Puzzling Places on PSVR2 - First Impressions after 2P Co-Op

I have uploaded 2P multiplayer gameplay from my fresh experience with the game here if you want to see how it looks / plays. My first impressions are shared below:

It is easy to recommend playing Puzzling Places on the PSVR2, especially if you are into puzzle games or real-world 2D / 3D jigsaw puzzles. With the addition of the 2P co-op multiplayer mode supporting crossplay between PSVR2, Meta Quest and Pico, if you have the option to play this with a friend, consider this highly recommended.

This is a 3D jigsaw puzzle game with twenty-six 3D diorama representing real-world places in the base game and multiple paid DLC packs with more locations available. The base game included puzzles are categorized as Armenia, Biarritz City, Hallwyl Museum, Variety Pack (Volume 1) and MDRS. This game is basically like Walkabout Mini Golf in that it is very casual friendly and very well supported with post-release DLC. The addition of 2P co-op multiplayer means it can now be enjoyed as a social multiplayer game between two players.

You can choose to play using 25, 50, 100, 200 or 400 pieces for each location. One of the base game puzzles even allows 1000 piece puzzle. When you increase the puzzle piece count, instead of having just smaller pieces for the same puzzle you did at 25, it scales up size of the 3D diorama. The controls are relatively simple and intuitive. You can point to grab pieces using either hand and once you are holding a piece or set of pieces, you can use motion controls to twist & turn as needed.

When you put the right pieces next to each other and let go, they snap into place giving satisfying audio / visual feedback. As you start to put your piece together, each place has its own soundtrack that starts playing. When you are near the end with last piece remaining, it starts to sizzle and shimmer and when you place it, there are particle effects and fireworks to celebrate the completion.

For 200, 400 and 1000 piece puzzle there is also a "simple" option, but you need to complete standard option to unlock trophies. On that note, the game features a Platinum which can be earned by completing all the base game puzzles at 25-50, 100-200, or 400 and for at least one that supports it (Tomimäe Orthodox Church), 1000 pieces. There is one 12 minute speedrun trophy for any 100 piece and the rest are about using more of the tools (styler, grouping, peek, etc) or options (like turning off reference pictures). A few are for being skilled / planned to connecting multiple pieces together in one move or already being familiar with a puzzle and being able to complete something like 25 piece puzzle in 25 moves (grab & release). Beyond base game trophies, two of the DLC level packs (Variety Pack Volume 2 and Behind High Walls) have their own set of trophies.

Trophies did unlock for my wife as we played the game in 2P co-op, so I think all of the trophies can be earned playing solo or multiplayer. That said, I don't see that it allows the same save & resume in multiplayer as it does for solo which you may need to utilize for the 400 piece puzzles (1-2 hours) or the one 1000 piece puzzle (4+ hours). That said, I think completing larger piece puzzles in 2P co-op once both are experienced would probably go faster than my solo player time estimates.

Whether you care about the trophies or not, there is a lot of playable content in the base game, many DLC packs available since PSVR2 release and more that continue to release every month or so. It isn't the kind of game I expected to find satisfying, but I do like puzzle games and this one works for me, especially after addition of 2P co-op multiplayer. The game has a free trail available, so you can try for yourself risk-free before deciding to buy.