Category: Best PlayStation VR Games of 2017 so far

Posted on

The Best PlayStation VR Games of 2017 so far

Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE) PlayStation VR is still a couple of months away from celebrating its first birthday – which Oculus Rift and HTC Vive have already done – yet it’s already proven to be the most popular of the three, with SIE claiming over a million headsets have been sold. While this is likely down to two contributing factors, price, and the massive user base of PlayStation 4, the company also ensured it had some good exclusives at the ready like Rez Infinite to tempt gamers. But that was last year, so what about 2017. Well there’s been no shortage of titles available and VRFocus has chosen six of the best.

PlayStation VR might be popular but it doesn’t quite offer the same immersive virtual reality (VR) experience as its rivals. Having only one camera, which is located directly in front of the player, experiences are generally seated so you can’t turn round for 360-degree, roomscale style gameplay which HTC Vive and Oculus Rift both offer. While the tech may not quite be as advanced as the other two – the PlayStation Move controllers initially released in 2010 for use with the PlayStation 3 – that doesn’t seemed to have hampered it or the videogames available.

PlayStation VR Rush of Blood Bundle

With so many developers working on PlayStation 4 titles the headset has benefited from those studios keen to experiment with the latest VR technology, expanding original 2D IP’s such as Supermassive Games’ Until Dawn: Rush of Blood or Double Fine Productions’ Psychonauts In The Rhombus Of Ruin. Then there the original videogames like Farpoint or Ko-OP’s GNOG which are exclusive to the headset.

It’s not always about exclusivity. While the console market is renown for its exclusive wars – some of which has filtered into the VR industry – there are a number of titles available for all the headsets, some of which are cross-platform multiplayer – the most well known being EVE: Valkyrie by CCP Games.

If you already own a PlayStation 4 or its more powerful sibling PlayStation 4 Pro, then PlayStation VR is the easiest way to get into high-quality VR gaming. So what videogame should you buy? Well there are plenty on offer, with some of the launch titles not to be overlooked. However it’s 2017 VRFocus is concentrating on, picking six experiences that should be in your library.


Best PlayStation VR Games of 2017 So Far

Posted on

The Best PlayStation VR Games of 2017 so far – Farpoint & Statik

So while Resident Evil 7 biohazard is a must have for any PlayStation VR owner, VRFocus does understand that not everybody likes a good scare. Well fear not as PlayStation VR has plenty of virtual reality (VR) videogames covering every genre and age range. For the next two recommendations the first shouldn’t need much of an introduction, it’s first-person shooter (FPS) Farpoint. While the second is an interesting puzzle title that arrived earlier this year called Statik.

Farpoint

Ever since its first unveiling at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2016, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE) Farpoint garnered significant interest not only as a first-party title but also because of a new controller, PlayStation AIM. The two were tied together, so when Farpoint launched in May bundled with PlayStation AIM it quickly sold out around the world.

The AIM controller isn’t needed to actually play Farpoint, however ask anybody whose tried both and the response will be that the videogame is far better with AIM than without. The two have been made to work with each other from the start so there’s no point splitting them up. Additionally, the controller will support other titles so it’s not a wasted expense.

The sci-fi shooter drops players on a seemingly barren alien world, which then comes alive to kill you. Not only do you have an arsenal of weapons to chose from, if you’ve got a mate with a PlayStation VR then you can watch each others backs through the online co-op mode.

For immersive action and triple A visuals, Farpoint is hard to beat.

Farpoint: Cryo Pack screenshot

Statik

So there’s been horror and some classic FPS action already featured on VRFocus’ list of awesome PlayStation VR titles, so now it’s time to slow things down and get your thinking caps on with Statik, a unique little puzzler from Tarsier Studios.

Statik is the studio’s first VR title where players find their hands trapped inside a box. Located around the outside are various switches, dials, gauges and levers that form the basis of the puzzles. Each one is mapped to a different button or stick on the DualShock 4 controller depending on the actual puzzle.

Whilst fairly simple at first, these boxes become evermore elaborate, not only challenging your deductive skills but memory as well. While most of the puzzles revolve around the box and the various external additions each one has, some of the levels also make use of the environment – this is VR after all – so you’ll need to be aware of your surroundings and what’s located inside the room to succeed.

When VRFocus reviewed Statik the title achieved a full five stars, with the review stating: “Statik is a superb example of a puzzle game, intelligent, immersive and lots of fun to play. The subtle story woven through is interesting, the puzzles challenging without being too frustrating.”


Best PlayStation VR Games of 2017 So Far

Posted on

The Best PlayStation VR Games of 2017 so far – Polybius & Fantastic Contraption

For VRFocus’ last two videogames all PlayStation VR owners should have in their content libraries, there’s Llamasoft’s psychedelic, neon rich, trance-shooter Polybius, while on the opposite end of the spectrum is puzzle builder Fantastic Contraption.

Polybius

Having previously made its name with videogames like Tempest 2000 and TxK, Llamasoft released PlayStation VR exclusive Polybius back in April. Offering 120 FPS gameplay, Polybius includes 25 original tracks from the studio’s in-house musicians, enjoyed across its 50 levels.

Players control a small spaceship that hurtles down a course shooting everything in its path. The aim being to build as big a multiplier as possible with successive kills for a ridiculously highscore. The title features a Normal Mode to score as many points as possible which also makes use of Llamasoft’s signature Restart Best feature, while for the experts to challenge themselves on there’s Pure and YOLO modes.

Another of VRFocus’ five star reviewed titles for PlayStation VR, the review stated: “Owners of PlayStation VR should definitely look to add this to their library, as it is one of the best VR titles on the PlayStation at present. Jeff Minter and Llamasoft have got another winner.”

Polybius screenshot 2

Fantastic Contraption

For lovers of VR puzzle experiences then Northway Games and Radial Games’ Fantastic Contraption has to be one of the best and most well known across all headsets. Originally a HTC Vive launch title before coming to Oculus Touch in December, Fantastic Contraption eventually hit PlayStation VR a couple of months ago.

The videogame is a quirky puzzle solver that requires players to do just one thing, get a pink blob from their location to a giant pink area that can be in front, behind, below or above them. This is achieved by building all manner of weird and crazy inventions that can roll, spin, flip or catapult themselves and the pink orb towards the target. Alongside 50 levels to play through, Fantastic Contraption also includes a strong community mechanic, allowing players to share their creations as well as build their own puzzles for anyone to play.

As an added bonus for PlayStation VR players the developers included exclusive levels found nowhere else and special headset only features that allow players to resize and position their gameworld at the press of a button.

With its quirky gameplay and rich visual aesthetic Fantastic Contraption has shown that while other VR titles have already aged quite quickly, it hasn’t, offering hours of entertainment.

Fantastic Contraption PSVR_1


Best PlayStation VR Games of 2017 So Far

Posted on

The Best PlayStation VR Games of 2017 so far – Resident Evil 7 biohazard & The Lost Bear

So where to begin? Well it’s not that hard really. At the beginning of the year this little developer/publisher you may have heard of, Capcom, released the next installment of its long running zombie franchise, Resident Evil 7 biohazard. Whilst essentially the same videogame whether you played on a TV or using the PlayStation VR, using the headset made for a far more intense experience that more than likely helped ship a few headsets if you could get hold of one at that time. Whilst showcasing that 2D titles can still have a place in virtual reality (VR) is The Lost Bear, the most recent addition to this content lineup. 

Resident Evil 7 biohazard

Set in a seemingly abandoned farmhouse, in a creepy Louisiana plantation, it soon becomes clear that there’s a whole family living there, the Baker’s, and as you may expect they’re not exactly friendly to outsiders.

Resident Evil 7 biohazard goes back to its roots as a proper survival horror, rather than the more action-based experiences of the last couple of titles. Because of this, it’s received plenty of good feedback from the press and players who were happy that Capcom embraced the horror aspects of the franchise, especially when playing in virtual reality (VR).

While updating the videogame, thankfully the studio kept some of the more familiar aspects of Resident Evil, so the green herbs are still in play. Of course the biggest change is the viewpoint. Whether in VR or not, it’s now solely from a first-person perspective rather than third-person. This greatly benefits the immersive qualities of the technology, as a third-person horror just doesn’t have the same scary effect.

Out of all the titles on the list Resident Evil 7 biohazard is the only one with an 18 age rating certificate, so while VRFocus does recommend the title it’s best to keep it away from any youngsters – you don’t want them getting nightmares!

ResidentEvil7 screenshot mia_3

The Lost Bear

Arriving on PlayStation VR this month from indie developer Oddbug Studio was a unique 2D title called The Lost Bear, an original adventure that tells the story of a girl called Walnut, who sets out on a journey to rescue her lost teddy bear, overcoming obstacles and her own fears along the way.

Featuring hand-drawn animation based around puppet show theatre, gameplay in The Lost Bear revolves around platform-style progression and environmental puzzle solving. Players are sat in the middle of a VR environment with all the action taking place on a screen in front. To add that immersive VR element, the players surroundings then mimic what’s going on during a particular level. So when Walnut talks through a corn field, corn will start appearing around the player

VRFocus reviewed The Lost Bear giving it a full five star rating, saying: “It’s likely that you’ll find The Lost Bear to be one of the most compelling PlayStation VR videogames to date.”

The Lost Bear gif


Best PlayStation VR Games of 2017 So Far