It’s a busy week for both Rift and Gear owners alike. There’s some interesting stuff on both platforms, but there’s also some pretty basic experiences that we’re kind of getting tired of seeing. There are a lot of VR roller coasters and games that don’t look like they were built with the tech in mind. Take caution if you’re looking to get something new this week.
If you missed last week, you can see those new releases 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.
Rumpus, from Luke Iannini
Release Date: 07/04/16 Price: $14.99 (Oculus Rift, currently discounted)
It might be in Early Access, but we’re going to give Rumpus points for originality right off the bat. This is a “live-coding playground” that’s “highly experimental” and easy to break. Iannini seems to have concocted a fascinating new UI for coding within VR. To us, that’s a very complicated thing to even understand, but developers might well want to keep an eye on this project as it grows; visualizing this kind of data might be key to attracting more talent.
Recommendation: Interested in making games or other systems from the ground up? Give this a look.
https://youtu.be/sWyO-DAJcrs
Ancient VR Coaster, from Crovax Studios
Release Date: 07/04/16 Price: $2.99 (Oculus Rift)
We’re usually pretty harsh on VR roller coasters, and it doesn’t look like Ancient VR Coaster is going to be any different. Here you follow the track through historic sights but it has to be said that Ancient’s visuals – possibly the only saving grace of any VR roller coaster – are drab, dull, and plain. Ancient indeed. Even for a genre as boring and overdone at this, this looks to be bottom of the pile. Don’t bother.
Recommendation: Please don’t pay for VR roller coasters anymore. Don’t let them win.
https://youtu.be/YHkX0Y7f3Hg
Protonwar, from Outer Planet Studios
Release Date: 07/05/16 Price: $14.99 (Oculus Rift)
A full, multiplayer, VR compatible, arena-based first-person shooter developed using Unreal Engine 4? We can tell we have your attention already. Indeed, Protonwar looks to call back to the days of Unreal Tournament with its fast-paced shooting. Crucially it’s in Early Access right now so, while the experience looks far from optimized for VR at the moment, the developer has a chance to adapt it to fit the tech better.
Recommendation: As interesting as Protonwar looks, we’d wait to see just how far the VR support goes as Early Access continues.
The Slingshot VR, from Funny Twins
Release Date: 07/06/16 Price: $4.99 (Oculus Rift)
The best thing we can say about The Slingshot VR is that at least it’s not another VR roller coaster. Aside from that, this takes one of the amusement industry’s most infamous rides and translates it into a technology that’s notorious for making you sick. No part of that sounds like a good idea, even for the most sturdy of VR players. The developer claims that it’s “one of the most popular attractions in virtual reality.” We beg to differ.
Recommendation: This is a recipe for sickness. Avoid.
Duck Hunter VR, from Sideline Amusements
Release Date: 07/06/16 Price: $2.99 (Gear VR)
It’s amazing what simply adding ‘er’ will let you get away with. No, Duck Hunter VR is not a sudden and amazing revival of a beloved NES title, but it does stick pretty closely to the original’s formula. You use the Gear VR’s head-tracking to aim and then blast away at flying ducks with a shotgun, building up a bigger arsenal over time.
Recommendation: Another gallery shooter with nothing new to offer. Pass.
Star Coaster VR, from MOgrades
Release Date: 07/06/16 Price: $0.99 (Gear VR)
VR roller coasters aren’t dying out, as much as we’d like them to. Star Coaster is the latest take on the genre, and to be fair it does look fairly pleasant with its starry sky and… flying whale. Someone appears to have forgotten to put textures on the actual coaster itself, though. As always we’ll issue our ‘VR roller coasters might seem cool but they’re a pretty good way to get sick quick’ warning. Nearby containers for vomit deemed essential.
Recommendation: Don’t. Let. Them. Win.
https://youtu.be/nMuwyklYzOk
VRbloX, from NerdRage Studios
Release Date: 07/07/16 Price: $9.99 (Oculus Rift, currently discounted)
Here’s this week’s healthy dose of VR puzzling. VRbloX has you you using blocks to complete specific tasks like building towers to specific heights. It capitalizes on the fun of stacking stuff in VR – which we can confirm is more fun than it has any right to be – and lets you enjoy the spills and tumbles. Oculus Touch support will also be coming in the future, though, so it may be worth saving this one until they arrive.
Recommendation: VRbloX looks great, but you might want to wait until Oculus Touch support makes it even better.
FlyingFowl, from Rogue Guardian Studios
Release Date: 07/07/16 Price: $2.99 (Gear VR)
Would you believe there are not one but two games starring birds in this week’s update? Where Duck Hunter has you bringing an end to our feathered friends, though, FlyingFowl lets you take control of one. Instead of gracefully soaring through the skies, however, you’re tasked with ruining the days of towns people by, uh, pooping on them. You get points for doing so. Really. Eagle Flight this is not.
Recommendation: Bizarre as it may seem, FlyingFowl is at least different. It might be worth a look based on that alone.
CastleStorm VR, from Zen Studios
Release Date: 07/07/16 Price: $24.99 (Oculus Rift) $14.99 (Gear VR, currently discounted)
Another popular series is getting VR-ified this week. CastleStorm has long been a favorite on consoles and handhelds, and can now be played with a headset on. It’s a mix of tower defense and action-RPG in which players bet their armies against each other in an attempt to seize an opponent’s castle. As you can see there’s a pretty steep difference between the Rift and Gear versions of the game in terms of price, and it doesn’t look like there are any cross-platform features, so choose wisely.
Recommendation: We’re not really sure why CastleStorm needed to be brought to VR, and it felt forced when we played it at E3. Maybe the cheaper Gear VR edition is the better option if you’re desperate, but overall we’d probably pass on this.
https://youtu.be/_-lJvCqfjoc
Jonah’s Path, from Ionut Lucian Achiricioaei
Release Date: 07/07/16 Price: Free (Oculus Rift)
An underwater VR experience that’s inspired by the classic story of Jonah and the Whale, with some fantastical stylings, could be just what the doctor ordered. You won’t actually ‘do’ anything as such, but you’ll see a whole lot as the experience transitions, of all places, to the Jupiter moon of Europa. The whale itself looks like a pretty fascinating beast to see in VR. Best of all? It’s free.
Recommendation: Free is the best kind of price. Give it a try.
