Upcoming co-operative virtual reality (VR) videogame Downward Spiral: Horus Station has been at the Game Developer Conference (GDC) this week and VRFocus grabbed some new gameplay.
Developed by 3rd Eye Studios, Downward Spiral: Horus Station is a zero-gravity space adventure, which lures players through a lost vessel abandoned by its crew. With a focus on environmental storytelling players will need to explore the vast locations in order to uncover the truth of what has happened while accompanied by a electronic, ambient soundtrack. The main draw of Downward Spiral: Horus Station is the support for single or co-operative play, allowing two players to explore the station as a duo and work together to overcome challenges.
Downward Spiral: Horus Station will also include additional modes including a eight-player player-versus-player (PVP) and play-versus-environment (PVE) multiplayer modes such as Deathmatch, Horde and Survivor. Additionally players who would rather not have to deal with any combat can do so by picking an option that allows them to enjoy the story without any combat.
VRFocus’ Editor Kevin Joyce previewed Downward Spiral: Horus Station at GDC 2018 saying: “3rd Eye Studios is aiming for eight chapters lasting over an hour each, combining puzzle, exploration and combat challenges into a varied space-based VR experience. What was seen in this initial chapter holds promise, but just as Downward Spiral Prologue before it leaves the player wishing for more depth: the mechanics of movement and combat seem disparate from the world, not cohesive in the way that the aforementioned BioShock cleverly made you believe in its world through mise-en-scene. An empty shell to move around within does not make a compelling experience, and so the hope is that the team find new and intuitive ways to make the best out of this inviting setting with the interesting mechanics they have created.”
Downward Spiral: Horus Station is currently in development for PlayStation 4 and PC with support for PlayStation VR, Oculus Touch, HTC Vive and Windows Mixed Reality (MR). It is set to release in Spring 2018 but there is a prologue available to purchase right now via Steam. You can see over fifteen minutes of gameplay below.
For more on Downward Spiral: Horus Station in the future, keep reading VRFocus.