I absolutely love The Lost Bear; it’s just an utterly delightful experience that utilises virtual reality in a variety of clever ways, with the gameplay mechanics perfectly mixed together with a stunning and immersive world. It really is unique and unlike anything I’ve played in a VR headset so far. The only real downside is just how short the game it is. It has launched with a low price point which I feel is justified, but some players might be disappointed to see that they could easily beat the game in well under an hour with very little on offer to really justify a second playthrough. Still, I had a great time with The Lost Bear and it’s certainly something I can see myself adventuring through again when I want to have a pleasant little journey. It might not be very challenging and is over too soon, but don’t let that put you off giving it a try.
Whilst there are plenty of multiplayer titles on Playstation VR at the moment, none of them capture the vibe of competitive sport quite like Sparc does. The focus on quick-paced one on one action makes for some virtual reality showdowns that aren’t only incredibly tense but also a hell of a lot of fun too. There isn’t a whole lot on offer outside of the online multiplayer options, though it’s understandable seeing as Sparc is at its very best when played with other players. Still, it does mean it’s going to live or die by its community, so hopefully there’ll be plenty of people playing Sparc for a long time. I don’t see why there won’t be though – it’s bloody great.
I’ve played plenty of the different survival games that are available at the moment, yet it’s The Long Dark that has hooked me in the most. The desolate wintery setting just appealed to me from the get go, whilst the tense ‘risk vs reward’ gameplay kept me entertained from start to end. Plus, I can always appreciate a story mode in a game like this – even if it’s not quite finished it… It’s not without its flaws, but overall I’d easily recommend The Long Dark to survival fans. It’s tough as nails and you’re going to die a lot, but it’s so intensely enjoyable that you won’t be able to help but to keep coming back for more.
Whilst it’s certainly not flawless, I actually enjoyed playing through White Day: A Labyrinth Called School. It felt like one of the old-school survival horror titles I played back in the good old days with its cryptic puzzling and eerie atmosphere, and whilst it didn’t feature any form of combat it did ensure that the showdowns with the ‘villains’ were always tense affairs – even if the game WOULD leave you frustratingly waiting for them to get out of your way at times… I wouldn’t recommend playing through the game countless times to unlock all the endings unless you’re a real die-hard completionist, but those who give White Day: A Labyrinth Called School at least one run through should be pleasantly surprised by what it offers. It won’t reach the heights of the likes of Outlast or Resident Evil 7, but it’ll certainly give you an atmospherically enjoyable old-school horror experience.
Theseus isn’t necessarily a bad game, but it’s far from being an exciting one. It goes a long way in proving that third person adventures can work in virtual reality and it’s definitely got me excited to see what might come in the future, but the simple linear gameplay offered here just didn’t do enough to really engage me. There’s no denying it’s atmospheric and looks great, but unfortunately Theseus is a clear case of style over substance.
Whilst the game as a whole is always going to be a polarising one that you’re either going to love or hate, Night Trap: 25th Anniversary Edition is so lovingly crafted that you won’t be able to help but get swooned in by its charm. It’s not an essential release that you simply HAVE to play, but it’s one I’d recommend anyway.
If you’re a fan of the classic games you’re going to be in platforming heaven with Sonic Mania. On the flipside, if you’ve been living under a rock for the last twenty five years and haven’t played a single Sonic the Hedgehog game, Sonic Mania is an absolutely fantastic place to start. You might not appreciate the nostalgic elements as much as a long-time fan, but you’ll certainly appreciate the incredibly fun gameplay that’s on offer from start to end.
I’ve made quite a few comparisons between Dark Souls and Immortal Planet in this review, and to be honest it’s been a little unfair – after all, Immortal Planet is a much smaller game by an even smaller team. It’s more of a bite-size edition of the game that manages to capture the feel of the Dark Souls series, but not the essence. That being said, fans of FROM Software’s much loved series will certainly have fun Immortal Planet. It’s far from perfect, but its satisfying combat mechanics and introduction of its own unique ideas certainly help it offer a thoroughly enjoyable take on Dark Souls’ tough as nails formula.
Whilst Cat Quest doesn’t offer an in depth RPG experience that smashes through the boundaries of game design, it doesn’t stop it offering a thoroughly entertaining adventure to embark on. It prides itself on its simplicity with almost all aspects of the game having an easily accessible feel, yet it is thanks to this approach that the game feels so satisfying to play and easy to find yourself hooked into. Add to that the charming game world and it’s hard not to find yourself absorbed into this tale of felines and Dragons. It’s over fairly quickly and doesn’t do anything that’ll blow you away, but overall Cat Quest offers a charming little adventure that even the most hardcore of RPG purrr-ists will be able to enjoy.
‘The Engima’ offers a great action-packed introduction to Batman: The Enemy Within, with the main players of the season clearly established along with some exciting teases of what’s to come. The action sequences were top notch, the decisions you had to make tense, and the overall presentation as dark and gritty as you’d expect from the depths of Gotham City – it really is a fine showing for the Caped Crusader. The frustrating issues that come with Telltale Games’ releases were present and I did feel like a few tricks were missed with the game’s puzzling, but overall it’s got me incredibly excited to see what’s going to happen next. It’s a welcome return to Batman – The Telltale Series, and Episode Two can’t come soon enough…
Dino Frontier offers an incredibly charming world-building simulation for gamers to play through, with the blend of Dinosaurs and the Wild West working together perfectly in offering a world that you’ll actually really want to be a part of. Add to that the accessible controls and intuitive gameplay mechanics and it’s easy see why you’d get absorbed into the game almost instantly. There just isn’t really enough of it, especially at the game’s high price point. This isn’t a title that you’re going to find yourself spending hours upon hours lost in, but one where it’ll all be over in just a few hours. Whilst this is enough for some games, I would’ve liked to have spent a bit more time in Dino Frontier’s Dinosaur-filled world. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed Dino Frontier and its solid evidence that this kind of game works perfectly within the unorthodox confines of VR. There isn’t enough here to hook you in for too long, but what it does offer is of top quality.
Archangel offers everything you’d expect from piloting a giant Mech thanks to its incredibly satisfying combat mechanics and well designed levels, whilst the competent narrative that comes along with it ensures that you’re kept motivated to vanquish the evil HUMANX scum. There’s this sense of scale on offer that’s simply not possible outside of virtual reality and it makes for some terrific showdowns with your enemies in-game. The short length of the campaign and occasional graphical oddities do hold it back a little, but overall it’s easy to recommend Archangel to anyone who enjoys an action-packed virtual reality shooter.
Redeemer delivers a brutally satisfying old-school action experience that’s a lot of fun to play through. There’s nothing in the game that’s going to blow you away and it’s also lacking the depth found in a modern action game, but it won’t stop you having a hell of a good time as you throw enemies around each level, punch and kick them to smithereens, and eventually rip out their throats all in one combo. It’s savage stuff, but it’s certainly satisfying. It has a few underlying technical issues and it’s lacking in variety, but anyone who loves a good old fashioned top-down brawler should give Redeemer a try.
Smashbox Arena offers incredibly fun multiplayer action, with its dodgeball antics proving to be a blast to play in virtual reality. Wiping out your opponents with a mixture of balls and brutal weapons was really satisfying, whilst the interactive moments in between matches where you could goad opposing players was a bit of a guilty pleasure. You’re just guaranteed to have a good time – even if it does have a fair few bugs that need ironing out. The only concern I have is whether or not the game will have a thriving community or not. If people keep playing the game, I could see myself hooked to Smashbox Arena for a long, long time. If not though, I’m not sure how long I’ll stick with it. For now though, it’s a hell of a lot of fun and most certainly the most enjoyable multiplayer experience I’ve had in Playstation VR.
SUPERHOT VR is one of those virtual reality titles that manages to nail everything perfectly, with the action-packed gameplay and incredibly stylish vibe of the game gelling together incredibly well within the confines of the Playstation VR headset. Being able to dodge bullets all whilst throwing shurikens, bottles, knives, or just shooting at enemies was incredibly satisfying, whilst the clever time-bending mechanics ensure that the game offers you an experience like no other on virtual reality headsets right now. It might be short in length, but much like its predecessor, SUPERHOT VR is simply a must own title.
Tiny Trax offers simplistic yet superb virtual reality racing that lets you see all of the racing unfold in front of and around you. It’s uniquely fun and you’ll find yourself hooked into its simple yet deep mechanics almost immediately. Despite this, it’s let down by a lack of content; what’s on offer is brilliant with each vibrant track full of personality and charm, but there are just not enough of them. I still had a hell of a lot of fun playing the game though. If you get into the multiplayer side of it you’ll easily find yourself easily spending hours on end speeding across the fantastic raceways, whilst the single player is great whilst it lasts. There’s no better way to re-live those days of slot-car racing than by jumping on Tiny Trax – even if it is a little limited in content to play across.
It’s incredibly tough and the daunting task of working across levels can grow a little tiresome over time, but I’ve really enjoyed playing DeadCore. I haven’t managed to conquer every level yet, but it’s got this addictive appeal to it that sees me coming back time and time again to try and reach the pinnacle. Whether or not I’ll get there is another thing altogether, but at least I’m having fun trying. There’s nothing about it that’s going to blow you away, but if you want an enjoyable speed running title that’ll keep you entertained for a low price it’s definitely worth checking DeadCore out.
Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age takes everything that was great about the game when it originally released and improves upon it tenfold, with the expanded Licence Boards, improved visuals and audio, enhanced gameplay, and host of extra additions coming together to make for a fantastically produced package. It doesn’t only give players a chance to play through a classic RPG once more, but also gives those who weren’t so keen on the divisive title the first time around the chance to give it one more try. There are still a few issues that simply can’t be changed, but as a whole I thoroughly recommend Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age. It’s one of the best remastered releases I’ve played so far and I’m glad to finally have been able to finish the game in its freshly enhanced state.
I’ve already mentioned in this review that Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles won’t be for everyone and it’s something that I think is worth reiterating once more. Its focus on offering a tranquil experience that encourages relaxation and trudging along at your own pace won’t be exciting enough for all gamers, whilst the lack of combat and emphasis on crafting will leave some bored after just a couple of hours. There’s simply no hiding from the fact that it’s a very unique, divisive title. Those who enjoy the simplicities that the game offers will love it though, with Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles offering a sense of depth that always remains accessible from start to end. I loved discovering all the beautiful sights of the world, taking on different professions to craft all-new items, fishing and farming, and simply taking in everything that the game had to offer. It’s a wholly refreshing experience that might not be exhilarating, but will certainly warm your heart whilst playing. Its simple yet enjoyable nature won’t be for everyone, but it most certainly was for me.
Arizona Sunshine brings a whole new shooting experience to Playstation VR’s ever-growing catalogue that not only gives players a full-fledged zombie-killing campaign to blast through, but also just so happens to be a hell of a lot of fun to play. I thought we might be waiting a while for our next shooting adventure that utilises the Aim controller meaningfully after Farpoint, but Arizona Sunshine’s arrival has shown that it’s just as much fun to pop zombie’s skulls as it is to kill aliens in Playstation VR. Add to that the fact that the game has expansive multiplayer options as well as multiple ways to play and it’s easy to see why it’s already proven so successful on other VR headsets. Whilst I’ll admit that it is at its best when played with an Aim controller, I more than recommend giving Arizona Sunshine a purchase regardless of whether you own one or not – it’s easily one of the meatiest and most enjoyable experiences available on Playstation VR so far.