Category: Blasters of the Universe

Posted on

Blasters of the Universe: Infinity Forever Is A New Free-Roam LBE VR Shooter

Secret Location revealed Blasters of the Universe: Infinity Forever today, a new free-roam location-based VR shooter for up to four players.

The original Blasters of the Universe was one of the first room-scale VR interpretations on the classic bullet hell wave shooter genre. Instead of controlling a spaceship, you’d move your body to dodge bullets while returning fire in a neon-soaked retro-futuristic landscape. It was a blast (pardon the pun) and is highly regarded as one of the best early VR shooters with lots of replay value that eventually left early access after a couple of years.

Now, Secret Location (also developers of the excellent time-bending VR puzzle game, Transpose) is back with Blasters of the Universe: Infinity Forever, a free-roam location-based entertainment take on the franchise. Designed for up to four people, it follows a linear story structure as players make their way through a series of levels at actual physical VR arcade locations powered by SynthesisVR.

The choice to focus on LBE VR rather than at-home VR is an interesting one given the current state of the industry. Top-billed attractions like The Void are struggling to retain leases for their locations and arcades around the world, but most especially in the United States, continue to struggle.

“We have remained optimistic about the state of our industry in the past months as we continued to make our games from home”, said Michael Masukawa, Director of Strategy and Business Development at Secret Location, in a prepared statement. “We know that now more than ever, families and friends are going to be craving meaningful shared experiences and so we’re happy to be able to offer them exactly what they need. As family entertainment centers start to reopen with safety in mind, we are thrilled to be partnering with Synthesis on the launch of our first location-based VR game.”

What do you think of the move? Risky considering the state of affairs, or forward-looking as the world slowly tries to return to normal? Let us know what you think down in the comment below!

Posted on

Blasters of the Universe Is Getting A Free Weekend On Rift

Blasters of the Universe Is Getting A Free Weekend On Rift

Whew, it’s been a busy news week hasn’t it? Between Quest and Rift S pre-orders and the reveal of Valve Index details, we’re worn out. We need something to play to help us loosen up over the weekend. Blasters of the Universe might be just what the doctor ordered.

Good news, then; Secret Location’s bullet hell shooter will be free to play on Oculus Rift this weekend. You can download and play through the experience at no extra charge from 10am PT on May 3 through to 11:59pm PT on May 5. Correct us if we’re wrong but it’s been a while since Oculus has done a free weekend on the store. If so, it’s good to see the scheme returning.

Blasters of the Universe is one of the better VR wave shooters out there. Alongside extensive weapon customization and an awesome 80’s cartoon vibe, it emphasizes VR’s physicality. You have to dodge swarms of incoming bullets with your head as you return fire. It makes surviving in the wave-based combat a real thrill and a great choice for fans looking to stay active in VR.

“A short running time doesn’t stop Blasters of the Universe from being one of VR’s most delightful wave shooters,” we said in our review. “The hectic bullet-dodging action hurls you into a deadly ballet that feels fun far more often than it is frustrating. This is a finely-tuned and charming game that stands out from the sea of survival shooters out there right now.”

Well, that’s a ringing endorsement if I ever heard one.

Tagged with: ,

The post Blasters of the Universe Is Getting A Free Weekend On Rift appeared first on UploadVR.

Posted on

‘Blasters of the Universe’ is Getting a Free Access Weekend on Rift Soon

Secret Location’s well-received bullet hell shooter, Blasters of the Universe (2017), is getting a free weekend on Rift in the next few days.

Rift owners will be able to play Blasters of the Universe for free starting on May 3rd at 10:00 AM PT (local time) and going until May 6th at 11:59 PM PT (local time).

Dubbing itself a ‘VR bullet hell’, Blasters of the Universe lets you build your own gun from thousands of combinations, and then tosses you head-first into a literal avalanche of bullets that you have to dodge artfully and block as you madly fire back at the world’s multiple enemy types. Enemies range from fast-moving ground enemies, to flying enemies, to deadly tanks.

SEE ALSO
HTC is Giving Away 2 Free Months of Viveport Infinity to Owners of Index & Rift Headsets

Blasters of the Universe boasts a four-level Campaign, each with their own boss battle. New enemies, new weapon parts and shields all come to you as your progress. There’s also an Endless Mode if you simply want to go for the high score on the leaderboard.

The game comes highly rated too, ranking among users as ‘Very Positive’ on Steam and garnering a touch more than [4/5] stars on the Oculus Store. Yes, it’s essentially a wave shooter at its core, but one of the most polished examples out there with some real personality.

The post ‘Blasters of the Universe’ is Getting a Free Access Weekend on Rift Soon appeared first on Road to VR.

Posted on

Bullet Hell Shooter Blasters of the Universe Will be Free This Weekend on Oculus Rift

The virtual reality (VR) buzz this week might be focused on several new headsets, but if you already own an Oculus Rift and just want to see more great content then how about something free. Secret Location brought its bullet hell title to the device back in 2017 and VRFocus rather liked it. If you haven’t given this videogame a try then do so this weekend, as it’ll be free for three days.

Blasters_of_the_Universe_PSVR_Screenshot_3

Starting this Friday, 3rd May at 10am PT (6pm BST) and running through until Sunday 5th May at 11.59pm PT (Monday 6am BST), players will be able to enjoy the neon-rich, retro environment of Blasters of the Universe, customising weapons and trying to stay alive.

The title features four campaign missions as well as Endless and Casual modes, depending on how difficult or easy you want the gameplay to be. Blasters of the Universe tasks you with defeating Grand Master Alwyn’s legions of digital creations, facing wave after wave bullets in his 80s inspired virtual world. You have access to a customizable weapon with over 130,000 possible loadout and blaster combinations to suit your particular gameplay style, whether that’s rapid-fire designs, explosive, slow with high damage or anything in between.

Blasters of the Universe Bullets

VRFocus reviewed Blasters of the Universe giving it a decent four-stars, saying: “For those that have become rightly bored with wave shooters Blasters of the Universe offers that spark of light, reminding us why this genre became popular in the first place. The entire theme, visual aesthetics and gameplay make Blasters of the Universe a joy to play.”

Once the free weekend has ended if you want to continue playing Blasters of the Universe you’ll need to spend $14.99 USD. The title also supports HTC Vive and PlayStation VR.

Secret Location is the studio behind an assortment of interesting VR experiences. For puzzle fans there’s Transpose which plays with time, or for something a little more relaxed how about The Great C; an adaption of a Philip K. Dick story which has just been released for Oculus Go, Samsung Gear VR and Google Daydream. For the latest updates from Secret Location, keep reading VRFocus.

Posted on

Reality-bending VR Puzzle ‘Transpose’ Coming to Vive, Rift & PSVR Next Month

Secret Location, the studio behind Blasters of the Universe (2016) and Sleepy Hollow: VR Experience (2015), announced last month that they’re heading back into VR territory with a new first-person, time-bending puzzle game. Dubbed Transpose, the game is said to take place in a dreamlike universe where players record multiple overlapping versions of themselves that need to cooperate to solve increasingly intricate puzzles.

Update (October 23rd, 2018): Secret Location today announced that ‘Transpose’ is headed to PSVR, HTC Vive, and Oculus Rift on November 6th. Transpose will be available on Steam (Vive, Rift) and the Oculus Store  (Rift). The original article announcing the game follows below:

Original Article (September 4th, 2018): The studio says in a press statement that Transpose will feature three unique worlds containing over 30 levels, which is said to take nearly eight hours to complete. Using multiple recordings, players must collect and sacrifice energy to power up a mysterious ancient machine.

While not much else is known about Transpose at the moment, it’s said to feature:

  • “Echo” Time Loops: Players must solve puzzles by recording their own actions to create multiple instances of themselves, called echoes, and coordinate their echoes from various time loops to sync up and solve puzzles together;
  • Real-time Motion Capture: Transpose records players’ every action, allowing them to see copies of their characters mimic their actual movements almost immediately after being enacted;
  • Perspective Shifts: Set in a mesmerizingly surreal world, Transpose allows players to rotate the environment around them to walk on walls and ceilings, experiencing perspective shifts and multifaceted puzzles in ways only possible in VR.

Transpose is slated to arrive on PSVR, HTC Vive, and Oculus Rift this Fall (see update) with a $20 price tag. Secret Location says the game will be localized in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Simplified Chinese and Korean.

The post Reality-bending VR Puzzle ‘Transpose’ Coming to Vive, Rift & PSVR Next Month appeared first on Road to VR.

Posted on

Something For The Weekend: Sizzling Hot PlayStation VR Deals

It’s hot, but you all know that as the summer heat keeps up the pressure. So what better way to escape the heat then to lose yourself inside some immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences. VRFocus is back once again with another entry of Something for the Weekend, which brings together a number of different titles to help you find your next favourite title. This time we take a look at the PlayStation store to hunt down some of the best offers on PlayStation VR titles that cover a wide range of genres. As always, be sure to check back every weekend for even more deals right here on VRFocus.

2MD VRFootball

2MD: VR Football

It comes down to the last two minutes of a match and it is up to you to make the wining score. Think you can do that? Well, in 2MD: VR Football you’ll have to. From developer Truant Pixel, players jump into the final two minutes of an American Football match and step into the shoes of a quarterback. Draw up a plan, call the shots, make the throw, hand-off or even just run for that last minute touchdown. It’s an intense, action packed two minutes.

2MD: VR Football is available now for £7.39 (GBP) down from the usual £9.99.

Headmaster Keeper

Headmaster

“All in all Headmaster is a well put together title that the majority of VR gamers will find enjoyable. It does feel a bit 2016 in its gameplay offerings, with VR having moved on leaps and bounds in terms of the depth of content available. Headmaster is a tongue in cheek experience that doesn’t take itself too seriously, supplying light hearted fun mixed with good physics, and that’s no bad thing.” – Read VRFocus’ Senior Staff Writer Peter Graham’s review of Headmaster.

Headmaster is available now for £4.99 (GBP) down from £15.99.

Hex Tunnel

Hex Tunnel

“Enter another dimension and master the elements to become a supreme being. With arcade, chaos and ultra modes in procedural stages ensures a unique experience. Avoid all surfaces and reach the exit to be victorious.”

Hex Tunnel is only £2.49 (GBP) down from £3.99.

Blasters_of_the_Universe_PSVR_Screenshot_3

Blasters of the Universe

“For those that’ve become rightly bored with wave shooters Blasters of the Universe offers that spark of light, reminding us why this genre became popular in the first place. The entire theme, visual aesthetics and gameplay make Blasters of the Universe a joy to play, just be prepared to swear and curse – possibly throw a controller – as that heart disappears because you didn’t see that one laser bolt soon enough.” – Read VRFocus’ Senior Staff Wrtier Peter Graham’s review of Blasters of the Universe.

Blasters of the Universe is available now for £6.49 (GBP) down from £11.99.

Konrad the Kitten

Konrad the Kitten

If you want to escape the everyday life and space time with a cute kitten then this is the title for you. Meet Konrad, the cute kitten that needs a helping hand and lots of love. Feed him, take him on a hot-air-balloon ride and keep him happy with a wide range of activities and tools to play with. Featuring a number of mini-games and a large range of accessories to dress Konrad up in, any fan of kittens is sure to have a blast with this title.

Konrad the Kitten is available now for £7.99 (GBP) down from £11.99.

Pirate Flight (VR)

Pirate Flight (VR)

What if you could be a pirate and fly through the skies? Well, in Pirate Flight (VR) you can do just that. Designed to be an accessible title for anyone to play, players will be able to fly, race, and shoot across three worlds and 90 missions. With no landing or complex controllers, flying has never been so simple. The title also includes dragons so really, what more could you want?

Pirate Flight (VR) is available now for Oculus Go for £7.39 (GBP) down from £11.99 with an extra 10% discount available for PlayStation Plus members.

Island time VR 5

Island Time VR

“After a ruckus journey at sea, you are shipwrecked on a tiny island. Using your wit, ingenuity and the advice of your new buddy, Carl the Crab, you’ve gotta find a way to keep yourself from starving and survive as long as possible. Craft tools, fend off creatures, try to signal an airplane… or you could just give up and die? …Maybe, just enjoy the sunset while you can. Almost makes you forget that you’re in a desperate struggle against your own mortality.”

Island Time VR is currently £6.49 (GBP) down from £11.59.

The American Dream

“There’s so much to like about The American Dream that it feels like nagging when pointing out its faults. Some of you will love its humour and points of view on guns, but many will notice there’s not a massive amount to do, with hidden stars on each stage the only real reason to give it another go. There’s no doubt that The American Dream’s commentary on American gun culture will rile some, particularly at this point in the political landscape, nevertheless as a VR experience it’s certain worth your consideration.” – Read VRFocus’ Senior Staff Writer Peter Graham’s review of The American Dream.

The American Dream is currently on sale for £11.99 (GBP) down from £15.99 with PlayStation Plus members saving an extra 25%.

Ultrawings Close Ultralight2

Ultrawings

Jump in and take to the skies in this open world experience where you’ll pilot multiple aircraft to complete a variety of missions and challenges. Pop balloons as you fly through the air, snap the best photos, execute perfect landings and flt courses to earn the highest score. If you want to feel the thrill of flying high in the air then Ultrawings is for you.

Ultrawings is currently available for £8.99 (GBP) down from £17.99.

Skyrim VR: VRFocus' Adventuring Life screenshot

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR

“The achievement made by The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR is one by way of both hardware and design to capitalise upon this. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR’s level of immersion is simply fantastic, and while Bethesda Softworks could well have gone the route of DOOM VFR and created a shorter spin-off experience, developing a brand new The Elder Scrolls instalment specifically for VR would have taken many years and far too much in the way of resources for what is still a nascent audience. As it stands some may find the price point of the videogame a bitter pill to swallow, but for those who dreamed of a truly immersive role-playing experience, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR is simply the best opportunity available today.” – Read VRFocus’ Editor Kevin Joyce’s review of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR is available now for £32.49 (GBP) down from £49.99 with PlayStation Plus members saving an extra 35%.

That is all for this week but remember that VRFocus gathers all the best sales and deals every week, so check back next weekend at the same time to discover more.

Posted on

The Biggest PSVR Releases Of The Week 25/02/18

The Biggest PSVR Releases Of The Week 25/02/18

It’s a great week to be a PSVR owner! Two wonderful games hit Sony’s headset this week and you should definitely be interested in picking up both of them.

If you missed last week’s releases they’re here. UploadVR also launched the ‘UploadVR PSVR Community’ on PlayStation 4! Join up, find other gamers to play with, and engage in discussions with them. Also, don’t forget to check out our list of the 9 Best PlayStation VR Games if you need any extra inspiration.

Moss, from Polyarc
Price: $29.99

Let’s be honest, this is probably the game you’re here for. Moss is an enchanting VR adventure played from a third-person view. You guide Quill, a young mouse, on a huge adventure, solving puzzles and besting baddies with your sword. Moss is, quite simply, a delight to play and a joy to experience inside VR. Get it.

Here’s our full review.

Blasters of the Universe, from Secret Location
Price: $14.99

Suit up and shoot up in this VR-infused tribute to classic bullet hell games. Take on four levels in which you must shoot down enemies and make sure to dodge incoming waves of bullets. Challenge friends on a leaderboard and survive as long as possible in an Endless mode. This is a polished, highly enjoyable wave shooter.

Here’s our full review.

Tagged with: , , ,

Posted on

Surviving Bullet Hell in Blasters of the Universe Gameplay Video

There is something comforting about the sharp neon colours of Blasters of the Universe, something that calls to mind hours spent pouring coins into arcade machines in the 1980s. Of course, any sense of comfort or complacency is quickly blown away in a hail of weapons fire.

Developer Secret Location originally brought Blasters of the Universe to life on Steam Early Access for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. Though at its root a wave shooter, Blasters of the Universe did a few things differently from the rest of the genre to set it apart.

Blasters_of_the_Universe_PSVR_Screenshot_5

With the development team admitting that they drew considerable inspiration from the ‘bullet hell’ shoot-em-up sub-genre, you can expect to see a vivid array of different gunfire types and patterns, which players will quickly need to learn how to respond to, either by dodging, ducking or deploying your energy shield.

Another way that Blasters of the Universe differs is that it does not offer dual-wielding, instead giving the player a rechargeable shield for one hand, and a customisable gun for the other. The latter point is one of the titles stand-out features, as the gun customisation options are vast, allowing players to carefully tailor the gun’s abilities to suit a particular play style or fight a particular enemy.

For those who have sharpened their aim and their reflexes and are seeking a new challenge, the release of Blasters of the Universe may offer something that PlayStation VR sharpshooters can get their teeth into.

As VRFocus noted in its review of the PC version: “For those that’ve become rightly bored with wave shooters Blasters of the Universe offers that spark of light, reminding us why this genre became popular in the first place. The entire theme, visual aesthetics and gameplay make Blasters of the Universe a joy to play, just be prepared to swear and curse – possibly throw a controller – as that heart disappears because you didn’t see that one laser bolt soon enough.”

Stay tuned to VRFocus for more upcoming gameplay footage of newly released and exciting VR titles.

Posted on

Neon Carnage Comes to PlayStation VR With Blasters of the Universe

Wave-based shooters maybe commonplace on virtual reality (VR) headsets yet every so often one pops up that makes you take notice. That occurred last year when Secret Location fully launched Blasters of the Universe for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, having spent the previous 12 months in Early Access. Today, PlayStation VR owners get to play the bullet-hell experience for themselves, transporting themselves into a neon rich, 80s inspired universe.

Blasters_of_the_Universe_PSVR_Screenshot_3

Much like other wave shooters such as Space Pirate Trainer, Blasters of the Universe is all about surviving an onslaught of enemies by ducking, dodging and deflecting their way through several challenging levels. One place where Blasters of the Universe differs is through the weapon customisation system. There’s no dual wielding guns in the videogame, instead you have an upgradable shield in one hand and upgradable gun in the other.

There are over 130,000 ways to customise and tweak loadouts to match offensive or defensive preferences, with the gun in particular offering different ammo clips, rapid fire, shotgun, or grenade style projectiles and much more. Alongside the normal single-player campaign Secret Location has added a new Casual mode giving players a far less abrasive and difficult experience. While true opposition addicts can also play the strenuous Endless mode in a race to high-score heaven.

“We’re huge fans of bullet hell and wanted to make a game that encapsulates its infamous mayhem and difficulty through modern VR,” said Josh Manricks, Technical Director and Project Lead at Secret Location in a statement. “VR adds layers of challenge by making players use quick full-body reactions to survive the relentless barrage of enemies. It’s also a great way to hash out lingering resentment over bullies from the past – if anyone needs to be put in his place, it’s Grand Master Alwyn.”

Blasters_of_the_Universe_PSVR_Screenshot_2

Blasters of the Universe is available now on PlayStation VR for $14.99 USD with limited time discounts from 27th February through 6th March, 2018. PlayStation Network users in the Americas can purchase the videogame for 10 percent off, while PlayStation Plus users in the Americas and Europe get a 15 percent discount. For any further updates, keep reading VRFocus.

Posted on

The Best HTC Vive Games of 2017

The HTC Vive will soon be approaching the second anniversary of its consumer launch, and as such there’s been a practically literal flood of software made available for the head-mounted display (HMD) over the past 12 months. Sifting through Steam and Viveport to find the best videogames available can be a tiresome task, and so VRFocus has compiled a list of the movers-and-shakers from 2017.

The below selection of videogames, in no particular order, represents the best that the HTC Vive has to offer. From AAA releases to indie titles that managed to latch onto a unique facet of virtual reality (VR), offer a huge and diverse playscape or a compelling, immersive experience, the HTC Vive’s portfolio of videogames has never looked better.

HTC Vive mixed image

Fallout 4 VR – Bethesda Game Studios

While many have found the control systems and graphical quality of Fallout 4 VR questionable, there’s no denying that Bethesda Game Studios has delivered one of the most enduringly compelling virtual worlds. The wealth of exploration and interaction opportunities offered in Fallout 4 VR is second-to-none, including Bethesda Game Studios’ own The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR, which launched on PlayStation VR in November 2017.

L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files – Rockstar Games

The most recently released title in this selection – and the last AAA VR release of 2017 – L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files is the antithesis of Fallout 4 VR. While it’s true that L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files features a free-roaming open world, the substance in the videogame isn’t about your interaction therein, but rather with the characters you meet along the way. Not quite to the point of developing relationships, but arguably one of the greatest role-playing experiences as the player is cast as a detective and must interrogate both witnesses and suspects to solve each of the included seven cases.

 

DOOM VFR – Bethesda Game Studios

Bethesda Game Studios’ other big VR title for HTC Vive, DOOM VFR proposes the exact opposite first-person shooter (FPS) gameplay formula to Fallout 4 VR. While Fallout 4 VR is based entirely around its open world setting, DOOM VFR presents tight-knit corridors and a linear path to its gunplay. In accordance with that tighter construct however, DOOM VFR is arguably the best FPS yet seen in VR, holding strong against Epic Games’ Robo Recall.

 

Manifest 99 – Flight School Studio

A surprisingly successful experience that blurs the line between videogame and interactive film, the heavily stylistic approach to Manifest 99’s visual design is as intriguing as the story it tells. The player interacts with the world through variable teleportation options, each offering a unique perspective of the events unfolding. This results in an adventure that can be experienced at your own pace; Manifest 99 isn’t a film that continues when you look away, it’s a story in which you are a key character.

Bloody Zombies – Paw Print Games

Bloody Zombies broke out of the mould by forcing old school videogame mechanics headfirst into a brand new medium. A side-scrolling beat-‘em-up akin to Final Fight or Streets of Rage, Bloody Zombies offers four-player co-operative gameplay regardless of how many players own a VR HMD. The added advantage of playing a 2D videogame in VR is depth – both in terms of gameplay and into the world – as using a HMD allows players to cast their view around the landscape, finding additional paths or hidden secrets not visible on a 2D monitor.

Bloody Zombies VR gif

Blasters of the Universe – Secret Location

Wave shooters in VR are two-a-penny, so what makes Blasters of the Universe any different? Well, it has a storyline – an actual, genuine story with plot twists – behind the frantic shooting action. It also features a huge variety of customisable weaponry, noted as one of the videogame’s best features in VRFocus’ review of Blasters of the Universe, which is based on an inventory built from unlockable components. Thus, there’s also a progression system accompanying that storyline. Blasters of the Universe isn’t just a highscore chase; it’s a videogame with genuine depth.

Blasters of the Universe

REZ Infinite – Enhance Games

REZ Infinite is simply the way REZ was always meant to be played. Enhance Games looked back at the much loved Dreamcast classic and decided that modern technology could bring something new to the experience; and they weren’t wrong. REZ Infinite redefines the rhythm-action genre and even – according to designer Tetsuya Mizuguchi – holds a key to what could be coming next from Enhance Games.

Rez Infinite AreaX 02

Cosmic Trip – Funktronic Labs

Funktronic Labs has taken the real-time strategy (RTS) genre and turned it on its head. Conducting all of the action from a first-person perspective, Cosmic Trip makes the player feel like less of a god and more a commander on the battlefield lining-up with the grunts and cannons. According to the RTS mainstays, players must balance the gathering of resources with the development of new aggression properties, and Cosmic Trip places you at the centre of all your survey.

cosmic trip 3

Battlezone – Rebellion Studios

Originally a PlayStation VR exclusive, Battlezone came to HTC Vive in good form. Arguably still one of the best action videogames in VR, UK-based Rebellion Studios positioned a steep learning curve next to an open campaign progression system, customisable inventory and four-player co-operative gameplay. Piloting a neon tank has never been more fun, and rarely has modern VR.

Battlezone screenshot

Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality – Owlchemy Labs

Rick and Morty is an irreverent commentary on many of the ills of modern society and alternative culture. Adapting this to a videogame could’ve proven a difficult task – VR or otherwise – as there’s a depth in the humour that could be irreparably lost in trying to make a linear, passive experience more open to player interpretation. So who better to adapt the franchise than Owlchemy Labs, a studio which had already proven its ability to achieve the exact same goals with the hugely popular Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives? Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality is a videogame that’s hard to define by genre, and instead argues to be defined by experience; and in that Owlchemy Labs has crafted a VR compelling slice of VR.

rick and morty 1