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Early Access Review: Of Lies And Rain
Castello Inc is just a small group of developers who previously launched ARK AND ADE, an impressive arcade shooter. Therefore, when they announced Of Lies and Rain, I felt a bit concerned that such a small team might find it challenging to execute their vision. I have now had the opportunity to explore the early access version; have they been able to achieve something remarkable?
Game Details
Release Date: September 10th 2025
Developer: Castello Inc
Publisher: Castello Inc
Price: £33.50 / US $39.99
Reviewed On: Meta Quest 3
* Access Provided For Review *
A Common Sci-Fi Narrative
In this game, you assume the role of Adam, the final human brave enough to venture outside following the downfall of civilization. Your world has succumbed to a malevolent AI intent on wiping out the last remnants of humanity, forcing the other survivors to seek refuge in underground settlements. This situation is becoming recognised as a common theme in science fiction, across all forms of media, so it’s essential to add something unique to differentiate it.
Exploring Is Importan
The gameplay revolves around exploration, as you progress towards your next checkpoint and venture into new areas. However, numerous obstacles stand in your way, including foes intent on eliminating you, as they aim to eradicate humanity from the planet, puzzles to solve, or the very environment itself, which has transformed in ways that can be deadly. This necessitates engaging in combat with AI enemies, providing you with ample shooting opportunities throughout the game – some of these adversaries evoke a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of Half-Life, but is drawing inspiration from one of the greatest Sci-Fi shooters ever really a negative? As you advance, you’ll acquire a variety of weapons, each offering unique advantages and disadvantages suited to different combat scenarios.
The other gameplay elements at play, can be simple challenges like finding a key card or hacking your way through a door. Moreover, you might have to search for items such as inhalers or gas masks to help you traverse the outdoors, which now includes some toxic environments.
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To access specific doors or regain power, you might occasionally have to venture into data worlds. In these realms, you’ll begin with a digital crossbow in one hand and a booster in the other to aid your movement. These worlds incorporate platforming features and uniquely enable you to jump with the gravity gun. Additionally, you’ll find other weapons within the data worlds, but I’d prefer not to ruin those surprises for you.
In addition to everything else, as you explore, you’ll encounter cubes referred to as GPUs. These will enable you to enhance either your suit or weapons at various stations you discover along your journey. These upgrades provide features such as telekinesis (similar to the gravity gloves from Half-Life Alyx), weapon attachments, buffs, and even some enhancements for your gear in the data world. This highlights the significance of exploration, as the more GPUs you find, the stronger your character and weapons can become.
A Meticulously Crafted World
One notable aspect is the game’s visuals, which are stunning at the beginning. However, as you continue playing, certain areas lose their charm and can seem somewhat dull after exploring metro tunnels adorned with glowing crystal formations. This inconsistency in presentation leaves me uncertain if it was a deliberate choice to illustrate how much it spreads in tighter spaces compared to the open world. Nonetheless, I would really appreciate seeing the more expansive areas receive additional attention before the 1.0 release.
Despite this issue, the world you are discovering remains captivating and enjoyable to navigate. Even in the less populated regions, you will still experience a sense of immersion; it simply requires a touch more attention.
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The audio holds out better than the visuals, and I was not disappointed in any aspect. The environmental sounds are impressive; each enemy type produces unique noises that not only alert you to their presence but also, thanks to the 3D audio, help you pinpoint their exact location. Every weapon has its own audio cues that match the type of weapon being fired, and the voice acting is compelling enough to fully immerse you in the experience.
With virtual reality providing development teams with an excellent opportunity to create immersive worlds for their narratives, Castello Inc has certainly embraced this. They begin by incorporating a wealth of lore concealed within data pads scattered throughout the environment – I highly suggest taking the time to explore these, as they help to bridge narrative gaps. This addition enriches the story and enhances your connection to the meticulously crafted world.
Comfort
Verdict
Of Lies and Rain has made an impressive start in this early access release, and the team is certainly on track to create a captivating VR adventure. It’s astonishing that a five-person development team has accomplished so much so far, with a fascinating world, a well-paced and engaging narrative that keeps you invested, combined with satisfying weapons, puzzles, and the ability to transition between the real world and data worlds, all of which contribute to experience that feels fresh. Although there are some shortcomings, such as certain environments feeling barren, the gravity glove-style mechanics for retrieving items can be a bit unpredictable, and the sometimes punishing checkpoint system (lacking a manual save option) can be frustrating, the game still provides an enjoyable experience in its early access phase. None of these issues are overly prominent or detrimental to the gameplay or immersion, and they could be easily addressed as the game progresses towards its 1.0 release. With this in mind, I believe it would be beneficial for the team to share a roadmap outlining their plans as they approach that 1.0 milestone.
Copyright / Virtual Grip (formally The VR Realm) / 2016 -
