(Image credit Oculus)
The 80’s are making a comeback in more ways than one- Stranger Things (set in that decade) is set to roll on season 2, 80’s fashion trends are ‘like totally’ returning (shoulder pads, leggings, mirrored sunglasses, etc.) and nostalgic video games have exploded back on the scene thanks to the influx of DIY SBC retro gaming machines. Having lived through that decade, I can see the changes everywhere and suffice it to say- it’s gnarly.
For those that have and those that haven’t, we can now relive that decade somewhat vicariously through the eyes of Miyubi- a Japanese toy robot in a new VR game/experience from Felix & Paul Studios in collaboration with Funny or Die, which stars Jeff Goldblum, P.J. Byrne, Emily Bergl and a host of others.
(Image credit Oculus)
The ‘dramedy’ takes place in 1982 where you (Miyubi) are given as a birthday gift to a young American boy from an often-absent father who spends most of his time away on business trips. Like all things tech and toys, you inevitably become obsolete but the ride there is packed with drama and comedic episodes with each member of the family, who have distinctive personalities and fallacies of their own.
Besides the stressed-out absent father, the mother is addicted to soap operas and is seemingly oblivious to the world around her; the daughter is caught up in fairytale land while the older brother likes to spend time with friends smoking recreational dubbage. I think most of all though, Miyubi best connects with the grandpa (a war veteran), who abducts you and suspects you’re a Japanese super weapon of some sort. The thought being both you and the grandfather are slowly becoming irrelevant- him growing old and you eventually being replaced by better technology.
(Image credit Oculus)
The atmosphere is littered with iconic 80’s decorum- VCRs, Kiss music, Battlestar Galactica and a healthy dose of Cold War anxiety with the ever-present threat of nuclear annihilation between the world’s superpowers. The experience allows you to view your environment in a 3600 fashion while interacting with family members, which is key as it allows you a respite of nostalgia looking at all things 80’s. Looking at certain objects allows you to uncover three Easter eggs that unlock a memory of your creator- Jeff Goldblum, who provides an emotional explanation for your existence.
The 40-minute experience is worth the price of admission (it’s free to download here) and while it did trigger some long-forgotten memories of yesteryear, I wish it was fully interactive- like being able to change the music, switching between retro TV shows or being able to escape from that nutty family and explore the world outside. Regardless, Felix and Paul Studios did a great job with Miyubi and I can’t wait to see if they come out with more experiences like it.
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