Unless you’ve been living under a large stony boulder – which, lets face it, is possible in a world where people are making houses out of nearly anything – you’ll know that it’s PlayStation VR week! After many months in gestation Sony have finally released the headset and so far it’s utterly lived up to my expectations. As an entry-level VR device it does a fantastic job of putting you in a game, and making you feel part of the action, although the disconnect from the real world is very odd. In twenty years time we could be looking on PSVR as the starting point for easily accessible VR entry point leading to the tech’s widespread use. On the other hand it could just be another Kinect or Wonderbook, but to me it feels far more revolutionary than that.
There’s been a lot of PSVR-related malarkey here at TSA Towers, with four of us jumping on the early adopter bandwagon. Head honcho Tef played lots of Battlezone, Driveclub VR and RIGS, all of which stood up really well, though it’ll be interesting to see when or if we see developers aiming for something larger. He’s also not allowed to talk to you about two other games, mainly because he can’t remember what he can say and has gone for the safe option!
Tuffcub has been playing with Harmonix Music VR, Driveclub VR – which is growing on him – Tumble VR, Playroom VR, Here They Lie and Destiny. Can you spot the odd one out? Of course, it’s Driveclub since it’s the only one about cars. What do you mean I’m wrong? You’re wrong!
Another PSVR adopter, Aran weighed in with Batman: Arkham VR, Headmaster, RIGS, Loading Human, and EVE: Valkyrie many of which he’s reviewing/has reviewed. RIGS unfortunately gave him motion sickness so it’s off the to-buy list for now, while his non-VR gaming time has been spent on reviewing Mafia III.
Kris has been getting into The Journey in FIFA 17, and likes how the social media feed threads the narrative through proceedings rather than shoving constant cutscenes in your face. Jake meanwhile may be losing the Destiny bug, and though he has played it, both Tomb Raider and Banjo Kazooie on Xbox One have snuck in there.
Miguel has continued to pour time into Overwatch, with the new Halloween skins making it all worthwhile, as well as making good progress with Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies. Unfortunately Dave hasn’t had much time for anything beyond Dragon Quest Builders and Atlas Reactor (booo), but it’s all because he’s finalising buying a new house and moving (yay!). New chap Steve has been continuing to crack on with The Witcher 2, though quest OCD is kicking in and slowing him down. He also picked up Ori And The Blind Forest which he thinks is beautiful as well as a touch of Flow and Manual Samuel for review.
The last of the PSVR gamers, I’ve mostly spent my time with Rez Infinite, which is frankly amazing, as well as jumping into EVE: Valkyrie and I just can’t get over how immersive it is sitting in the cockpit of a spaceship. Doing a spin can make my stomach lurch a bit but otherwise it’s been absolutely fine. I then checked out a bunch of the VR videos that you can now watch, with OneRepublic’s ‘Kids’ video being incredibly effective, before watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens in the headset’s cinema mode!
In non-VR land I picked up Gears Of War 4, in which I’ve promptly played a few hours of Horde and nothing else, as well as spending more time with LEGO Dimensions Season 2. While I waited for Gears 4 to download I played a bit of Gears Of War Ultimate Edition with my mate, all in the hope it would miraculously download quicker. It did not.
R1MJAW
The usual Dead Island Riptide and GTA online.
Loads more Minecraft, finished off the first set of expansion trophies.
A bit more Peggle 2, just another 40ish challenges left.
My copy of Dragon Quest Builders arrived this morning, absolutely loving it so far (about 5 hours in).
No VR for me, not particularly interested in it.
camdaz
I was a bit disappointed with EVE: Valkyrie on the demo disc as it was far too short to get a feel of the game. Loving the PSVR though.
JustTaylorNow
Don’t bother with the full game either lol Eve is such an overall disappointment due to being MP only
camdaz
I may have got it if it had a decent sp mode.
Crazy_Del
Gears of War 4 Co op on Insane and multiplayer.
VR with all demos and loving it.
Started Mafia III today and really enjoying it.
Also a couple of matches of Ultimate Team of Fifa 17 and pro clubs
Crazy_Del
And oh my wallet is now officially dead! :(
Andrewww
This week I was mostly reading up lots about PSVR, PSVR game reviews and thinking hard about whether to get one. Then I realised I don’t really have a must-play game for it (as RE7 only comes out it 2017), so I’ve decided not to get one for now. Since then I questioned my decision every day several times and might just go and get one next week.
As I’m on holidays, I spent some time with my Vita, and I tried but not played (as you can’t really call clicking continuously for more text playing) the recent Plus visual novels. As I really liked Virtue’s last reward a lot, my expectations were high, but Mr. Yd was right, they’re very different.
Amnesia Memories I found quite horrible, and Code: realise… is slightly more interesting, but equally void of any gameplay. I clearly prefer reading a book, if I don’t want to play, but maybe I’ my the wrong generation.
MrYd
MrYd is always right.
Also, if you say his name, he appears. As if by magic. But I might be confusing myself with a certain shopkeeper all the young people around here won’t know about.
At least you tried those 2 Vita games. And yes, Amnesia isn’t as good as the other. Possibly because there’s something slightly creepy about the male characters. Nothing approaching a healthy relationship with them.
Andrewww
To be honest, I didn’t play long enough to find out much about them. The elf or what she was got on my nerves too much…
Do you not think it’s slightly creepy to appear whenever your name is mentioned..? ;o)
MrYd
Not so much creepy as bloody annoying. Could have been up to all sorts of things and someone mentions my name and I’ve got to appear as if by magic.
Half the things I type on here are typed in a pantsless state. Which might not be a word, but you get the (probably terrifying) point.
Andrewww
Ok, I’ll think twice next time before mentioning your name, didn’t mean to interrupt you during important things you were up to… ;o)
The Lone Steven
Completed Bioshock 2. Cried because of it’s sad ending. Best in the franchise imo.
Started playing Red Faction:Gurilla and man, i forgot how much of a hidden gem it is. Surprisingly, there is yet a game to include the same amount of destruction as this.Battlefield may claim to be the most destructive game but until it allows you to reduce everything to rubble, it will not match up against this. Bit repitive though and the side activies are not much but perfect in small bursts. Shame that THQ destroyed the franchise with the Gears of Faction 4.
Started playing Prototype(the original version) today. Tis fun but pretty much going to focus on the plot. Aiming to get two games finished before I go back to Oblivion.
blast71
Red faction: guerilla was a brilliant game. You can’t beat taking down a massive bridge with just a sledgehammer.
The Lone Steven
Yep. Wall in your way? Smash it! Enemy using cover? Smash it! Want to destroy a building with a hammer? Smash it! Smashing stuff is very fun and stuff that usually is bad to do in other games is a useful way to crush stuff. Ram a car through a wall? Sure.
Very underrated imo due to the sheer amount of stuff it gives the player to use. Want to use a car to level an entire building? Go ahead!
Want to get into a construction mech and do some construction of your own? Do it!
THere is no real punishment for destroying literally every building in the game and I love how they went out of their way to have the buildings get effected by how you destroy it.
blast71
I used to love planting 3 or 4 of them bomb-things onto a truck then smash it into a building, run away then detonate. Brilliant stuff
Avenger
Played some Battlefield 1 the last few days, and I have to say it’s way better than the beta. Proper maps and BF mechanics for the multiplayer, and a proper campaign that feels exciting to play. I’m looking forward to playing the full game at the end of the month.
I’ve also dabbled in some F1 2016 career mode on Xbox One, and some of the multiplayer on PS4. Both great, especially the career mode where I’m the Vandoorne of McLaren so far :P. Scored a fifth place in Melbourne after a healthy 84 laps across Free Practice, Qualifying and the full 100% race. Multiplayer is decent, managed to get a win at Suzuka in a close race with Manorhowze, but got bashed up a bit in most of the other races.
Also bitched with Blast71 on Driveclub, but not as much as I would have liked. The PS+ version rather ridiculously doesn’t allow full access to challenges and their features, so I can’t improve on my base times (which are impeccable I might add) or do much of anything else. Still, come the end of the month, and I can wipe the floor with him.
blast71
Keep telling yourself that ;)
DividSmythe
I got PSVR yesterday I’ve been playing lots of demos the last couple of days, honourable mention in them to the Kitchen which I didn’t do any research on beforehand and it scared the living crap out of me, Rez Infinite which felt great after my first ever time playing it but £25 might be a bit much and Battlezone I loved that and bought it.
Also I’ve had time to give WaxBull a hammering on FIFA 17 :D
DividSmythe
I did also forget to give R1MJAW a mention as he helped me sort out Minecraft, which I previously hated but now like :-)
TSBonyman
*transmission received* “No time for games this week – exploring Euclid galaxy – i’m a pirate now! (don’t tell mum) ” *transmission ends*
aerobes
More R6: Siege this week for me. Shocking, I know.
I was wanting to get my wife a PSVR for Christmas this year but she suffers from vertigo and wears glasses. Now I’m sure glasses are a non-issue but does anybody know if vertigo is made worse by VR, has no effect or something in between?
Stefan L
Glasses shouldn’t be an issue, with plenty of room above your ears from the headband and the adjustability of the screen’s position in front of the face.
Vertigo will depend very much on the game you’re playing. Because you’ve got that 3D image and no respite from it, you will be more prone to vertigo if you look down off something where you’re high up. Games that I can think of like this would be RIGS, where you’re often jumping around and potentially aiming at targets below, and there’s some high up scenese during Batman: Arkham VR.
Pick your games carefully, and it shouldn’t be too big an issue.
fragster
Put a decent amount of time into The Division this week. I appreciate I’m only 10 hours or so in yet but I don’t get peoples hatred for that game. Really enjoying it so far.