I can feel it... I'm becoming a VR convert. With its lack of wires, and almost complete lack of motion sickness, the Oculus Quest is proving to be the hardware that finally convinces me that VR can take off. I mean, it's actually a bit scary how much I'm enjoying it. I actually get excited to play on it, and that hasn't happened to me with games in a very long time.
CUT TO 10 YEARS LATER:
A bloated and sickly-looking Mr Biffo is strapped into a VR bodysuit and helmet, cleaning his groin with an empty crisp packet on the end of a pencil.
Here are 13 apps that you should consider getting for the Quest. Why 13 and not a nice round number? I would've done more, but I need to go upstairs for a poo!
CUT TO 10 YEARS LATER:
A bloated and sickly-looking Mr Biffo is strapped into a VR bodysuit and helmet, cleaning his groin with an empty crisp packet on the end of a pencil.
Here are 13 apps that you should consider getting for the Quest. Why 13 and not a nice round number? I would've done more, but I need to go upstairs for a poo!
CREED: RISE TO GLORY
Creed: Rise To Glory is a boxing game, but unlike non-VR boxing games, you actually have to do boxing, using your arms and fists and that.
In terms of realism, it's somewhere halfway between the arcade-y flailing of Wii Sports Boxing and a more considered sim. Admittedly, there is still a lot of chaotic flailing in the middle of fights - and it's a bit too easy to accidentally move the thumbstick mid-flail, so that you end up facing away from your opponent - but this might be the best opportunity you'll ever have to punch Mr T in the face.
Between the lunging of my arms, and dodging punches coming my way, I was rendered all achey in the muscles.
In terms of realism, it's somewhere halfway between the arcade-y flailing of Wii Sports Boxing and a more considered sim. Admittedly, there is still a lot of chaotic flailing in the middle of fights - and it's a bit too easy to accidentally move the thumbstick mid-flail, so that you end up facing away from your opponent - but this might be the best opportunity you'll ever have to punch Mr T in the face.
Between the lunging of my arms, and dodging punches coming my way, I was rendered all achey in the muscles.
SPACE PIRATE TRAINER
This has been knocking around for a while on other platforms, and here it is on Quest in reportedly stripped-back form. Having not played the original, I've not got anything to compare it to, but this is - thus far - my favourite thing on Quest.
It's basically a VR cross between Galaxians/Space Invaders and a first-person shooter.
Armed with two guns, either of which can be switched for a shield or a sort of magnetic lasso thing by reaching into your "backpack", you shoot wave after wave of enemy, while dodging or deflecting their lasers/missiles. Thanks to the thump of your guns, it's a game that makes you feel like the coolest pirate in space.
They should've called this game "Arrrrrr!"-Zone.
It's basically a VR cross between Galaxians/Space Invaders and a first-person shooter.
Armed with two guns, either of which can be switched for a shield or a sort of magnetic lasso thing by reaching into your "backpack", you shoot wave after wave of enemy, while dodging or deflecting their lasers/missiles. Thanks to the thump of your guns, it's a game that makes you feel like the coolest pirate in space.
They should've called this game "Arrrrrr!"-Zone.
SUPERHOT VR
I loved the original Superhot, and thought it'd be incredible in VR - and it almost is... but the precision needed to take down your opponents, even in the game's slow motion action sequences, can be frustrating. When you get into a flow with it, you feel like you're in a John Woo movie, but punches lack impact, which lessens the overall effect.
WANDER
This is basically Google Street View - in VR. I had it on my Oculus Go, but with the visual upgrade of the Quest, it's even more impressive. Go anywhere in the world, explore, look around, learn facts, see what your house looked like 10 years ago by rolling back to the early years of Street View. It's addictive.
Indeed, I got to see my driveway as it was before some gentlemen turned up with pickaxes and started smashing it up without permission, and then charged me two grand to finish the job. As furious as I was at the time, it needed doing, and - thus far - the driveway hasn't subsided.
Indeed, I got to see my driveway as it was before some gentlemen turned up with pickaxes and started smashing it up without permission, and then charged me two grand to finish the job. As furious as I was at the time, it needed doing, and - thus far - the driveway hasn't subsided.
ANGRY BIRDS VR: ISLE OF PIGS
Despite the first-person perspective and handheld catapult, this feels remarkably like the original Angry Birds - albeit oddly slower. It works, but if the firing of the catapult had just a little more oomph, it'd be a lot more compelling. The birds you shoot tend to float rather than catapult.
This does raise questions, however. In the original Angry Birds, the avians were seemingly going willingly to their deaths. Here you are the one firing them at the pigs. It's a miracle PETA hasn't yet made a searing parody game highlighting that it isn't funny to shoot birds from a catapult.
This does raise questions, however. In the original Angry Birds, the avians were seemingly going willingly to their deaths. Here you are the one firing them at the pigs. It's a miracle PETA hasn't yet made a searing parody game highlighting that it isn't funny to shoot birds from a catapult.
APEX CONSTRUCT
Another VR game that has done the rounds on other formats, Apex Construct is a sort of explore 'em up/RPG-lite thing, in which you explore a post-cataclysm world that is infested with killer robots. You're armed with a shield and a bow - and the combat feels lovely. It's a weird game, though; oddly empty, and linear... while also sometimes being a bit vague about what you should be doing next. When it all comes together, however, it's remarkably immersive.
BEAT SABER
For a long time, this has been the closest VR has come to having a killer app - and with good reason; by combining, essentially, lightsaber combat with a rhythm action game, you get to wield a pair of laser swords to swipe at blocks in time to a musical beat. It's incredibly empowering; something which, in itself, is probably VR's greatest selling point.
Be warned: between this and Superhot I done my back in.
Be warned: between this and Superhot I done my back in.
APOLLO 11
An advert for the flexibility of VR, this Apollo 11 experience takes you through the entire moon landing mission. This is another one I had on my Go, but here it has been given a visual overhaul, furthering the sense of immersion. You can, should you so wish, look right up Buzz Aldrin's nose.
For me, these sorts of first-person documentaries are a signpost to the future of VR; educational without being dry. There's a great Chernobyl one on the Go as well, which I hope gets ported over.
It was so realistic it made me sterile!
For me, these sorts of first-person documentaries are a signpost to the future of VR; educational without being dry. There's a great Chernobyl one on the Go as well, which I hope gets ported over.
It was so realistic it made me sterile!
MOSS
A platform game similar-is to the PSVR's Astrobot. Here you are both the game's main character - a cute, sword-wielding, mouse warrior - as well as a sort of disembodied god, who can reach into the screen to move obstacles and platforms. Unlike many of the games in the Quest's launch line-up, it's a relatively sedate, sit-down, game.
It's strange how well platform games work in VR; it's a genre I would never have thought would transfer (not outside of a first-person experience anyway). I'd love to see what Nintendo could do with the genre.
It's strange how well platform games work in VR; it's a genre I would never have thought would transfer (not outside of a first-person experience anyway). I'd love to see what Nintendo could do with the genre.
REC ROOM
I've downloaded this because it was free, but haven't played it. Why? It's a multiplayer thing, where you can join various games via a central, social, hub. I mean, who wants to have to talk to strangers?
There are various sports games available, a couple of simple first-person shooters, but the real appeal is in user-created rooms. Apparently, it has been very popular on other platforms, demonstrating that not everyone is as wilfully antisocial as I am.
There are various sports games available, a couple of simple first-person shooters, but the real appeal is in user-created rooms. Apparently, it has been very popular on other platforms, demonstrating that not everyone is as wilfully antisocial as I am.
JOURNEY OF THE GODS
I foolishly chose the immersive movement option when first playing this Quest exclusive RPG, and it was the first time using the headset that I got a degree of motion sickness.
If you can forget that, and play with the non-sickness-inducing controls, it's actually pretty decent - a large world to explore, armed with your crossbow and sword. Admittedly, I would've preferred it without the immersion-breaking conceit that your character can transform into a god (yes, again) and manipulate the landscape, making it a weird (but not wholly unsuccessful) mix of Zelda and Populous.
If you can forget that, and play with the non-sickness-inducing controls, it's actually pretty decent - a large world to explore, armed with your crossbow and sword. Admittedly, I would've preferred it without the immersion-breaking conceit that your character can transform into a god (yes, again) and manipulate the landscape, making it a weird (but not wholly unsuccessful) mix of Zelda and Populous.
RACKET FURY TABLE TENNIS
We've come a long way from Pong; this robot table tennis game lacks bells and whistles, but does a convincing job of simulating batty-ball-oh.
ULTRAWINGS
The creators of Ultrawings aren't even bothering to pretend that their game is anything other than a VR version of Nintendo's Pilotwings. Fly a variety of aircraft through hoops, meeting an assortment of mission requirements, while fighting the urge to vomit. We'll have a video on this coming up soon on the Digi YouTube channel highlighting both the good and the bad. I didn't throw up, but I did nearly fall off my chair. ISN'T THAT FUNNY!!!?!!!!
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