Despite some solid releases, it’s been a rough week for Oculus. The Rift has been put through the blender from its fan-base thanks that whole ReVive issue. Let’s not bring it up. That’s not even getting into the claims of Oculus copying Valve’s VR technology either. If you can put all that behind you, though, then there’s some great content to enjoy on both Rift and Gear VR this week, including the return of promising indie studio, Turbo Button, and a kitten murder simulator. It’s a short but sweet week, so let’s get to it.
If you missed last week’s releases, you can check those here. And you can also join the UploadVR Gaming Steam Community and follow the Curator Group so you’ll always be up-to-date on the latest game reviews and recommendations directly through Steam.
Floor Plan, from Turbo Button –
Release Date: 05/25/16 Price: $6.99 (Oculus Rift, Gear VR)
The team at Turbo Button already made a name for itself with sprightly animated tie-in, Adventure Time: Magic Man’s Head Games, and that spirit is kept very much alive in its latest release. Floor Plan is a lively puzzle game in which you stand in an elevator, moving from floor to floor and solving problems using some semblance of logic. This is no ordinary building, though, and you’ll have to get creative with how you play if you want to wake up the sleeping pneumatic drill. No, really.
Recommendation: Buy this and play it – it doesn’t matter which platform. Turbo Button are a VR developer to watch, so get in on the ground floor.
Titans of Space 2.0, from DrashVR –
Release Date: 05/23/16 Price: $7.99 (Currently 15% Off) (Oculus Rift)
We previously covered Titans of Space 2.0 with the exclusive reveal on the game: “Titans of Space 2 by Drash is an awe-inspiring VR space education app…represents a proper consumer release of the original guided tour of the largest celestial bodies known to humans, plus initial support for a host of new features that will evolve as Drash receives feedback from people who try it.”
Recommendation: Download this and enjoy. No question.
Kittypocalypse, from Bolverk VR Games –
Release Date: 05/25/16 Price $29.99 (Oculus Rift)
We’re not sure if Kittypocalypse understands that most people don’t want to murder adorable kittens, but that’s a rock solid tower defense game to play here all the same. If you loved Defense Grid 2‘s VR edition then this will be right up your street with multiple, upgradable towers and an increasing difficulty curve. It’s a fine-tuned VR experience that really takes advantage of the tech, giving you the flexibility to view levels from any angle.
Recommendation: This is a steep price point for a game that came seemingly out of nowhere, but it’s still a solid title. If you have a sense of humor and like tower-defense games, there are definitely worse options. But if you’re still digging into Defense Grid 2 or even AirMech, you might want to hold off for a bit.
Photon Strike, from Photon Forge –
Release Date: 05/25/16 Price: $1.99 (Gear VR)
This week’s Gear VR exclusive may look a little like a legendary space-based game, but it takes full advantage of the platform it’s on. You’re in charge of a single planet in an entire universe and can send a fleet out to explore uncharted terrain and fight off enemies. Both offline and online modes for up to four people are supported. The striking neon art style certainly helps set it apart from anything else on the platform.
Recommendation: It’s simple looking, but hides surprising depth. It’s cheap and if you’re after something fresh, give it a try. But you won’t feel devastated if you pass on this one for now.
vrAMP, from Oriku –
Release Date: 05/27/16 Price: $12.99 (Currently 15% Off) (Oculus Rift)
vrAMP is a piece of software that’s being billed as the “definitive music visualizer and player for virtual reality,” which is a genre that really lacks competition at the moment. The best part is that it lets you play music from any program or web browser without having to reorganize things, which is nice, but it still doesn’t add features or functionality.
Recommendation: There isn’t a whole lot here and for a few more dollars you could just buy Audioshield if you have a Vive as well, or download the comparable and free Visir instead.
