With only about two months until the worldwide launch of PlayStation VR, gamescom last week was one of the best opportunities to experience the pretty much final version of Sony's VR headset live.
Last year, the first PlayStation VR prototypes were available and already made a decent impression. This year, however, there were significantly more games to choose from, offering a wide variety of experiences across all genres. Therefore, we didn't miss the opportunity to gather further impressions and fully immerse ourselves in the VR world.
Feather-light comfort
The final specifications for PlayStation VR have been known for months, with a particular focus on comfort and weight. The weight was recently stated as just 610 grams, which was barely noticeable on the shoulders even after several hours. Individual gaming sessions lasted between 10 and 20 minutes per title, so it remains to be seen how the weight will affect longer gaming sessions. However, based on a full day of PlayStation VR use, we don't expect this to be a significant drawback.
For the first time, we were able to put on PlayStation VR completely on our own, something that previously always required the help of the promoters. Given that you no longer fully perceive your surroundings while wearing the headset, the first step is to place the controllers within easy reach. A firm pull on the back of the headband adjusts PlayStation VR to the approximate size of your head. The dial on the back then tightens it perfectly, and finally, a button on the front right/bottom is pressed to adjust the optimal focus. Once PlayStation VR has completely adjusted to your head, you can feel the velvety soft and exceptionally comfortable padding against your skin.
Visually, PlayStation VR makes a very high-quality, sleek, and modern impression. Where the competition opts for simple black, PlayStation VR, with its white/black look and bright LEDs, immediately gives you the feeling that you're wearing genuine next-gen equipment. Ultimately, PlayStation VR surprises with its exceptional comfort and great design, which shouldn't spoil even extended gaming sessions.
Bound
Sony Santa Monica's "Bound" was one of the first VR titles we tried this year. The game's objective is to play as a princess, defeating dangerous monsters through playful and dance-like movements while saving the world. The character's movements are strongly reminiscent of Pina Bausch's dance theater, but the environments are very vividly rendered, and the character model is also impressive. The title is now being ported to PlayStation VR and scores particularly well with its expansive vistas, deep drops, and third-person perspective, although the camera positions, apart from head rotation, can only be adjusted to predetermined points.
A particularly clever feature: if the princess is behind a wall, a hole simply opens in it, allowing us to continue following our character. However, it's a completely new experience when the character approaches you and you imagine you could actually touch her or that she's really standing in front of you. You quickly forget everything else around you, become incredibly immersed in the game, and find yourself experimenting with the VR to understand what's happening. Even if "Bound" might not appeal to everyone's tastes in terms of gameplay, it's definitely worth giving VR owners a chance and at least taking a look.
by Patrick Held
Resident Evil 7
The VR demo for "Resident Evil 7" at Gamescom was exactly the same version currently available for download on the PlayStation Store, making it very familiar. Therefore, no major surprises were expected, and from a technical standpoint, it was clearly an outdated build. It was obvious from the start that compromises would have to be made in terms of graphics and display quality – and in direct comparison with all the other games, "Resident Evil 7" was the most disappointing. Details sometimes disappeared completely between the visible lines of the display, everything was uncomfortably blurry even at close range, and all movements felt stiff. For example, rotations were only possible in 30 percent increments, which is apparently intended to counteract the previously criticized motion sickness. "Robinson: The Journey" uses a very similar system. However, one shouldn't judge too quickly in the case of "Resident Evil 7", since, as has been mentioned so often, the demo has absolutely nothing to do with the actual game and Capcom will certainly improve the technology even further, as other examples show.
Batman: Arkham VR
With "Batman: Arkham VR," we personally descended into the legendary Batcave for the first time. So, bat ears and headset on, and off we went! While the gamescom demo only represented the part where you calibrate the Move controllers, allowing us to put on our suit, try out the grappling hook, or throw a few Batarangs, it still offered an incredibly immersive feeling of movement. Even though you're standing still, it feels like you're actually descending in an elevator – such an unusual sensation that you fear losing your balance at any moment. After "Resident Evil 7," Batman also gave us renewed hope regarding the technical capabilities of PlayStation VR. Graphically, the title delivers a fantastic atmosphere, a wealth of detail, and an impressive soundscape that already whets the appetite for more.
Robinson: The Journey
Leaving the Batcave behind, the next stop was the prehistoric jungle of "Robinson: The Journey," currently being developed by Crytek. Zoo visits will probably seem pretty boring after this. Landing on a mysterious planet as young Robin, we were greeted by an apparently distant relative of Wheatley (Portal), who helped us get started. As a player, you can move freely around this world, so one of the first tasks was to climb a giant sequoia, walk along its sturdy branches, and, above all, enjoy the spectacular view. It's an almost overwhelming feeling when a gigantic Brachiosaurus suddenly rises from among the leaves, its snout just centimeters away from you. Thanks to the Move controllers, you can even touch it. There were also many similarities to the other VR project, "Climb," which uses similar climbing mechanics. Crucially, the interplay between looking in the right direction and knowing where to reach next was paramount – eye-hand coordination that sometimes proved quite tricky. Things got dangerous when a group of raptors was startled below us and, like in "Jurassic Park," tried to snap at us. Pure adrenaline! Technically, "Robinson: The Journey" also made a very good impression, conveying an incredibly immersive atmosphere and allowing you to completely lose yourself in this world. Here, too, it can be said that the current lack of graphical perfection is compensated for by the gameplay and atmosphere.
Until Dawn: Rush of Blood
Following the surprise hit of 2015, "Until Dawn," comes a standalone VR spin-off this year called "Rush of Blood," which, however, has little in common with the original. Instead, you can expect a rail shooter concept where you embark on a wild roller coaster ride through a kind of horror chamber. Equipped with two weapons and plenty of physical exertion, you must survive this terrifying journey. It's the perfect vision of a creepy haunted house, full of deranged clowns, deadly traps, and even a small story. The fact that you can't move completely on your own actually works perfectly, as you're constantly confronted with other things at breakneck speed. So, you have to dodge various obstacles like swinging axes, shoot down oncoming clowns, collect a few bonuses along the way, and ultimately hold onto the controllers tightly during jump scares. Once the initial adrenaline rush subsides, this wild ride continues relentlessly – you plummet at an 80-degree angle down the seemingly unstable rails, only to be greeted the next moment by the menacing and gigantic killer face. "Until Dawn: Rush of Blood" thus presents itself as a fantastic and unique VR experience, highlighting the versatility of the new technology. Visually, the title is also impressive and already ranks among the top VR titles currently available.
RIGS
With "RIGS," Guerrilla Cambridge enters the world of virtual reality, attempting to combine shooter and sports games and demonstrate the full potential of virtual reality. At gamescom, we had the opportunity to play this fun shooter and get a feel for how well Guerrilla Cambridge succeeded.
In "RIGS," the player takes on the role of a pilot controlling a perfectly tuned combat machine called a RIG. This pilot, along with five other RIGS, is located in an arena. The pilots are divided into two teams and must compete against each other in the 'Mechanized Combat League' for victory. The winning team is the one that scores the most goals within 10 minutes.
But what are robots doing in a sports game, and how are you supposed to score goals with them? Since "RIGS" is a mix of shooter and sports game, gunfights are a must. And that's how goals are scored: by having the RIG jump through the goal, or rather the basket, in the center of the arena while in Overdrive. The player achieves Overdrive by shooting down three enemy RIGs or by collecting several orbs scattered around the arena. When the RIG is in Overdrive, the pilot has access to all three abilities simultaneously, whereas normally you have to choose one. In Overdrive, you also have a decisive advantage over other pilots if the repair, speed, and damage modes are all active at the same time and you move to the basket in the center of the arena to score a point. The game features a single-player campaign and a multiplayer mode where you can play with or against friends.
After putting on the VR headset and adjusting everything, and selecting one of the 24 customizable rigs for the next match, you're placed in your team's hangar from the pilot's perspective. You can look around and are immediately overwhelmed by the level of detail that Guerilla Cambridge has incorporated. Looking down or over your shoulder reveals the pilot's entire suit. The same applies after being dropped into your rig by a drone. Once all pilots are in their rigs, you're taken to the arena by elevator, and after a short wait, the match begins. You can also enjoy the sight of the packed arena and, with a bit of luck, catch a glimpse of the meticulously crafted jets flying overhead, completing the immersive experience.
Your RIG is controlled with the DualShock 4 controller, as are jumps and abilities. Aiming and shooting are done using the VR headset by pointing your head at an enemy player and immediately opening fire. The longer you can keep your opponent in sight, the more damage they take. After two more kills, you move as quickly as possible to the center of the arena and try to jump through the basket without being shot yourself.
The sense of speed in "RIGS" is conveyed extremely well through the VR headset, allowing you to authentically step into the pilot's shoes. The game's graphics and level of detail are also quite impressive and truly live up to the name "virtual reality." "RIGS" is currently arguably the prime example of VR and is considered the most innovative and promising example to date, one that everyone should try.
by Patrick Geller
Besides PlayStation VR itself, the aforementioned games impressively demonstrate the diversity of the VR world, keeping in mind that the technology is still in its infancy and we can already look forward to its advancements. The experience that VR provides is currently paramount, and this was nothing short of overwhelming in all the games. Technically speaking, some might find the graphics not quite perfect yet, but this shortcoming is quickly forgotten while playing. VR is therefore much more than just a fleeting gimmick that, in our estimation, won't disappear again in a few years. The entire industry is currently working on VR, and there seem to be no limits to the ideas being explored.
You can experience this for yourself starting October 13th, when PlayStation VR officially launches. Almost all of the above will be available from day one.
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