Patrick Anderson
It does feel a bit too soon for The Last of Us Part II Remaster. And this just isn’t the kind of game whose story I want to experience again. Not yet anyway. But Naughty Dog clearly knows this and has put together a package with enough new modes and features to make the upgrade a winning proposition.
Overall, Samba de Amigo: Virtual Party is a fun VR rhythm game that gets you dancing and listening to some good songs. I welcome the fresh style and colorful, cartoony characters. The gameplay is solid rhythm fare, and while it doesn’t really add much new to the genre, it does deliver a solid and polished experience. I just wish the song list was longer and had more of a Latin flavor.
I was expecting to like The Signifier VR more than I did. On paper, it’s got a really cool premise that seemed to offer similarities to Heavy Rain or even the best aspects of Cyberpunk 2077. But the move to VR doesn’t seem to have added much other than slightly downgraded visuals. If you enjoy walking simulators and point and click adventures, then this might be your jam. But otherwise, wait for The Signifier VR to go on sale.
But despite all of these irritations, I still enjoyed Crimen a lot. It is repetitive, yes, but it’s pretty fun most of the way through. It gets a lot of things right, and it’s a great example of how a VR game can be much more immersive than a 2D game. Carbon Studio have put love into Crimen, and it shows. Fun, action-packed and immersive, Crimen – Mercenary Tales is a VR adventure that should be in your Meta Quest 2 library.
Overall, Call of the Sea VR is a good port of a great game, that delivers a memorable and immersive experience. While it loses some of the stunning visuals of its progenitor, its engaging story and satisfying puzzles make it a game you’ll enjoy. Its use of VR is pretty good and it’s worth a replay if you’ve already finished the original. Despite its flaws, Call of the Sea VR is a well-crafted and enjoyable game that is sure to be a solid addition to your VR library.
Overall, Kill It With Fire VR is a fun time and one that is well suited to VR. Taking the tried and true formula of the 2D original, tinyBuild has upped the ante and added a new layer of immersion. While the experience lacks depth after a while, there’s no doubt that it combines gross-out horror with colorful fun in a way that few games these days can match.
Overall I would say that Fractured Sanity is a decent concept that needs more polishing, and more detail. It feels unfinished. I definitely felt uneasy at times, but that was more from the frustrating glitches and general rough edges than actual horror. I would say hold off on picking this one up until it’s updated and fully fleshed-out.
I had bigger hopes for this one. But still Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom is a fun VR adventure game that you’ll enjoy. You don’t have to be a fan of the TV series to enjoy the game, but it helps. Either way, there’s a solid narrative to experience, first-person. And the gameplay is fun and varied, even if the world feels like a beautiful animatronic amusement park ride at times. If you’re a bloke who fancies a good wallop and a bust up at the local boozer, give Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom a look.
Bottom line, if you haven’t played the original The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, I would not recommend you start with this sequel. It’s like starting to watch a movie halfway through. But if you have played it, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 2: Retribution is a great continuation and maybe even a must-play. It’s got all of what made the first game very great, plus a few improvements and additions. For me, returning to post-zombie-apocalypse New Orleans has been uncomfortable, unpleasant … and fun as hell.
No, it’s not perfect but Espire 2 on the Meta Quest 2 is a blast to play. Innovative mechanics, great level design and two really engaging quests more than make up for the few glitches and incomplete multiplayer. If you love stealth games — or you just want to be Ethan Hunt or James Bond for a few hours — pick this one up.
Iron Man VR on the Meta Quest 2 represents the best elements of VR gaming. In first person 3D view, and 360-degree realism, you can get the feeling of truly being a superhero in a way that traditional games can’t match. Sure, it’s a bit on-rails. You’re essentially in a playable movie here. But there’s enough fun and varied experience that you won’t mind. Iron Man VR was already a solid game on the PSVR, but it’s a great Meta Quest 2 title.
If you have been wanting that extreme survival adventure experience on the Meta Quest 2, Into the Radius is your game. It’ll have you alone, outgunned and loving every minute of it. But even for the rest of us, there’s a fun time to be had — provided you can weather the initial frustration.
As I said before, Point and Clicks aren’t usually my thing. Putting things randomly together, making obscure leaps of logic, and cycling through inventories just gets boring for me. But Sunday Gold offers so much more than most Point and Click games. It’s got JRPG-like combat. There’s the fun mini-games. And it’s excellently voice-acted and it looks gorgeous. Sure, the story won’t blow you away but trust me, Sunday Gold is a big game in a little package and it’s definitely worth a look.
I’ve really enjoyed my time with Wands Alliances, and I strongly recommend it for any Meta Quest 2 player. Despite some technical annoyances, it has fun and thrilling team-based combat and a very stylish presentation that’ll have you coming back for more.
World of Mechs has the basics down. It’s a fun mech battle VR game that’s got 20-plus hours of fun to offer, especially if you get into the online component. It’s got intuitive, simple controls and the battle mechanics are sound. There’s a lack of depth right now, and there are still a lot of new maps, details and system tweaks that need to be addressed in order to make this a complete experience. But even so, at $20.00 US this is a VR experience that’s worth your time and money.
MOTHERGUNSHIP: FORGE is a lot of fun. One of the best VR bullet-hell games I’ve experienced, it will have you ducking, bending and swiveling like a demon. It may lack variety and is best played in small doses (and big clear rooms), but If you like bullet-hell survival, and you’ve got a Meta Quest 2, this one is a title to check out.
Who knows – maybe the devs will add more in future updates after launch. Until then, Little Cities is a cute, colorful, well-made little city builder that will offer you lots of casual fun. If you can live with a limited city, and a lack of challenge, you’ll enjoy it. Relax, let the urban sprawl take shape, and just build.
Look, I feel like I’ve been spending a lot of time here bashing Rune Factory 5, and maybe I have. But let me emphasize that I still had a lot of fun with it, and I think other players will too. I might be even a bit addicted to it, honestly. There’s just too much here to not like on many levels. But it’s just missing some finish to its technical aspects, especially the visuals and menus. And it needs some follow-through on all its great ideas to make it coalesce into one great experience. Yes, Rune Factory 5 is many games in one, for better or worse. And if you’re ok with that, you’ll have a lot of fun with it. Now, let’s just hope they fix that menu.
If you’re a fan of the late DJ himself, well this game is a no-brainer. He was clearly a great talent and the music is outstanding. But for everyone else, AVICII Invector: Encore Edition on Meta Quest 2 is still worth strapping on the VR headset and giving a go. The music is great and the gameplay is addictive and fun. If you like rhythm games but you don’t want to sweat (or risk accidentally bonking your family in the head), AVICII Invector: Encore Edition’s chill EDM vibe is the VR experience you’re waiting for.
Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond, if nothing else, represents a symbolic step forward for VR game platforms like the Oculus Quest 2. It’s the closest thing to a AAA title I’ve played on my headset yet. I don’t know if its nearly-50GB file size is warranted given the so-so visuals, but I did have a lot of fun with the Campaign missions. I’ll still wait a while for the multiplayer to work out its kinks, but I can see myself enjoying that eventually, too. All in all, I’m not sure if Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond would do Grandpa proud, but if you own an Oculus Quest 2, it’s a fun experience and worthy of your time.