Buckle up. Oculus releases have been a little one sided between either Rift or Gear in the past few weeks, but there are a lot of experiences for both today. You might have thought Rift would make do with just Edge of Nowhere, but there are a lot of games and services that look just as interesting to check out this week. Gear VR isn’t slacking off either; some of the more unique titles to come to the kit have just arrived. You might be waiting to hear what’s new at E3, but there’s plenty to play in the here and now.
If you missed last week, you can see those here. And don’t forget that UploadVR now has its own SteamVR community group, complete with a curated list of recommendations so that you don’t have to waste any money finding out what’s good in the world of VR. Let’s get to it.
Edge of Nowhere, from Insomniac Games
Release Date: 06/06/16 Price: $39.99 (Oculus Rift)
This is the big one this week. Edge of Nowhere is Ratchet and Clank developer Insomniac Games’ first foray into the world of VR. It’s a tense, cinematic third-person action game in which you’ll delve into the depths of insanity as you explore Antarctic mountains in search of a missing expedition team. It mixes a layered story with Uncharted-esque traversal with combat that takes some cues from The Last of Us. In other words, this is as close as you’re going to get to a Naughty Dog game in VR right now.
Recommendation: If you own a Rift, this game deserves to be in your library. Our own David Jagneaux loved it.
House of the Dying Sun, from Marauder Interactive
Release Date: 06/07/16 Price: $19.99 (Oculus Rift, Discounted Until June 14th)
House of the Dying Sun might well be the coolest name for a VR game yet, but let’s not just judge a book by its cover. This is a tactical space shooter in which you’re cast as an elite space pilot that’s part of an empire in turmoil. Commanding your own fleet, you’ll scour the galaxy for your enemies, looking to hit back after the death of your emperor. Sounds dramatic. It also looks pretty great, but it’s only in Early Access for now.
Recommendation: It’s got some pretty favourable Steam reviews and promises to be a meaty package when released. If you’re craving more VR space combat, this looks to be the answer.
https://youtu.be/ISE7v1f-zyw
The Solus Project, from Hourences and Grip Games
Release Date: 06/07/16 Price: $19.99 (Oculus Rift)
You might well have been following the visually-stunning The Solus Project across its Early Access phase, but now it’s finally available in full with VR support. You play as a scout for a colony of humans that has fled a destroyed Earth, and you’re latest mission is recon on a distant planet. Let’s just say landing doesn’t go as smoothly as planned, and you’re left stranded on a harsh planet. It’s a pretty big release, but take note that some VR features are still to be added.
Recommendation: It might be worth waiting until VR support is truly finished, but this is an exciting release all the same. Don’t miss out.
Rexodus: A VR Story Experience, from Steelehouse VR Studios
Release Date: 06/08/16 Price: Free (Oculus Rift)
Well this is pretty exciting. As far as we can tell, Rexodus: A VR Story Experience is the first VR adaptation of a graphic novel, based on the Dark Horse publication of the same name (minus the VR bit). It’s set in a world in which dinosaurs return to Earth, having never really been extinct. A narrative-driven piece, you’ll interact with a number of characters and, yes, some of them are dinosaurs. It looks very cool and, best of all, it’s completely free.
Recommendation: Go get it. It’s free, experimental and full of ideas. Just what VR needs.
Perfect Angle VR – Zen edition, from Ivanovich Games
Release Date: 06/08/16 Price: $4.99 (Oculus Rift, Discounted Until June 16th)
For its sequel to the original Perfect Angle, Ivanovich Games is going full VR. This is a relaxing puzzle game centred around optical illusions, with over 70 challenges to decipher. You’re presented with a series of objects, each of which has a hidden figure that you must uncover by inspecting the scene in detail. The soothing music and picturesque environment suggest a pretty pleasing atmosphere for those that like to unwind to their brain teasers.
Recommendation: For puzzle fans only, but if you belong to the club then this looks like it uses VR’s strengths to good effect.
Sky Fighter: Training Day, from 3D Scenica
Release Date: 06/09/16 Price: Free (Gear VR with in-app purchases)
Nope, Sky Fighter is not another cockpit-based flight simulator. It’s actually a lot closer to Iron Man; you wear a high-tech suit of armour and speed down a corridor, blasting robotic enemies with energy weapons and more while dodging their own incoming attacks. It looks pretty impressive for a Gear VR title, though we can’t talk for comfort level. The training mission is free, then extra levels cost more.
Recommendation: It’s not often you see something unique on Gear, so the first free mission is definitely worth checking out.
https://youtu.be/cUI6C_0T5_U
vTime, from Starship
Release Date: 06/09/16 Price: Free (Oculus Rift, Gear VR)
Having debuted on Gear VR some time ago, vTime makes its way over to Rift for the first time this week. vTime is a cross platform social network for VR that allows friends to meet up online and chat inside a number of VR environments or even 360 degree photos. Like AltSpaceVR, it’s one of the first steps towards a future in which we can carry out full business meetings in VR, feeling like we’re really in a room with people that are thousands of miles away.
Recommendation: Social VR is still in the experimental phases, but vTime offers a promising glimpse of that future. Check it out.
AFFECTED – The Manor, from Fallen Planet Studios
Release Date: 06/09/16 Price: $2.99 (Gear VR)
Affected is one of VR’s first horror series, having originally debuted on Oculus Share all the way back in 2014. It now heads to Gear VR, bringing its infamous randomized scares along with it. As the name suggests, you explore a haunted manor that’s filled with creepy sights and sounds. We’ll offer the same warning that the game’s official description does; this game uses plenty of jump scares. You’ve been warned.
Recommendation: If VR heritage is ever to be a thing then Affected deserves a place in it, but only horror fans will want to experience this.
Qb, from PlaySys
Release Date: 06/09/16 Price: $5.99 (Gear VR)
You can always tell that a puzzle game is going to be a real head-scratcher when it’s hard to even get your brain around its description. Qb tasks you with activating ‘Defected Code Streamer Modules’, which is done by throwing ‘Data Cubes’ into them. Maybe that means something to someone, somewhere, but we can at least tell you the game has a striking visual style. If you do like doing whatever it is you do, then the developer is promising plenty more content packs to come.
Recommendation: Qb sounds pretty intriguing if only because we don’t really know how to play it. At $5.99 on Gear, though, it better be good. A bit of a gamble here.
Public Speaking Gear VR, from VirtualSpeech
Release Date: 06/09/16 Price: Free (Gear VR)
Now this is a cool idea. Public Speaking VR does everything it says on the tin, giving you a chance to practise addressing large crowds by talking to virtual ones. The piece features an animated audience in full 360 degree 3D environments, and even allows you to import slides. The room won’t be silent, either, as ambient noise will add to the effect. If you’ve got some concerns that getting up on stage then this could genuinely be a really helpful experience.
Recommendation: It’s a very specific use case, but a great one if you have need of it.
Infinity Equals One, from Doublehead Music
Release Date: 06/09/16 Price: Free (Gear VR)
Another musical experience awaits Gear VR fans this week. This is simply an open space that players can explore, listening to the debut album from Shaun Oster AKA Doublehead as they go. It’s also possible to watch 3D videos, explore artwork from the artist and fly around. At the very least it’s an interesting way to present music to you, though it’s unlikely to set the world on fire.
Recommendation: Unless you’re desperate to drink in every piece of VR content you can probably give this a miss.
Dream Flight, from Multiverse
Release Date: 06/09/16 Price: Free (Gear VR)
Not to be confused with the rather unsightly DREAMFLIGHT VR, this Dream Flight is one of the most visually arresting experiences we’ve seen on Gear in sometime. It’s another gaze-based flying game, but it’s got sights and sounds worth exploring, as you drift between floating islands that hold fantasy castles and sprawling trees. It’s a Concepts release right now, so hopefully we could see more in the future.
Recommendation: Worth it for the art style alone. Plus it’s free.
Rococo VR, from Black River Studios
Release Date: 06/09/16 Price: Free (Gear VR)
Rococo VR seemingly comes out of nowhere with one of one of the most intriguing premises yet seen in VR. You’re attending a very exclusive party, only to find that you’ve been poisoned. Before you die, you’ll have to seek out your murderer and get revenge. The art on display here is striking, and it’s free to try out. If the developer (which created Finding Monsters) gets good feedback, it might make a full game out of it.
Recommendation: If you don’t download this you can’t complain that nothing interesting comes to Gear VR.
Destination Tools Workshop, from Valve
Release Date: 06/10/16 Price: Free (Oculus Rift)
New Valve game! Okay not really, but this software to create VR worlds is still another great release from the HTC Vive co-creator. It’s a Source 2 toolset that the team at Valve itself uses, though it’s only available in Beta form right now. There’s an example map to help show you how to build content and even a ‘Destinations Viewer’ where you can visit other creations through the Steam Workshop.
Recommendation: If creating VR worlds yourself is something that sounds appealing, then go at it.
