It’s been a good few weeks for Rift releases, but things are definitely on the slower side this time around. We’ve got just four Rift games (and a tech demo) to talk about in this week’s wrap up, and two of them aren’t really new, either. Things are a bit bright on the Gear VR side, though, with a host of interesting new pieces in both the game and experience department.
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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY0nU1TOTB0
New Retro Arcade Neon Demo, from Digital Cybercherries
Release Date: 06/27/16 Price: Free (Oculus Rift)
While the full game still isn’t out yet, you can get a taste of the revamped New Retro Arcade Neon right now on Steam. It’s essentially the same thing the previous free versions that you could have tried on the DK2 provided, but optimized for the CV1 now. The next update will totally overhaul the entire experience.
Recommendation: It’s free and dripping with nostalgia. Check this one out.
https://youtu.be/91fadZ4a5G4
World of Diving, from Vertigo Games
Release Date: 06/28/16 Price: $19.99 (Oculus Rift, currently discounted to $11.99)
This is one of those games that’s been kicking around for ages in the VR scene, and you might even already own it on Steam. Strap on your Oculus Rift just like you would a pair of diving goggles and get ready to hit the ocean floor, uncovering ship wrecks and more. Team up with friends online for co-op exploration.
Recommendation: It’s slow paced but offers plenty of amazing sights. If you’re going to grab it make sure to do so before the sale ends next week.
GeoGet, from EvilPort
Release Date: 06/29/16 Price: $2.99 (Gear VR)
It’s time for edutainment, VR style. GeoGet is an immersive and interactive geography lesson in which you’ll be quizzed on finding countries of the world by spinning a virtual atlas. Different difficult settings will help to separate those that really know their stuff, too. We’re surprised no one had thought of this already.
Recommendation: If you have kids then this could be a great way to help them at school. If not then you might just want to learn more about the world yourself.
Gun Club 3, from The Binary Mill
Release Date: 06/29/16 Price: $9.99 (Gear VR)
If you’re hungering for a little more FPS action on Gear VR this week then Gun Club 3 may have you covered. This is another weapon simulation game in which you head to the shooting range to blast targets using an assortment of firearms, though it also goes above and beyond with modes that transport you back in time and fight back against hordes of zombies.
Recommendation: This could be a fun distraction while we wait for bigger and better Gear VR titles, but $10 is a big asking price for the mobile headset.
Notes on Blindness, from Arte Experience
Release Date: 06/29/16 Price: Free (Gear VR)
It’s incredibly hard for any of us to even imagine what it’s like to live with blindness. With Notes on Blindness, an award winner at the recent Sheffield Doc/Fest, we can get a bit of a better idea. This constructs the images that John Hull described on tape after losing his sight back in 1983.
Recommendation: Probably the most interesting release of the week and surprisingly peaceful. Go grab it.
The Presence, from Pseudoscience Pictures
Release Date: 06/29/16 Price: Free (Gear VR)
This week’s dose of VR horror isn’t another game but instead a live action 360 degree movie. When a séance goes wrong, you’ll follow four characters that manage to scare themselves to tears. Interestingly, The Presence includes a cinematic mode as well as a free roam option to allow you to view the piece how you want to.
Recommendation: It’s actually pretty terrifying. 360-horror shorts aren’t super common yet, but I’ll let you decide if that’s a good or bad thing.
Fireworks, from Presence Labs
Release Date: 06/29/16 Price: Free (Gear VR)
It wouldn’t be the 4th July without fireworks and Gear VR knows it. This is a musical piece set to picturesque fireworks behind the Statue of Liberty. It couldn’t be more American if it tried.
Recommendation: If you haven’t got any other plans for the weekend, why miss out on all the fun?
Star Chart, from Escapist Games
Release Date: 06/29/16 Price: $9.99 (Oculus Rift)
This week’s Gear to Rift port is the rather delightful Star Chart, an app that allows you to explore our galaxy in great detail. You can uncover and learn the names of planets and moons by simply finding and clicking on them. It even maps out star constellations for you to study and memorise.
Recommendation: While Star Chart isn’t bad, $10 once again feels like far too high a price, especially with Titans of Space 2.0 arguably offering a better experience.
Klepto, from Meerkat Gaming
Release Date: 06/30/16 Price: $12.99 (Oculus Rift)
When you think of all the things you want to do with VR, burglary probably doesn’t rate very highly. But that isn’t stopping Meerkat Gaming integrating VR support into its new Early Access release, Klepto. Featuring third-person gameplay, you’ll break into houses and swipe goods to gain points. Multiplayer support allows you to steal with friends, too.
Recommendation: Klepto is a strange one, and we’d recommend maybe letting it find its feet on Early Access before diving in.
Dimensional, from Brett Jackson
Release Date: 07/01/16 Price: $4.99 (Oculus Rift)
First-person puzzle games feel right at home on the Rift when they take advantage of the positional tracking. What’s really unique about Dimensional, a crowd-funded game, is that it actually provides a pseudo-roomscale experience on the Rift without any extra camera or sensors. The movement system is reminiscent of Cloudhead’s “Blink” and room rotating mechanic. You can read more in the feature we ran a few months ago.
Recommendation: There are 5 solid levels and some really clever ideas. It’s Early Access so it’ll only grow as time goes on. Worth a download.
