Headmaster was an entertaining technical showcase for the PlayStation VR (PSVR) at launch. However, it reminded us a bit too much of similar games for the Wii built around nothing more than demonstrating how to use the technology.
Developer Frame Interactive announced this week that Headmaster is now out on Oculus Home for Rift and Steam for Rift and Vive. The new version features a few improvements over the PSVR original. Chief among them is the addition of 10 new ‘party mode’ levels. The original release included only a single map for the pass-and-play multiplayer mode. While the new stages were introduced into the PSVR version in March, they’re there from the jump for PC VR players. The new version even allows a single user to play multiplayer by his or herself in what the developers have dubbed, “Lonely Party Mode.”
Another improvement is the inclusion of a beta version of “No Hands Support.” While Headmaster doesn’t allow players to use their hands in-game, players reported that the complete absence of hand tracking felt distracting. Now players can see their upper limbs rendered as dirty oven mitts covered in duct tape, called Handball Avoidance Mitts. Striking the ball with these will result in a call of a handball, so it’s best to avoid doing so. The in-game gloves were digitized from actual dirty oven mitts via photogrammetry, meaning they are just as lovingly detailed and rendered as the shiny stormtrooper armor in Star Wars: Battlefront.
PC Headmasters also get access to a practice mode to hone their skills without fear of failure, a new vacant stadium level previously shown at PAX West, and difficulty adjustments for the trickier parts of the game. Achievements for both Steam and Oculus find their way into the new version, too, along with Steam trading cards to round out the updated package.
The improvements are welcome, but not so revolutionary that we feel the original PSVR review needs to be updated. Check it out to see if Headmaster is for you and let us know what you think of the game in the comments below!
