Chris Harding's Reviews
Time Machine VR sounds like a great idea on paper but its execution is somewhat off. It's neat to be able to mooch around and explore while dinosaurs wander around you, but the thrills only last so long. A short running time and a high price-point make this journey through a time an "are we there yet?" slog.
Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection is the best possible way to play three of the finest games from the series. It's three great games - well, Revelations was good... - for a fair price in my book. Newcomers will have a ball exploring and learning the lore, while old-hats like myself will sit seething in silence at Ubisoft for distancing itself from what made the early games truly wonderful.
The story is quite meaty and definitely worth playing through more than once, even if it's just for the cheap thrills. It's a truly terrifying experience, and now after having been inside a horror game, I don't think I'm ever going to be wimpering at anything on a regular 2D screen. That's VR, baby.
Nasty bugs aside, Watch Dogs 2 is a superb game. A true improvement over the franchise's first outing in just about every sense. A wicked cast of characters backed up by some sharp and witting writing. A visual treat for the eyes and a good mental workout with those mind-bending puzzles. A bloody good game, basically. If you've a gap where Assassin's Creed would normally be at this time of year, Watch Dogs 2 will fill the gap, make another gap, and fill that one too.
Eagle Flight is a genuinely awesome game, and not just an "experience." A decent story mode with the usual collectibles (oh, Ubisoft, never change, darling) and a multiplayer portion that's proper intense makes this a viable purchase. It might seem a little light on content, but in comparison with similarly priced PSVR games, I can't really complain. With a few updates to add in a bit more content, this one could be flapping its wings for a long time.
Robinson: The Journey is sure to divide opinion with its slower gameplay and short running time in contrast with its high retail price. Those aside, the game's a marvel to look at and the audio work is sublime. An action-packed adventure, this is not, but for those who relish exploration and have a keen mind for problem solving, Robinson: The Journey will provide in buckets.
Weeping Doll has the potential to be a thrilling little haunted house mystery game, but it ultimately falls at every major hurdle. The opening few minutes are interesting enough and seem to promise a proper little fright fest, but after playing through the game's meager 1-hour running time, there's just nothing there.
Carnival Games VR is pretty good the first time, but after you've given each of the 12 mini-games a whirl there's not much else to do. There's leaderboards, trophies and prizes to collect, but aside from that, there's not much going for this compilation.
While my experience with Windlands may have been a short-lived romance that ended as all such things do: lots of puke, lying down... A few tears... It's still an excellent game that really shows what can be done outside of the done-to-death first-person shooters that VR and motion controls tend to attract. It's a lovely world to get lost in and I'm hoping that I'll be able to revisit this old flame one day in the future.
For me, Tethered is the first true full single player game for PlayStation VR. It's not just that it offers great value in terms of playtime, but it's a great game, too. There's more than meets the eye with this cute little strategy game, and it's far too easy to get lost within its colourful worlds.
EVE: Gunjack may be a little on the short side, but for the cheapy cheap price, you can't really complain. It's a fun shooter that's got a lot of replay value, not to mention some of the finest head-tracking on the PSVR. Best played in small bursts, and definitely not with a sore neck.
Pixel Gear is cheap and cheerful fun that won't break your digital wallet. The controls work well and the gameplay is top-notch, if only for the relatively short running time. A bit more content and a little more variety would have pushed this one to greater heights, but as it stands it's still a decent game.
A disappointment. That's how I'd sum up PlayStation VR Worlds in a single word. It's a collection of great ideas that could truly throw you into the magic of PlayStation VR, were it not for the feeling that they're half-arsed attempts at what should have been full standalone games.
It's a fun visit to go back to Harry's magical world with the LEGO Harry Potter Collection, it's just a shame that more wasn't done to warrant the relatively high price.
All in all, Ace Banana is a silly little game that provides a slice of first-person-shooter fun that’s sorely missing from the PSVR’s launch lineup, and it’s family friendly, too. It’s not going to be your go-to game to show off your headset to friends and family, but it should keep you entertained far longer than it has any right to. Sharp visuals, cheery music and sound effects plus reliable VR tracking makes this one a solid game. Now, if you’ll excuse me, my bananas need saving.
Batman: Arkham VR may seem like a glorified tech demo, but it's actually got a lot going for it and you'll get more than your money's worth after finishing the story and having a mooch around for the collectibles. It's a good looking release, too, and it does a great job at not only thrusting you inside the murky world of Gotham, but actually making you feel like a bad arse Batman. Top job, Rocksteady. More please.
Yes, the visuals have taken a hell of a beating to get DriveClub VR running on PlayStation VR, but even without the game's trademark obsessive attention to detail, DriveClub VR provides a hell of a lot of fun. Just, er, make sure you've got a bucket parked next to you. You know, just in case.
Mantis Burn Racing sets out to be a fun top-down circuit racer that you can pick up and play with ease. In this respect it has succeeded massively. It's a fun little game that'll keep you going for hours on end with the extensive career mode, though I imagine this game will get its legs from its multiplayer suite. It's a simple, fun, and unpretentious racer that harks back to the good old days when a racing game was just a racing game. Get a mate or two (local or online) and you're bound to have some silly fun.
LASTFIGHT isn't going to be taking the place of any other mainstream fighters on the market today, but it's a nice little deviation from the beaten path. Due to the game's repetitiveness, perhaps this one is best played in small doses, or even better, with a few mates and some beers.
The big standout this year is The Journey. It's a really nice addition to the series and one that I hope EA carries forward to the next game. Maybe a historical story? The rise and fall of one of the greats? Who knows... Bottom line is that it's FIFA and if you're a fan of FIFA, you're going to be fan of this. Simple.