The big week is finally here! First Contact’s Firewall Zero Hour is now available on PSVR. But, as it turns out, that’s far from all that’s releasing on the headset this week. We’ve also got a suite of other big launches, each of which looks worth your time in their own right. This has to be the best week for PSVR launches since the headset itself came out two years ago.
Firewall Zero Hour, from First Contact Entertainment
Price: $39.99
The long-anticipated multiplayer shooter from the makers of ROM: Extraction is finally here. Firewall Zero Hour is an intense 4 vs 4 shooter that makes great use of PSVR’s Aim controller as players must strategize in attack and defend-style missions. This is a fast, frantic explosion of a VR game and absolutely one to pick up (it also works with the DualShock 4).
Bow to Blood, from Tribetoy
Price: $29.99
Bow to Blood is a fascinating mix of arena-based combat, ship micromanagement and relationship simulation. You’re a part of the Bow to Blood tournament and must fight your way up through the ranks over the course of seven events, making sure to keep other players happy in order to avoid being voted off. The unique mash-up of systems absolutely makes this worth checking out.
Torn, from Aspyr
Price: £29.99 (currently discounted)
An intriguing puzzle game with first-rate production values, Torn is a great VR debut from Aspyr. You explore the deserted mansion that once belonged to an inventor, uncovering his life’s work and just maybe discovering where he disappeared to. Engaging, if simplistic puzzles set a great pace and the writing is top notch, though the story suffers in the second half.
Catch & Release, from Metricminds
Price: $19.99 ($17.99 for PS Plus members)
If action isn’t your thing then how about a spot of VR fishing? Catch & Release is a relaxing fishing game in which you head out on a boat and snooze away the hours trying to get a good haul. We haven’t played it yet but the gorgeous visuals and soothing atmosphere definitely make it seem inviting.
Viking Days, from Naked Money
Price: $4.99
If you’re looking to save a little this week then Viking Days’ $4.99 certainly hits the right note. Also good news: This isn’t just a wave shooter! Instead its an appealing collection of mini-games, all designed to live out your Norse dreams. We especially like the look of the canyon-crossing level.
The idea of a majestic galleon that can sail gracefully across the sky is an idea which has captured the imagination for centuries, so of course there is a certain appeal in the idea of taking command of your own airship and rolling out the cannons for the ship-to-ship combat. This fantasy is exactly what Bow To Blood aims to provide.
The set-up for Bow To Blood is that of a contest between captains of these amazing airships, with a hint of the old reality TV set up, as a leaderboard is set up, and whoever sits on the bottom two slots at the end of each round is vulnerable to being voted off.
The airships are powered with a Captain’s ‘essence’, which provides power to all systems, and can also act as a kind of currency – a point I will get to later. You need to pilot your airship around the spacious arenas, fighting off opponents and trying to reach that coveted top spot on the leaderboard in each round.
If using the Dual Shock controller, the accelerator is controlled by the right thumbstick, while movement is on the left, and aiming the ships cannons is done using gaze control, as the cannons will fire where you are looking. Muscle memory can get in the way here if you are used to controlling a camera with the right thumbstick, but after some practice it comes together. The PlayStation Move controllers can also be used, but their lack of analogue stick makes them a poorer choice, over all.
Players who are prone to simulation sickness may wish to be careful and check the comfort options, as the airship does move convincingly like a ship at sea, so may cause problems for some.
You also have additional systems, such as a shield, advanced weaponry, attack drones and turbo boost. These all take essence to operate, and can be a lot of juggle early on, but become vital tools later. You also have a crew who you can send to perform various tasks so you aren’t completely overwhelmed, though said crew members might be more tolerable if they talked a bit less, particularly early on.
Beyond the combat, there is an impressively in-depth relationship system, which involves trading favours and making alliances with other competitors. This can involve lending some ‘Essence’ to another captain, in return for their aid. This does put you down on your essence total in the next round, but getting an ally might be worth it. You often find you need to carefully weigh up the pros and cons of helping or hindering another contestant in a way that is often more engaging the the actual combat.
The graphics have a very cartoonish feel to them, very colourful, bright and interesting. The voice acting is pretty good for the most part, though many of the conversation you have end up being mostly by text.
Interestingly, the stages are all procedurally generated, so if you fail in round three, the next time you play, round one and two will be completely different. While this does provide some variety, there seems to be a limited toolset to draw on, making them look somewhat similar anyway, which is something of a shame.
Bow to Blood is a fine, fun title with some minor niggles. The combat is good, though somewhat tricky to get used to, but the alliance system offers something interesting and unique that elevates the title to a higher level.
Can you believe it’s nearly September already? It seems like it was only yesterday that we were looking ahead to 2018 and imagining all the great VR gaming we were going to be doing. Now most of it’s behind us.
Fortunately, though, 2018 has saved the best for last. We’ve rounded up 13 games!
Firewall Zero Hour Platforms: PSVR Release Date: Out now
A hugely anticipated competitive shooter from First Contact Entertainment, Firewall pits two teams of four against each other in attack and defend game modes. It’s been compared to Counter-Strike and Rainbow Six, and we’ve fallen in love with it each and every time we’ve played it. Pick up a PlayStation Aim controller for the best way to play.
Bow to Blood Platforms: PSVR Release Date: Out now
We weren’t going to put Bow to Blood on this list until we actually played it. Turns out Tribetoy’s PSVR debut is a winning mix of strategic micromanagement and arena-based combat. You pilot flying ships in a televised tournament and must forge unlikely relationships in order to prevail. This may be a sleeper hit for PSVR.
Torn Platforms: Rift, Vive, PSVR Release Date: Out now
An intriguing new puzzle game and the first internally-developed project from Aspyr. Torn sees you explore an enormous mansion as you gather the memories of as renowned inventor. Puzzles ask you to complete circuits by locating symbols fitted to random objects and putting them in the correct place. It’s a mad scientist of a VR game and definitely worth your time.
Zone of the Enders 2: The 2nd Runner – MARS Platforms: Rift, Vive, PSVR Release Date: September 4th
First announced at Tokyo Game Show last year, this is a full remaster of Konami’s cult classic, Zone of the Enders 2, with full support for VR putting you inside the cockpit of Jehuty for the first time. The entire original game can be played inside your headset, and what we’ve played of it is promising, if a little confusing.
Transference Platforms:Rift, Vive, PSVR Release Date: September 18th
The next VR game from Ubisoft is developed in partnership with Elijah Wood’s Spectrevision. It’s a psychological thriller that mixes CG and live action elements to create a mysterious and disturbing exploration of the mind. There’s a free demo out right now on PSVR, and what we’ve played of the main game is hugely promising.
Creed: Rise to Glory Platforms: Rift, Vive, PSVR Release Date: September 25th
Raw Data and Sprint Vector developer Survios is back with what’s sure to be another knockout. Creed is based on the recent films spinning out of the Rocky franchise and has you using two motion controllers to box your way to the top. Survios’ new Phantom Melee Technology is promising a more immersive, convincing boxing system than we’ve seen so far in VR.
Astro Bot: Rescue Mission Platforms: PSVR Release Date: October 2nd
One of the surprise success stories from PSVR’s launch back in 2016 was a small platforming minigame in the free Playroom VR collection. Now, Sony Japan is building that experience out into a full game akin to Lucky’s Tale. Expect inventive use of VR as you make your way through several levels saving your adorable robo buddies. This is sure to be a great addition to your PSVR library.
Evasion Platforms:Rift, Vive, PSVR Release Date: October 9th
Archiact, the developer of Waddle Home (yes, Waddle Home) is trying its hand at making the next big VR shooter. Evasion features co-op bullet hell gameplay in which you fight your way through an alien planet-trashing just about everything in sight. PS Aim support on PSVR is sure to make the experience more immersive.
Defector Platforms: Rift Release Date: 2018
Don’t forget about this hugely promising spy game from Wilson’s Heart developer Twisted Pixel, which last we heard was still coming this year. It’s as cinematic as VR gets, mixing stylish gadget-based gameplay with exciting shootouts and massive setpieces that will have you skydiving and more. Expect big things from this.
Another one that might have slipped under your radar – Prey is getting VR support! Well, sort of. It’s actually an escape room-style DLC expansion in which you have to solve puzzles. There’s also going to be a multiplayer component in which players become shape-shifting mimics and disguise themselves in a room before a human player seeks them out. Verdict’s still out on this one.
Echo Combat Platforms: Rift Release Date: 2018
An expansion to the excellent Echo Arena was promised at Oculus Connect last year and it looks like it’ll be launching soon. Echo Combat brings gunplay into the series’ excellent zero gravity arenas. There’s already been several promising betas for the game, so expect this to be one of the big Rift games of the next few months.
A Fisherman’s Tale Platforms:Rift, Vive, PSVR Release Date: 2018
Firebird: La Peri developer Innervision is getting much closer to a game with its latest VR project, which has some incredibly inventive puzzles on offer. You play as a fisherman that has a scale model of his lighthouse inside his room. Look into it, and you’ll see a small version of yourself, while a bigger version can be found outside your window. Things get trippy fast.
Space Junkies Platforms:Rift, Vive Release Date: 2018
Ubisoft has a competitor to Echo Combat also coming this year. Space Junkies is another zero gravity shooter in which you grab power-ups and dual-wield weapons as you fling yourself around space, blasting other players. It’s a decidedly more arcadey take on the genre, and we can’t wait to see if it manages to build a community of its own.
Thank god Bow to Blood didn’t go down the multiplayer route. Boasting the same televised tournament set up as both Rigs and Starblood Arena before it, Tribetoy’s VR debut could have easily ended up being another quickly-forgotten online wasteland. That would have been a real shame, as the game’s inspired mix of resource management, strategic relationships and arena-based combat make it one of the most dynamic and satisfying PSVR games of the year that’s not to be overlooked.
Instead of nauseating online battles, Bow to Blood takes a much more considered approach to answering the call for more ‘true’ VR games. Its randomized, permadeath campaign consists of seven events split into multiple matches that hinge upon several interchanging features. That not only means that no two playthroughs are the same but it also has you considering every slightest move, from the fire of a cannon to a simple choice in words.
Immediate gameplay has its simplistic thrills. You pilot a flying boat around large maps — complete with stomach-churning slow turns that initially give you a generous helping of seasickness — fulfilling different objectives that largely boil down to fending off attackers. Pointing your right Move controller to aim the cannons is as intuitive as ever, though the face buttons are an inevitably clunky substitute for navigation (you can also play with DualShock 4, which reverses those fortunes). The best battles have you zig-zagging in altitude as you try to dodge sweeping laser attacks before frantically switching to your personal firearm to take care of smaller, invasive robots that come aboard uninvited. Awkward as the movement can be, it is at least surprisingly responsive, making it easy to execute last minute dodges and sharp turns.
That said, Bow to Blood often struggles to root you in the moment and fully grasp the danger you’re facing. Perhaps it’s the large space between you and your attackers or the absence of any meaningful feedback from damage, but I never managed to escape the disconnect between my human body and the thunderous action of the virtual world, as if there was a protective barrier separating the two. There’s a lack of viscerality that robs all but the most demanding of encounters of the same kind of intensity you might have in, say, a really good first-person shooter.
Fortunately, it’s the layers built on top of that action that really make Bow to Blood shine. For starters, there’s a heck of a lot of micromanagement to be done on your ship, which more than makes up for the combat’s shortcomings. Through assigning two AI companions to different roles like shields and turrets as well as constantly rearranging your ship’s capabilities with limited Essence blocks the game takes a deeply strategic turn with a much more engaging edge than the base gameplay. It’s a mini-Faster Than Light by way of VR; quick orders need to be issued to repair damaged components and raw firepower sometimes needs to be traded in for the speed to escape a losing battle.
Bow to Blood’s real wild card (and its crowning feature), though, is the tournament itself and how you stay ahead in it. At the end of each event the two lowest-scoring “players” will risk being voted off by the remaining participants. In order to survive, you’ll have to build strong relationships with would-be competitors that approach you during and in-between matches to forge alliances, play tricks, scout for info or simply declare war. You’re put on the spot as desperate NPC “players” ask for a handful of points to keep them out of danger, plead for help in fighting off enemies so they can keep the rewards or seek to partner-up against more immediate threats.
It’s the impressive amount of agency this feature gives you that makes it so special. In one level, I toyed with the idea of leaving a player begging for power supplies to his doom so I could reap the profits, only to decide I’d need an ally in the upcoming vote, named The Culling. Helping him out meant I lost an Essence block for the rest of the event, but it also gave me better standing with the participants that had already allied with him. Soon the game’s leaderboard became an ever-changing relationship simulator in which I was constantly assessing the risk/reward balance of helping struggling opponents out and screwing them over. Ultimately in my most successful run so far (where I got to the fifth stage, which had taken nearly two hours to get to), I was coupled with the top scoring player, of whom I’d made a vicious enemy. I decided to take my chances and shoot him in the back. It did not go well for me.
This underlying system enriches each and every aspect of Bow to Blood’s gameplay and gives the player stories to tell unlike any other VR game before it. Do you have enough points to start leaving former allies in the dust? Or can you really afford to keep angering the tournament’s most popular player if you’re sitting just above The Culling? Tribetoy has done a stunning job seamlessly integrating choices like these into your actions, lending tangible weight to each and every encounter.
I only wish more use of VR had been made in this case. Interactions between players are displayed through simple text-based menus, and it’s a shame not to see VR’s ability to create empathy not explored here. It means that the decisions you make are mostly cold and calculated, without much of a hint of morality to them. The game’s bold, vibrant world, introduced by a spritely announcer and given life by your shoulder angel and devil companions, certainly feels like it could have brought these characters to life in more memorable ways. If Bow to Blood had managed to crack that final code, it could have made for something really special.
Final Score:8/10 – Great
There’s a lot to learn about Bow to Blood and not all of it’s to love, but what does work elevates the game to soar with all the majesty of its battle-hardened ships. This is a deliciously strategic bit of randomized arena battling that might not make the most compelling case for VR itself but stands as a thrill to play in its own right. If I were to make a bet on what might be one of PSVR’s most beloved sleeper hits in a few years, it’d be this.
A few weeks ago we reported that ship-battling PSVR exclusive, Bow to Blood, would be releasing at the end of August. At the time we didn’t have any new footage to show, but now we do.
The launch trailer for Tribetoy’s VR debut is here and it promises a vibrant VR experience. It gives us a good look at the game’s tournament-style matches, in which you command a flying ship in races and battles, ordering a crew around and occasionally taking up arms yourself. A virtual audience will vote on your performance, determining your position in the tournament.
It looks pretty promising, though Bow to Blood is going to have its work cut out for it come launch day. The game’s arriving on August 28th, which is the same day as the much-anticipated Firewall: Zero Hour and Torn. Let’s hope Tribetoy’s game is strong enough to stand out.
August 28th is going to be a busy day for PSVR owners.
Indie developer Tribetoy this week confirmed that its VR action game, Bow to Blood, is coming to Sony’s headset at the end of next month. In the game, you team up with others to pilot a flying ship and then take on other opponents in a reality TV show. You’ll need to multitask between operating weapons and steering your vehicle as you take part in battles and races. The game was announced at Paris Games Week last year with the below trailer, though we haven’t really seen it since.
Tribetoy also confirmed several voice actors for the game this week, including Overwatch’s Greg Chun and Erik Braa from World of Warcraft.
That’s not the only new PSVR game releasing that day, though. Aspyr’s intriguing VR adventure game, Torn, is also set to debut on the platform on the same day, as is the highly-anticipated PSVR exclusive multiplayer shooter, Firewall: Zero Hour. It’s going to be tough to stand out between these three games.
Tribetoy’s airship adventure Bow to Blood, which was first announced at last year’s Paris Games Week, now has an official launch date on PSVR.
Coming August 28th exclusively to PSVR, the single player game pits you against AI competitors in a futuristic reality TV spectacle that will have you racing and battling in an otherworldly arena setting.
The game features procedurally generated encounters, meaning no two fights will be exactly the same. At your disposal is a mighty airship with a compliment of weapons, an AI crew, and a laser pistol for when the enemy gets too close for comfort.
According to a PS blog post, you’ll also be able to strike deals with AI challengers, which you can either fully honor or renege on for your own personal gain. Selfish decisions, Tribetoy says, “can quickly make enemies out of allies.”
Check out the quick gameplay trailer below to see a little more about Tribetoy’s upcoming Bow to Blood.
There’s something about airships in videogames. Don’t ask us how there is, there just is. While there’s been a few games focused on them here and there and more than a few instances of them being used as a creative mode of travel – or in the case of Bioshock Infinite, living.
Perhaps though, the most notable instance of their appearance must surely be in SEGA’s 2000 Dreamcast title Skies of Arcadia (or the 2002 re-release Skies of Arcadia Legends for Nintendo Gamecube) in which airships were the only form of transportation around the world and sky pirates roamed the… well, skies. However, for anyone pining for the days of Vyse and the gang there is a virtual reality (VR) title that might just be up your street. It’s called Bow To Blood – and it’s coming to PlayStation VR next month.
Announced as part of the line-up at the 2017 Paris Games Show, Bow To Blood rather fell off the radar after the announcement. With nothing heard about it at all from developer Tribetoy. VRFocus even included it in our April feature on ‘Missing In Action’ VR titles, hoping we would hear more at E3 – which came and went without a peep.
Now the developer has confirmed PlayStation VR owners will be able to set sail into the skies on August 28th 2018.
Set in a sci-fi world, Bow To Blood sees you take command of an airship taking part in a reality television show as you follow your goal of becoming a champion. You’re not short on tasks either, as you not only have to pilot your airship but also manage your crew. You’ll even have to do a bit of glad-handing as you strike deals and look to make your reputation among your airship peers. Balancing your honour against the need for profit. As the old saying goes, a friend in need is a friend indeed – but, if you’ve got bills to pay maybe you’ll think again.
Unfortunately, there is no new trailer to accompany this news, at least not at the time of writing. However, thanks to the announcement on the PlayStation Blog we do at least have some new screenshots to show off how the title looks now. You can see those below.VRFocuswill bring you more news about Bow To Blood and all the latest from the VR videogame world as we get it.
The PlayStation VR has skyrocketed to the forefront of consumer virtual reality (VR) since its launch back in 2016. In the 18 months since the debut of the head-mounted display (HMD) we’ve seen some fantastic VR experiences become available, with the likes of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Farpoint and Moss redefining what videogaming can mean, but along the way we’ve also seen some fantastic looking experiences disappear off-the-grid. VRFocus now takes a moment to remember some of our fallen friends and question where they are now.
We’re not talking about tech demo’s here – the likes of Final Fantasy XIV and a VR edition of 2014’s Thief reboot amongst the many that we never really expected a full consumer release for – but rather those titles which were announced with the intention of launching via the PlayStation Store before disappearing off-the-radar. For example, Golem. Highwire Games’ Golem was announced in 2016, only to drop out of the public eye for over a year before being confirmed for a 2018 release back in October 2017. Below are some of the other titles we’ve not heard about for some time.
Godling
Initially announced way back in 2015, development on Sólfar Studios’ Golding came to a halt in favour of progressing with Everest VR. Since then, VRFocus has regularly asked Sólfar Studios what the plans are for the title, including recently when discussing the impending launch of In Death. Sadly, there’s nothing new to report on this promising adventure/god sim.
Bow to Blood
Revealed as part of an extensive line-up of new PlayStation VR titles at last year’s Paris Games Week, Bow to Blood puts teams of players in charge of an airship as they engage in combat with rival crews. Since the debut of Bow to Blood – which stated a 2018 release for the videogame – developer Tribe Toy has offered no new updates. No trailers, no screenshots; nothing. Here’s hoping we’ll hear more at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).
Quar: Infernal Machines
Quar: Infernal Machines (formerly known as Quar: Battle for Gate 18) was one of the best strategy titles on the HTC Vive at launch. The PlayStation VR release has long been on the schedule though has suffered repeated delays. Last VRFocus heard was an expected March 2018 launch, which has obviously now passed. Will we still see Quar: Infernal Machines on PlayStation VR in 2018? Here’s hoping so.
Megalith
Megalith is another PlayStation VR title that was revealed during Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE) Paris Games Week press conference last year, only to have disappeared shortly thereafter. A release in Q1 2018 had been expected, but currently there’s no confirmation of a specific date. For many of those keenly following the PlayStation VR software line-up, Megalith’s opportunity to play as a titan on a quest to become a powerful god though a stylized, destructible world has positioned it as one of the most highly anticipated titles of 2018.
Transference
A joint venture between Ubisoft and Elijah Wood’s Spectrevision, Transference is an interesting first-person horror experience. Flitting between both eerie and ultra-violent with abandon, Transference casts the player as an investigator exploring digital reconstructions of a man’s mind. It’s weird, and given that it has been suggested for launch in June 2018, it’s likely to get a big showing at E3.
Perhaps though, the most notable instance of their appearance must surely be in SEGA’s 2000 Dreamcast title Skies of Arcadia (or the 2002 re-release Skies of Arcadia Legends for Nintendo Gamecube) in which airships were the only form of transportation around the world and sky pirates roamed the… well, skies. However, for anyone pining for the days of Vyse and the gang there is a virtual reality (VR) title that might just be up your street. It’s called Bow To Blood – and it’s coming to PlayStation VR next month.
