Vive Report

Disclaimer: We got this game for free, but with no obligation of a review.

We all know how much life insurance companies try to avoid payouts by investigating cause of death and validating claims. But what if they could go beyond the norms, intercept death, and stop it from happening at all? With Just In Time Incorporated, you can do exactly that!

Just In Time Incorporated by Second Wind Interactive is a clever twist on VR puzzles. In it, you play the role of a “death prevention adjuster.” Equipped with “hyper gloves,” you’re able to slow time down, teleport around and manipulate objects, all while trying to save the policy holder from imminent death.

The game starts at the headquarters of Just In Time Incorporated, a death prevention company, where you’ll find the tutorial and your first handful of puzzles. Each puzzle is represented by a clipboard with details about the policy holder, which could vary from one person to a whole group. There’s a good variety of problems to be solved. One moment you’re in the middle of a military shootout, the next thing you know, you’re in between a moving vehicle and an old man.

Because the policy holder details don’t give you a lot of clues, you’re forced to get creative. Every now and then, I found myself at wits’ end unable to figure out exactly how I could get clients out of harm’s way. How do you intercept a ongoing suicide so that the client can sign an extra clause on their policy? What do you (an unauthorized person) do to unlock a door secured by an iris scanner?

Half of the time, though, it was more about logistics. For example, there’s an element reminiscent of Super Hot’s bullet time, in which everything moves only when you move. In this game, though, everything just moves slowly around you. So, you can grab objects like bullets and knives, then throw or manipulate them any direction you want. The great thing with the logistical puzzles is that the sequences are somewhat randomized. You’ll have to keep your eyes peeled because danger could come from any direction, at any time.

Controls are super simple for Just In Time, Incorporated. Teleport by pressing trackpad, and grab objects with your hyper gloves by pressing trigger.

As you successfully “adjust” assigned cases, you get promoted and are given more complex puzzles. After adjusting the basic cases, the company gives you a code which opens up a new office where you can find the folders for new clients. It took me a little over two hours in total to finish all the puzzles, including the bonus ones. Currently, the game offers a total of 12 puzzles, but the devs are already working hard on their first update. There’s also bonus content hidden somewhere in the offices of Just In Time, Incorporated, you just have to find it!

In the future, workshop support would be awesome for players to create their own content. The possibilities are endless! Imagine staging historic events, like the Lincoln assassination, in VR?

I’m such a sucker for VR puzzle games, so Just In Time Incorporated is a welcome and refreshing addition to the genre. Second Wind found a brilliant concept and gave it an interesting twist. Each puzzle’s premise is thoughtfully created, while the controls and 3D low-poly assets keep everything else functionally simple. I think the devs have successfully balanced a super fun idea along with making great use of room-scale immersion. Once I got into it, I was having so much fun that I forgot I was actually dealing with death! Just In Time puts the fate of people’s lives in your hands, what you do with them, is up to you.

Get your hands on Just In Time Incorporated, available on Steam at a discounted price of $17.99 until August 3 (regular price $19.99).

-shurl