can see the passion behind the project with each update. This time around, the experience was a lot smoother and the game looked better. That said, the game is still hard to recommend.

As a tool to learn a new language, it works fine. Exploring the world to pick up new words to cast magic is a cool idea, and the mini-games make for good practice. It is a very creative approach to learning language, but one that can grow stale. The leveling felt less of a grind, but the grind still feels repetitive. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it makes this one of those games I can’t play for too long without losing interest.

The story is fine. It isn’t anything genre-defining, but it was good enough to hold my attention. The flavor of the world, especially for the new locations is neat and and helped keep my attention longer.

I have no interest in the Multiplayer mode, not that I could find the game. It is a neat concept, but I can see it losing its luster after a couple of games. It could be fun with a good group of friends, but I didn’t like the little I got to play enough to try. This is just personal preference.

So is this game worth it with its new update? It depends. Terra Alia is a very mid-RPG with an interesting gimmick. If you like the gimmick and want to pick up a few words in a new language, you’ll get your

$20 worth of entertainment. If you’re looking for a new game for your kids, this is an inoffensive one that teaches them a new language without being boring. If none of these apply to you, I’d move on. The gimmick isn’t strong enough to make the game a good RPG, but the gimmick is valuable for those who want to learn a new language. This game won’t make you fluent, but you’ll have some fun learning a new way to say hello.

You can pick up Terra Alia: A Multilingual Adventure for the Meta Quest for $19.99 (currently $10.99 until August 23, 2024).

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The Streaming and Charging Cable from ZyberVR is a solid addition to your VR Kit

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The last product I am reviewing for ZyberVR is their USB-A/C Streaming and Charging Cable. I will note that I am an affiliate, and I was sent the cable for free. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions on the product. This will be my honest review.

Make sure you read my reviews for the 2-in-1 multipurpose sticks, and the prescription lenses as well. Please use my discount code CHURAPE at checkout for 15% off your purchase. If you enjoy these reviews, make sure you like, comment, subscribe, and share them with your friends.

There isn’t too much to say about this cable other than it beats paying $80 for the official Quest Link cable. For $33, you are getting a thick durable 16 ft (5m) cable. It has easy-to-see LED indicators to let you know that it is charging, and 16 feet is a good length for play. At least it was for my setup. The port has a convenient 90-degree angle so it doesn’t get in the way when it’s hooked up, and it comes with a built-in USC-A to C adapter that you can cycle through easily. This is incredibly convenient because you don’t need to have a separate dongle for those times you need USB-C.

ZyberVR promises high transfer rates of up to 20 Gbps and 2.2 Gbps streaming speed, but I don’t have a rig to test this. That said, transferring files to and from my headset felt quicker, and I never experienced any lag or stutters while playing games from my PC.

I can’t compare this to the official Meta cable because I am not spending $80 on a cable when cheaper comparable alternatives exist. If you are looking for a cable for your VR setup, check out the Streaming and Charging Cable by Zyber VR. It’s long and sturdy, and it gets the job done. If you buy anything from Zyber VR, make sure you use my discount code CHURAPE at checkout for 15% off.

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The ZyberVR Multipurpose 3-in-1 sticks for the Meta Quest 2 are a neat accessory you might want

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ZyberVR sent me their Multipurpose 3-in-1 sticks for the Meta Quest to review and made me an affiliate. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the product.

The multipurpose sticks are accessories for the Quest 2 motion controllers that provide users with added immersion while gaming. They are usable in three modes: Dual handle, golf handle, and long handle. The dual handle is designed for games with swords, like Beat Saber. The long handle connects the two handles in the middle and is perfect for games like Kayak VR. The golf handle is self-explanatory.

The kit comes with two color-coded handles, two clearly labeled motion controller clips, two thick wrist straps, two clear plastic halo casings, and a tube to connect or extend the handles. The accessories are built from good quality plastic, the foam is comfortable, and there is no way the controllers are slipping off during play. The instructions are in Mandarin, but the pictures are easy to follow. Instantiation and switching between the accessories is fast and simple.

What I appreciated most about this product are the added protective accessories that come with it. The kits come with thick and sturdy wrist straps to replace the ones included with the Quest 2. The straps are easy to install and aren’t coming off. The kit also includes clear silicon casings for the motion control halo. These are easy to install and don’t interfere with tracking. They aren’t going to keep your controllers from breaking after a large impact, but they will keep them from scratching and scuffing from the lighter ones.

The only game I own to test the stick on is Beat Saber, and it worked perfectly. They provided a more immersive experience, a comfortable grip, and slip protection from my overly sweaty hands. Playing with the sticks felt more accurate, and I saw an improvement in my performance. One issue I had was that anything that involved the buttons or triggers became awkward. This might be something you can get used to, but I never did. This accessory is best when you don’t need comfortable access to any of the buttons.

If you spend a lot of time in VR and need the extra emersion, this is a fantastic accessory. Unlike the ZyberVR Prescription Lenses, the Multipurpose 3-in-1 sticks aren’t something you need for your setup, but it is something you will appreciate having once you use them. The kit goes for $34.99 on the Zyber store and is currently $8 off. If you buy anything from the ZyberVR store, don’t forget to use my discount code CHURAPE at checkout for an extra 15% off.