Gorn Critic Reviews

GORN is a bloody good time, arriving right at the moment when we need it most. Some strategy is hidden beneath all of the gore and carnage, though you might find yourself just dipping into GORN to bash some heads for a few minutes. While there are some technical limitations brought on by the PlayStation Camera, GORN works pretty well on the PSVR. As both a workout and a psychological enema, GORN succeeds wildly.

Gorn is the perfect way to release pent up frustrations or to just have a bit of a laugh and some fun. While there is not much more to the game it is not necessarily a bad thing. Gorn knows what it is and doesn’t try to be anything else by shoehorning in unnecessary mechanics.

Gorn can be completed in roughly two and a half hours. That runtime is padded out with an Endless Mode and chasing weapon unlocks by appeasing certain in-arena objectives. What I really wanted to see was the asymmetrical Party Mode multiplayer that's in the PC version. The basic gist: mates on controllers can team up and try to do you in using gladiator avatars who all handle like drunk Octodads. Fingers crossed this shows up in an update. For the respectable asking price, I don't think the above situation is a deal-breaker. If you were to go out on a (severed) limb for a speculative purchase, I think you'd find Gorn represents the nicest and red-iest slice of PSVR we've seen in some time.

GORN may not be the longest, most refined game in the world but it certainly has a place in everyone's PSVR collection. Its a place to unwind, a place to have fun and its bloody brilliant. With its wonky physics and bits of enemies flying everywhere it is a great laugh and fun throughout.

Gorn has aged reasonably well. Sure, there are bigger and prettier games available, but few of them match the almost cathartic and brutal fun that Gorn so innately delivers. It works well enough in PSVR to warrant a purchase if you're OK with its limitations. The controls are frustrating and more limited on PSVR than elsewhere, and visuals are clearly a step down, but the core experience is still intact. If that fits the bill for you, it can be a blast, so ready your fist and blade and enter the arena. Just don't lose a limb.

The most enjoyably one-note VR game for a long time, that turns its simplicity into a virtue and whose cathartic ultra-violence is strangely therapeutic in these difficult times.

Gorn is exactly what it looks like; it's silly, over the top, and hilarious. This isn't a serious melee combat game, but if you're after comic ultra-violence, then this is the best option on PSVR. With a little more content, some gameplay beyond battling waves of enemies, and a touch more polish, this would be an easy recommendation, but it's still worth a shot if you want a bit of a giggle.

Gorn puts you in the boots of a powerful gladiator and gives you everything you need to let loose on hapless opponents. When it's at its best, this is a satisfying PSVR experience, offering up truly physical and cathartic action with over-the-top violence. Sadly, it does run into some problems, such as iffy movement and motion tracking problems. There's plenty to like about this OTT title, but without these sticking points it could've been a real PSVR champion.

GORN was an early game on the VR scene and it shows. This is a simple, short game which can feel great when it works but can also frustrate when things don't act as you'd expect.

If Gorn was released on PlayStation VR 3 years ago, it could have been considered a good game. But water has flowed under the bridge, the PSVR now has a catalog of solid games and Gorn looks very pale next to others. A fun concept doesn't make a big game.

GORN is a crazy, violent game that is just fun. However, the developers haven’t taken into consideration the limitations of the PSVR hardware, and they have even removed the asymmetric mode, making the PS4 version quite limited and less enjoyable.

If you’re able to optimize your setup and come in with the right expectations, I’d still say Gorn is an easy recommendation for PSVR fans. No, you’re not getting an epic adventure comparable to the bar-raising The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, but there’s still some of VR’s most entertaining combat on offer here.