This week sees quality win over quantity, with just a handful of releases on both the Oculus Rift and Gear VR. There’s not much to talk about on the mobile side, but there’s a big launch on Rift that’s bound to keep you happy.
If you missed last week, you can see those new releases here. And don’t forget that UploadVR 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.
DiRT Rally, from Codemasters
Release Date: 07/11/16 Price: $59.99 (Oculus Rift)
This is the big one for the week. DiRT Rally was already a great experience on a flat screen, but the VR experience has quickly risen to become one of our favorites on the Oculus Rift, certainly in the racing genre. Charge around a wide variety of tracks in an intense cockpit view, skidding round corners and hopping over bumps. If you want to know any more, our review has all the details.
Recommendation: DiRT is one of VR’s best racing games yet. Pick it up.
https://youtu.be/KLVpEFtOLZI
TouchFish, from TouchFactor
Release Date: 07/12/16 Price: $7.99 (Gear VR)
From iOS app to Gear VR, TouchFish is the fish petting simulator you probably didn’t realize was missing from your life. Teach fish tricks or even take them on playdates with friends. Interestingly, there’s cross-play features between iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV devices. This is a free-to-play app elsewhere, so spending money on this version of the game earns you some in-game currency.
Recommendation: While it’s something different, TouchFish hardly seems like a great investment for most Gear VR owners.
405 Road Rage, from Lucid Sight
Release Date: 07/13/16 Price: Free (Gear VR)
Here’s the latest from Gumi No Yume and Space Bit Attack developer, Lucid Sight. This free endless runner has you speeding down the California 405 Freeway, knocking other cars aside as you carve a path. Six different vehicles feature along with three gameplay modes. You can also fire off missiles and customize your cars. It’s controlled with the touchpad, though, so don’t expect full control over your vehicle.
Recommendation: We’re not usually too hot on endless runners, though Road Rage does look a little more polished than your average entry. Worth a free try for sure.
Open Movie VR, from blenFX_
Release Date: 07/13/16 Price: Free (Gear VR)
Here’s your virtual theater app for the week. Open Movie VR lets you watch films from Blender in immersive environments. You can see experiences like Big Buck Bunny in 3D, or visit Franck’s Island in Project Gooseberry. It’s a work in progress for now and was only created as a fun side project, but that’s how some of the best VR experiences are born, isn’t it?
Recommendation: Unexciting, but a harmless time killer.
Ultimate Booster Experience by GexagonVR
Release Date: 07/14/16 Price: $4.99 (Oculus Rift, Currently 20% Off)
Long time fans of VR might remember Ultimatte Booster Experience from some other digital marketplaces and distribution services, but now this week it’s finally made its way onto Steam as a full release. While the title doesn’t tell you a whole lot, let me caution you that this isn’t for those prone to motion sickness. It’s designed to simulate riding on a giant 600ft swing in a city. Also known as Motion Sickness Simulator: The VR Game.
Recommendation: It’s cheap so if you like adrenaline rushes that might make you vomit, go for it. Probably best just to stick friends in and watch them react.
Dashy Square VR, from Kastriot Sulejmani
Release Date: 07/15/16 Price: $1.99 (Oculus Rift)
Dashy Square was a 2D side-scrolling game in which you followed a beat and moved with the rhythm, listening to songs from 18 different artists. The VR version appears to be… practically the same thing. As in it’s still a 2D platform that doesn’t appear to be radically different from what’s come before. It’s cheap, but we’re not sure it fits the platform.
Recommendation: While we won’t argue that Dashy Square itself might be a good game, the VR version appears somewhat pointless.
