This week saw the eagerly anticipated release of Impulse Gear's VR shooter "Farpoint," which is secretly taking VR gaming to the next level. Instead of the DualShock 4 or Move controllers used previously, a new controller was developed specifically for "Farpoint“The Aim Controller was developed to further enhance the level of immersion. We took a closer look at how well “Farpoint” performed in our tests and whether the Aim Controller delivers on the promises many players have of it.”
Hopelessly stranded on a strange planet
The journey in "Farpoint" begins dramatically – one moment we're safely aboard the Pilgrim space station, the next it's swept out of the sky through a wormhole and crash-lands on a mysterious and unknown planet. Scattered across the surface, the two surviving scientists, Dr. Grant Moon and Dr. Eva Tyson, make it their mission to find the heart of the Pilgrim and, if possible, other members of the crew.
The story itself can be completed in about 5 to 6 hours, and it's certainly not the highlight of the entire game. Impulse Gear has opted for a rather realistic approach, which immediately raises the question: how spectacular can reality really be? Don't expect an epic narrative à la Call of Duty in "Farpoint." Instead, the game vividly portrays what it might be like to be stranded on an alien planet with a friend and have to figure out what to do next. In this context, goals like securing enough food, coping with life in close quarters (which can sometimes lead to problems), and the possibility of reproduction are far more important than a potential threat that wants to take over the entire planet and must be fought. In this respect, "Farpoint" does a pretty good job; even our two protagonists come across as quite likeable and, above all, authentic, making their predicament believable. This is certainly also due to the German dubbing, which I think is very well done.
Aside from the story, there is also a co-op mode and challenges available, so you can sometimes spend a little longer with "Farpoint".
Arcade feeling at its finest
In terms of gameplay, "Farpoint" is a classic arcade shooter – it's all about pointing, aiming, and shooting. While you spend most of the game with the standard machine gun and unlimited ammo, fending off hordes of creepy crawlies, you'll eventually be equipped with more powerful weapons, including a plasma rifle that seems to utilize alien technology. Primary and secondary fire are the only basic functions, and "Farpoint" doesn't offer any upgrades or a progression system. This simplicity, however, makes the game more accessible, especially since VR shooters are still in their infancy and other aspects are more important. I found the weapon handling itself a bit tricky, particularly picking up grenades and homing missiles, which was only possible with the currently equipped weapon and somewhat cumbersome in the heat of boss fights. Aside from that, "Farpoint" offers surprisingly little challenge; there's nothing else to collect, no side quests, you can only scan things here and there to trigger the story sequences.
Where "Farpoint" falls short is in its rather repetitive level design. Essentially, it boils down to clearing the same waves of enemies, a larger boss fight eventually kicks in, and then the whole thing repeats. Even within levels, it seems like you only encounter the same enemy types, all of whom act with the same level of intelligence, so there are almost no surprises. There was definitely potential for more here.
The aim controller as a wonder weapon
Not entirely insignificant in "Farpoint" is the Aim ControllerYes, the game can be played without it, but after trying it just once, would you really want to? The immersion and the overall feel make even Battlefield and similar games look dated. And I'm not talking about the imprecise early attempts that were made with PlayStation Move or before. The development of "Farpoint" and the Aim Controller went hand in hand, resulting in a near-perfect symbiosis. Thanks to the physical weapon replica, which is reproduced 1:1 in the game, aiming at your opponents and landing each shot with pinpoint accuracy feels incredibly easy. Even the sights are flawless and guarantee hit after hit. The Aim Controller's tracking, in conjunction with the PlayStation VR headset, is constantly improving. Only very rarely did I feel that the weapon wasn't quite correctly calibrated, the so-called shifting between camera, Aim Controller, and headset. This might sometimes be due to less-than-ideal calibration. But 90 percent of the time, everything works as it should.
A brief note about the hardware: The Aim Controller boasts the typical high-quality look of genuine Sony accessories, with a somewhat futuristic design, a satisfying weight in the hand, and optimally positioned buttons. The PlayStation buttons at the rear are particularly appealing, arranged in a circle and slightly angled. Even the touchpad is integrated as a button, positioned above the controller. A separate Move controller isn't necessary, as it's already built in. Considering all this, the bundle price of around €100 is more than fair.
Graphically, a double-edged sword.
VR games still need to be viewed with some nuance, especially regarding graphical quality. A "Horizon" or "Uncharted" is unlikely to materialize anytime soon, so patience or a willingness to overlook this aspect is required. Adding to the challenges of "Farpoint" is the fact that you traverse a rather barren planet in linear levels, offering little more than sand, dust, and sparse rocks. Underground, a few luminous plants create a magnificent display of color, and you can't help but be impressed when you stand amidst the massive Pilgrim debris or before a gigantic boss. This once again demonstrates what VR is designed for – it's not about a plethora of details, but about the experience, which usually outweighs everything else. However, once you're immersed in your VR environment and paying attention to things like character rendering and facial expressions, you have to admit that VR games aren't actually that far behind. Nevertheless, Sony would be well advised to upgrade the display as soon as possible to better conceal the rather unsightly pixel matrix of PlayStation VR.
Developer: Impulse Gear // Publisher: Sony (SIE) // Release: Available // Official Homepage: www.playstation.com
