Raid: World War II is disappointing on almost every level. Playing the game is a chore, and many of the core ideas are either clumsy or poorly executed. Even with the clever premise, your time is much better spent elsewhere.
Hollow is, well, a hollow experience. A great atmopshere can't save the poor performance issues, lackluster combat, and tedious exploration.
Pixel Heroes: Byte & Magic has a lot going for it at first with clever humor and many intriguing RPG, rogue-like systems in place, but the archaic design and multitude of navigation problems mar the overall experience. The Bitfather definitely had their heart in the right place creating this title, and it can be seen in the retro call-backs to many fantasy stalwarts. However, no amount of nostalgia can cover up the glaring control issues and dull, dreary combat present in the final product.
Smashbox Arena could have been a great competitive game to play on PS VR, instead it's just another generic VR shooter with an underpopulated online community. While the VR motion tracking is on the positive end of most VR titles and the simplicity makes its accessible to about anyone; the dull gameplay, poor visuals, and overabundance of glitches make it more of a chore to play through than needs to be.
Arizona Sunshine has an intriguing premise and enough customizations with the control scheme to warrant a play through if you have a PS VR. Just be aware, this has not been optimized very well from the PC versions, being held back by the restrictions from the inferior tech of PS VR. That being said, I still had fun shooting zombies and there still is much to like with the vibrant visuals and added multiplayer content, even if calibration issues and inconsistent aiming take you out of the experience far too often.
Slam Land shows off a lot of potential, but never truly realizes it. It is still a fun and humorous experience with friends, just don’t expect a deep and rewarding experience.
The Lost Child is a solid dungeon crawler RPG that doesn't innovate in many areas, but is still fun to play. The repetitive nature of combat and exploration is a shame, but the story should keep you interested to the end.
Oh...Sir! The Hollywood Roast is a fine game to play with friends for an afternoon, however, quickly becomes an afterthought after a couple of hours of play. There is some fun to be had, just don't expect a deep and engaging experience.
The Solus Project ends up being somewhat of an anomaly with its version of survival and exploration gameplay. On one hand, the environments and setting are absolutely incredible and it becomes a world I want get lost in. Unfortunately, it's hard to recommend due to the cumbersome controls, unintuitive UI, and poor optimization of inventory management.
Kung Fury: Street Rage ends up being a decent distraction from other major retail releases in short bursts, but is severely hampered by the lack of modes and overall repetitiveness of it all. What can be said is how Hello There definitely put in the work to show adoration for the 80's with a authentically crafted look into what made that era great. Street Rage is fun in short gameplay sessions, but its a game no one really needs to own unless you're a big fan of the movie.
Overall, Circuit Breakers is a decent arcade shooter with a nice retro style aesthetic. I wish there was more variety and more extras, considering there are a good amount of titles similar to this already available on consoles and PC, and because of this it becomes hard to fully recommend as a purchase. You are pretty much getting a very basic twin-stick shooter missing any type of style or personality. However, if you are looking for a new local arcade shooter to play with friends, this may be what you are looking for.
Smash Hit Plunder is another fun and enjoyable VR experience that would have benefited from a more varied approach to how the gameplay is implemented. Still, it is worth purchasing if you need a game in VR where you just break stuff.
Heroes of the Monkey Tavern is a worthy addition to the dungeon crawling genre, although it is undoubtedly retro to a fault. While the simple graphics and generic enemy designs are disappointing, the actual dungeon crawling is effective in its purpose, and can be enjoyable if you come in expecting it to be nothing more than what it is.
Maize could have been quite a pleasant surprise with its clever writing and memorable characters. Unfortunately, it ends up failing both technically and interactively with a few instances of game-breaking bugs and poor optimization for consoles. The story is worth seeing through to the end, but everything around it ends up dragging Maize down.
Since Radial-G Racing Revolved is one of the few futuristic PSVR racers on the market, it may be worth a cursory glance. Unfortunately, I can see it becoming obsolete once a juggernaut like Wipeout VR comes into the fray.
Mugsters takes some time to get going, but once it does, it is a gameplay experience that is immensely fun and rewarding. There may be some faults with the presentation, but overall, it was an enjoyable experience.
Smoke and Sacrifice is a title I am conflicted about. I love the art direction and foreboding atmosphere with clever crafting mechanics, but the poor combat gameplay and unforgiving difficulty are frustrating. If you're intrigued by the premise though, it is definitely worth checking out.
Subaeria is a unique and fun top-down rogue-like title that strays away from traditional conventions in the genre in mostly successful ways. The lack of content and repetitive game design may hinder the replayability, but the time you do put into Subaeria will most likely be rewarding.
Humble Hearts has managed to create a fun little title with Never Stop Sneakin'. While far from perfect and lacking the complexity to make the gameplay memorable, the fast-paced combat is addictive and the Metal Gear Solid references are fantastic.
AER: Memories of Old is a wonder to behold with solid flight mechanics and a beautiful art style. It's a shame the story, dungeon exploration, and lack of things to do hinder the final product.