Gameplay: “STRIDE: Fates” immerses players into an adrenaline-pumping VR experience, packed with parkour stunts and thrilling combat. As a futuristic Chaser in Airon City, you utilize augmented abilities to chase down enemies using a variety of weapons and slick moves like air-vaulting, wall-running, and slow-motion kills. The game’s physics-based combat system makes every fight feel dynamic and personal, but the AI falls short, making enemies feel more like moving targets than real adversaries. Despite this, the game shines through its fluid action and six hours of objective-based levels, which challenge you to flex your skills.

Parkour Mechanics: Running, jumping, and swinging around in “Fates” is exhilarating, and the physics-based interactions allow for creative combat styles reminiscent of “Blade & Sorcery.” Although the parkour works well most of the time, it suffers from inconsistencies in climbing and certain awkward movement mechanics that can break the immersion. You’ll enjoy moments of feeling like a true parkour master, but may also experience frustrations due to imprecise grabbing mechanics.

Combat and AI: While the shooting and melee mechanics provide satisfying moments, especially with the stylish slow-motion, the AI is lackluster. The enemies’ basic behavior can make encounters feel repetitive, with only a few boss-level foes offering a real challenge. The game’s gunplay also feels underwhelming at times due to awkward aiming and reloading mechanics. However, the promised manual reloading update could improve this aspect.

Puzzles: The game includes light puzzles that add variety, drawing some inspiration from “Half-Life: Alyx.” These puzzles range from carnival-style games to unique “Cyber Space” obstacle courses. Although simple, they contribute to unlocking new areas and weapon upgrades, which adds some replay value.

Immersion and Story: The story, while serviceable, won’t win any awards. It tends to be trope-heavy with voice acting that lacks polish. Despite this, the game’s level design keeps things fresh with a mix of indoor and outdoor environments. Though stealth mechanics are present, they often feel underutilized due to the overpowered nature of the combat. At its best, the narrative is “so bad it’s good,” keeping players engaged with the sheer fun of the gameplay rather than the story’s depth.

Comfort: “Fates” handles artificial movement impressively well for a game with so much fast-paced action, but players sensitive to VR movement may need periodic breaks. Issues arise mainly from the rope-repelling sequences or occasional glitches, such as unintended wall-sliding.

Final Verdict:

“STRIDE: Fates” delivers a satisfying parkour and combat experience in VR, despite its rough edges. The game is a blast when everything works together, though its flaws in AI, combat mechanics, and story may deter some. For those who enjoy action-packed VR experiences with a high degree of freedom and stylish combat, “Fates” is worth diving into—especially if you’ve been craving a VR-native parkour adventure.