10 Quick PSVR Launch Game Impressions

PlayStation VR Worlds

Senior Editor Chris Jecks: PlayStation VR Worlds is less a game and more a collection of different VR experiences. Included on the disc is the gritty action game, The London Heist, sci-fi exploration game, Scavengers Odyssey, immersive underwater experience Ocean Descent, fast-paced racing in VR Luge, and Danger Ball which is essentially a modern take on the classic Pong.

While each title definitely makes good use of the VR, some feel more polished than others. The London Heist, while short, is an enjoyable action-packed time, while VR Luge was a nauseating and blurry one. If you’re looking for a neat way to show off the immersive nature of VR experiences then Ocean Descent is a great way to introduce friends to the PSVR, but it offers little in terms of replayability.

As for Danger Ball, it’s a good bit of fun that’ll get you used to the head tracking of PSVR, but it feels like more of a mini-game than anything else. It’s actually Scavengers Odyssey that stands out as the most enjoyable title with its simple space exploration. Targeting the next little planet and spinning your way through the vast emptiness of space is as captivating as it sounds.

In terms of a launch title, VR Worlds falls a little short of the mark. If you picked it up as part of the Launch Package then consider it another demo disc. If you’re looking for something to try out on your new tech, you’re best looking elsewhere.

Rise of the Tomb Raider: Blood Ties VR Mission

Writer Tom Hopkins: The virtual reality component of Rise of the Tomb Raider comes in the form of Blood Ties, a DLC add-on that is available for all platforms but only in VR on PlayStation 4. Blood Ties puts you in control of Lara as she explores Croft Manor in search of secrets about her parents. As you explore you get time to take in the beauty of the architecture and learn more about the iconic character’s family.

The mission can be played in two ways: Comfort Mode or Free Mode. The former allows you to control Lara by pointing in a direction and teleporting, exploring each area when standing still. It is easy to grasp and is an effective way of moving around. However, Free Mode isn’t as effective. It gives you more control in movement, but you’re far more likely to experience severe motion sickness.

Blood Ties is a great use of the PlayStation VR, especially in Comfort Mode, and is a great bit of DLC to an already excellent game.

Until Dawn: Rush of Blood

Senior Editor Chris Jecks: Until Dawn: Rush of Blood is one of those experiences that doesn’t offer a lot of content, but gets away with it because it offers a purely fun experience. You’ll make your way through seven different Until Dawn-themed stages in your cart as you blast enemies that approach you. Due to this, the story mode isn’t going to keep you enthralled for all too long as the replayability leans on the appeal of finding all collectible skittles and beating your friends’ high scores. While this may appeal to some, it’s unlikely a majority of players will be hooked by this, particularly due to the short levels.

While the PSVR’s immersion was perfect for heightening tension and jump scares in these levels, I was jolted out of it occasionally due to distant objects appearing blurry and almost out of focus.

If you can get over this, the scares and immersion are a good way to test out your PSVR. Just don’t be expecting it to keep you entertained for too long after the credits roll.

EVE: Valkyrie

Senior Editor Chris Jecks: One of the most hotly anticipated experiences leading up to the PSVR’s release was EVE: Valkyrie. Offering players the opportunity to take to space in their ship and battle it out with other players may sound simple in premise, however, PSVR not only makes this an incredibly immersive experience but one with a surprising amount of depth to it as well.

There’s a range of ships, skins, and other customization options that players can unlock and purchase by completing matches and earning Silver and Scrap. Though Valkyrie is largely a multiplayer experience, there are some smaller single-player elements thrown in for good measure. A few training missions will help you get to grips with the controls of your new fighter and other modes allow you to explore all of the game’s maps if you don’t fancy a battle.

Valkyrie is one of the most polished games in PSVR’s launch lineup and one of the best at utilizing PSVR in a way that feels natural and just right. If you’re after being truly wowed by your PSVR and are interested in the intense action of battling it out in space with other players then Valkyrie is one of the best purchases you can make right now.

Bound

Writer Tom Hopkins: Bound launched for the PlayStation 4 back in August to relatively good reception but it didn’t get that much attention. Since it was always clear that it would be playable in PlayStation VR, maybe people were waiting to play it. If that was the case, they certainly made the right choice as Bound is significantly better in VR.

The atmospheric, graceful platformer flows beautifully with the abstract visuals engulfing your view. Mechanically it is the same game that released a few months ago but the sound, movement, and art style are far more effective. PlayStation VR makes Bound relaxing and it doesn’t exhaust you after 10 minutes like some of the other launch games.

Anyone who picked Bound up in August and now has a PlayStation VR, I would recommend giving it another try. For those who haven’t yet picked it up, it is more than worth buying.

Rez Infinite

Senior Editor Chris Jecks: Rez has always been applauded for blending music, visuals, and gameplay into one hell of an experience. It’s simple premise has players shoot down targets as the protagonist ‘entity’ makes its way through the different layers of levels, yet it has withstood the test of time and in fact feels even better thanks to PSVR. Flying through these vividly colored, trippy worlds in VR, aiming at targets by moving your head, and seeing the whole world pulse around your periphery in time to the music is a surreal experience.

Rez Infinite is the title I’d recommend to anyone who’s got PSVR whether you’ve played it before or not. It’s an entirely different experience in VR and really shows how incorporating it into existing games can be suitable when the source content is right. There’s even a drop of new content to tempt existing Rez fans into another purchase, too. Trust us, you won’t regret the purchase.

DriveClub VR

Writer Tom Hopkins: The original Driveclub may have had a troubled launch but it quickly morphed into an excellent game both online and off. The car models, tracks, and weather effects were beautiful and the arcade-style driving mechanics made it easy to pick up and play. Now, after developer Evolution had closed, Driveclub has made its way to PlayStation VR and the great gameplay has been carried over, alongside some issues. For the most part, it is the same game. The menus, most of the tracks and cars, and the gameplay are identical but the visuals have taken a huge hit.

The smaller details from the main game have gone, the cars and tracks are blurry, and the weather effects have been removed. It doesn’t look worse than the other PlayStation VR games but it isn’t even close to the beauty of the original. To further compound DriveClub VR’s woes, the game has a tendency to give players (myself included) horrible motion sickness – more than any other game on the system. The slower events are okay but as soon as the more powerful cars come into play and you struggle to control them, you may begin to suffer. Not one for VR newcomers.

Thumper

Senior Editor Chris Jecks: Thumper just kind of appeared out of nowhere and wowed players and critics alike. Another launch lineup title that makes good use of psychedelic visuals, intense music, and VR to provide one hell of a sensory overload. Thumper sees you controlling a little beetle on what is basically a track. You’ll have to control it around dangerous corners, have it interact with lights at the right times, and generally avoid obstacles, all of which just happens to create an incredible soundtrack.

While this sensory overload is definitely part of Thumper’s VR appeal, it can also be to its detriment. You see, the neon flashes, intense bass, and high level of hand-eye coordination can all be a bit overwhelming and honestly exhausting.  Taking everything in and nailing everything the game throws at you at such a fast pace is incredibly enjoyable and challenging, but you’ll most likely want to head for a nap after an extensive session.

If you like your rhythm games, Thumper is a dark, psychedelic take on the genre and a perfect example of how much better games can be in VR.

Batman: Arkham VR

Writer Tom Hopkins: Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham games are known for their stellar writing and performances and those strengths translate excellently over to Sony’s virtual reality headset. Arkham VR puts you in the shoes of Batman as he attempts to discover why his allies, Nightwing and Robin, have failed to check in with HQ.

Using gadgets, your intuition, and the newly developed detective mode, you need to work your way through the clues. Along the way, you will meet some of the series’ iconic villains and coming face to face with them in VR is an incredible experience.

As a short story and showcase of the power of PlayStation VR, Arkham VR is fantastic but it is far too short to be classed as the best PSVR launch game. Lasting less than an hour, not including the Riddler challenges, the game doesn’t have much replay value. But as a starting point, Arkham VR is a great addition to your PlayStation VR library.

Job Simulator

Writer Tom Hopkins: Have you ever dreamed of being a gourmet chef? Maybe a mechanic? Well, Job Simulator gives you the chance and it isn’t as boring as it might sound. Set in the future, in a ‘job museum’ ran by robots,  you are given a number of tasks in one of four jobs: mechanic, chef, office worker, and store clerk. It is mostly silly fun, based on slapstick humor and ridiculous characters.

It is also one of the PlayStation VR games that requires the most movement. You’ll be reaching up, down, left, and right as you pick up items and move levers. The cartoon-style visuals also help it in VR and it adds to the humor of the game. It’s great fun to mess around with, especially with a group of friends. These would normally be mundane and boring tasks in real-life, but Job Simulator manages to just make everything much more fun.