Loco Dojo Unleashed’s Latest Update Adds a VIP Party Vibe

Make Real released Loco Dojo Unleashed in late 2021 as one of the definitive party titles for the Meta Quest platform. Today, the studio has revealed that a VIP Party Update is on its way, adding Quest party support, golden animal masks and more.

With the addition of Meta Quest Part support players it’ll make getting into a game with friends far easier, allowing them to switch from other apps, or join invites from the Quest mobile or web apps. Country region restrictions have also been removed so you can match with anyone around the world.

Additionally, the quick match Four Round Fury multiplayer mode has been streamlined and you can now unlock VIP golden masks when obtaining a black belt in the Ten Trials Test.

“Following on from the success of the game on Meta Quest 1 & 2 since launch last year, we’ve been keen to ensure the game is updated and sees new content added to keep the competitive community engaged with the title,” said Sam Watts, Immersive Partnerships Director at Make Real Ltd in a statement.

“As we look to add new features and content in further future updates, to ensure friends and family continue to be able to play together in many ways of their choosing, this first update was designed around removing some of the sticking points around getting into multiplayer games,” Watts continued. “The next update will add the much-requested Pass’n’Play mode to the game, letting local multiplayer mayhem continue when only one device is in the household.”

Reviewing Loco Dojo Unleashed for Meta Quest 2, gmw3 wrote: “In its newly refined form, Loco Dojo Unleashed continues to provide a superbly fun, party experience if you can get a few friends together.”

The VIP Party Update for Loco Dojo Unleashed goes live at 6pm BST (10am PST) on the Oculus Store today. For continued updates, keep reading gmw3.

May 16, 2022

Loco Dojo Unleashed Gets Quest Party Support, New Unlockables

A new update for VR party game, Loco Dojo Unleashed, will make getting into matches much easier.

Set to release at 10am PT today, the VIP Party Update will introduce Quest Party functionality. This’ll make it easier to jump into the game with friends from other apps etc. It’ll also give you more control of getting into games from the Quest mobile and web apps. There’s also a streamlined quick match option for Four Round Fury if you want to get into the game as fast as possible.

Loco Dojo Update Incoming

Finally, today’s update also adds golden animal masks for players to earn by getting the black belt ranking in Ten Trials Test.

Speaking to UploadVR, developer Make Real confirmed that more updates were in the works, too. “Moving forwards, with some of the changes to how accounts and app access works, we wanted to ensure families still have a way to play together easily,” the studio’s Sam Watts said. “Whilst not as fully engaged as each household member having a headset and playing together in a tournament, we’re user testing a fun pass’n’play mode right now that brings a new way to play together locally, competitively.

We thought Loco Dojo Unleashed offered enjoyable minigame action when it launched on Quest last year. “Loco Dojo doesn’t rewrite the rules on the party game format, but it successfully finds the fun in adding VR to that template,” we said. “Its best games are brilliantly entertaining explorations of the different kinds of experiences the platform offers and, although it has some structural issues, tournaments move with a pace that makes them easy to jump into and tempting to replay time and again.”

Are you going to be trying out Loco Dojo Unleashed’s new updates? Let us know in the comments below!

October 7, 2021

Loco Dojo Unleashed Review: VR’s Logical, Enjoyable Answer To Mario Party

Loco Dojo’s likable, well-paced take on Mario Party in VR hides some brilliant VR interactions. More in our Loco Dojo review!

Loco Dojo might essentially boil down to a series of fast-fire minigames, but packaged up together it’s an earnest exploration of just how different VR can really be. Swinging sausage nun-chucks around to ward off bats, catapulting balled up cats onto dog fur, or spraying a friend with shark food and then watching them desperately duck out of the way of sharp-toothed toys is all a potent reminder of the vast possibilities that lie just beyond the rings of the Oculus Touch controllers. There’s no gruff firefights or intense melee sword battles here, just a desire to offer something new. Though these moments are fleeting, Loco Dojo’s sharp pacing and fun social mechanics make them worth coming back to time and again.

We’re strictly in ‘Mario Party but in VR’ territory here. Up to four players join a lobby and take turns moving counters along a game board. Land on one of the 16 activities and you’ll be carted off for a few minutes of game time. Win the given activity and you’ll earn points, enough of which will provide access to a central temple where winning just one game will land you the crown.

Everything moves along with rejuvenating speed: spin the wheel, move the counter, and more than likely you’ll be jumping into the next game in no time. Crucially, the minigames are something to look forward to. Some hit on the conventional thrills like throwing items or spinning figurative plates, but the best feel like they’re truly unique to the platform. My personal favorite has some players using a paddle to bat urchins onto the stomach of a whale, while others tilt a platform to move a saw that brushes them off. Or there’s a VR take on an egg and spoon race in which you’ll balance a giant egg whilst trying to punch your opponent’s with a giant boxing glove. These feel frantic and exciting, with no shooter or sword-play muscle memory to fall back on.

There are a few more troubling omissions and hiccups that frustrate the experience, though. Though players start at opposite ends of the map, it’s entirely possible for one to catch up with another. Should that happen, you run the risk of repeating the same games over and over again, which can be a slog. And, although this new Quest version adds in single-player training, it’d be nice to have the options of a few practice rounds before getting stuck into a minigame on multiplayer; if it’s your first time you’re likely to lose points just figuring out the basics.

Of course, some of the games also don’t really land. Controlling a potato-shooting turret just doesn’t feel natural without a sense of feedback, and a game involving one player tossing snacks into a monster’s mouth is a trial for the opponent, who has to try and predict sometimes buggy hand placements to block incoming fire. Some games are also over just a little too quickly, feeling like the whistle blows before you’ve really settled in to find the fun.

But the better games easily outweigh the duds and the structural issues don’t derail the fun of a four-player tournament. Is it enough to keep you coming back? Well, that depends on if you have the friends to play it with, which is a considerably bigger ask than console party games with local multiplayer. For its part, the game’s charming toy-like presentation and always entertaining narration from Brian Blessed do their bit to make it a cheerful space to be in.

Loco Dojo Review – Final Impressions

Loco Dojo doesn’t rewrite the rules on the party game format, but it successfully finds the fun in adding VR to that template. Its best games are brilliantly entertaining explorations of the different kinds of experiences the platform offers and, although it has some structural issues, tournaments move with a pace that makes them easy to jump into and tempting to replay time and again. It might be hard to realize a family game night in VR but if you and your friends find yourselves in four corners of the globe with an Oculus Quest each, Loco Dojo is a good way to capture the camaraderie often reserved for local play.

For more on how we arrived at this rating, read our review guidelines. What did you make of our Loco Dojo review? Let us know in the comments below!

September 24, 2021

VR Party Game Loco Dojo Hits Oculus Quest Next Month With Cross-Buy

Make Real’s VR party game, Loco Dojo, comes to Oculus Quest next month as Loco Dojo Unleashed.

The frantic four-player experience launches on October 7. The studio announced the news this week, though we previously confirmed the game was coming to the standalone headset earlier this year. This version will include all 16 minigames featured in the PC VR version of the title, which released all the way back in 2017. It even supports cross-buy so, if you already bought it in the Oculus Store for Rift, you’ll get the Quest version free of charge.

Check out the new trailer for the game below.

Loco Dojo Unleashed Trailer

Loco Dojo boasts a gorgeous visual style based around wooden toys and features four different biomes to play the games in. One game will have you catching fish with giant grab claws as they jump out of the water, one will have you trying to scoop up eggs as they’re fired around and one will have you punching a cactus. As you play, you can collect masks to wear and show off in multiplayer. The game also features narration from Brian Blessed, if you couldn’t tell from the booming tones in the trailer.

The Quest version of the game includes some new features, like a Quick Match mod to jump into multiplayer lobbies faster, a new tournament mode for 2 – 4 players and new single-player modes with extra unlockables.

We haven’t tried the game ourselves yet but this will definitely be one to watch for those that want a Mario Party-style experience inside VR. We’ll look to bring you a full review as we get closer to the game’s launch next month.

April 30, 2021September 24, 2021

VR Party Game ‘Loco Dojo Unleashed’ Coming to Quest in October, Trailer Here

Loco Dojo, the social VR party game which first launched on PC VR headsets in 2017, is finally getting an Oculus Quest version next month, bringing its madcap minigames to the standalone platform.

Update (September 24th, 2021): Make Real today announced that Loco Dojo Unleashed is officially coming to the Quest platform on October 7th. You can add it to you wishlist here.

The studio also tossed out a feature list to go along with its updated trailer:

New ‘Quick Match’ mode to speed up multiplayer lobbies and matchmaking

‘Table of Trials’ full tournament mode for 2-4 players looking for a greater challenge

New single player mode ‘Solo Dojo’ to hone skills and unlock new masks

‘Ten Trials Test’ single player mode to try to unlock the fabled black headband

16 marvellous mad minigames set across 4 varied themes; Countryside, Rocky Desert, Seaside and Foggy Swamp

More of the charismatic Grand Sensei host, to aid and assist during gameplay, voiced by cult hero Brian Blessed

Delightfully quirky wooden toy visual style

Enchanting stick-in-your-head soundtrack

15 frivolous achievements to unlock

12 animal masks based on the Chinese zodiac, to unlock for your avatar

The original article announcing Quest support follows below:

Original Article (April 30th, 2021): Created by Make Real, Loco Dojo Unleashed is set to feature both multiplayer and single player modes. The multiplayer ‘quick play’ mode lets you jump into casual games, while the ‘tournament mode’ lets two to four players engage in “a greater challenge,” the studio says.

Loco Dojo Unleashed is said to arrive with 16 minigames, not to mention plenty of the brittonic baritone charisma from Grand Sensei host (voice by the illustrious Brian Blessed).

Stepping up to Grand Sensei’s ‘Table of Trials’, you spin to find out which skill you’ll need to hone next as you engage in competitive multiplayer with friends or strangers.

“Following on from the success of the game on PC VR and in LBE VR Arcades, we have listened to feedback to include a number of enhancements for Oculus Quest players,” says Sam Watts, Immersive Partnerships Director at Make Real. “For launch we wanted to make sure it is as easy as possible to pick-up and play and get into games. We’ve removed elements that slowed gameplay down and added those that improve players understanding of how to become the master within the dojo. We’ve spent considerable effort buffing the wood to provide the same polished world and hectic gameplay the title is known for, coming soon to Oculus Quest.”

Loco Dojo Unleashed will be available on both Quest and Quest 2 headsets sometime in 2021 (see update).

The post VR Party Game ‘Loco Dojo Unleashed’ Coming to Quest in October, Trailer Here appeared first on Road to VR.

April 29, 2021

Mini-Game Mashup Loco Dojo Unleashed Heads to Oculus Quest in 2021

British immersive studio Make Real might be better known for its training and simulation solutions for virtual reality (VR) but it also knows a thing or two about gaming. Back in 2017 the team created four-player party title Loco Dojo for Oculus Rift, where players had to quickly complete crazy mini-games. Today, Make Real has announced Loco Dojo Unleashed, an Oculus Quest edition due to arrive later this year.

Just like before, Loco Dojo Unleashed will feature the same 16 comedic mini-games such as swatting bats with nunchuck hotdogs, milking pigs with baby pigs, and flinging cats around. Plus the charismatic Grand Sensei host, voiced by cult hero Brian Blessed has been left in of course. Make Real hasn’t simply ported the original Loco Dojo over, however, refining the experience to reduce gameplay friction whilst adding new features.

These additions include a new quick play mode to easily find games in multiplayer, whilst a Tournament Mode for 2-4 players will provide a greater challenge. For those times where nobody is about or you just want a practice, a single-player mode will be available with the added bonus of trophies to unlock.

“Following on from the success of the game on PC VR and in LBE VR Arcades, we have listened to feedback to include a number of enhancements for Oculus Quest players,” says Sam Watts, Immersive Partnerships Director at Make Real in a statement. “For launch we wanted to make sure it is as easy as possible to pick up and play and get into games. We’ve removed elements that slowed gameplay down and added those that improve players’ understanding of how to become the master within the dojo. We’ve spent considerable effort buffing the wood to provide the same polished world and hectic gameplay the title is known for.”

When VRFocus originally reviewed Loco Dojo the worry was always player numbers as multiplayer titles back then struggled to find a foothold. Loco Dojo Unleashed, on the other hand, should be an ideal experience for Oculus Quest as there are more players and it has easy-to-understand gameplay mechanics for players of all VR skill levels.

Loco Dojo Unleashed will arrive at some point later in 2021. For further updates on the project keep reading VRFocus.

April 29, 2021

VR Party Game Loco Dojo Is Coming To Oculus Quest

Remember Loco Dojo? It was a four-player VR party game that released on PC VR headsets and for VR arcades in 2017.

Four years later, it’s finally coming to Oculus Quest too.

Developer Make Real is bringing Loco Dojo Unleashed to the standalone platform later this year. This version of the game features everything from the original, including 16 minigames that you can tackle in online tournaments for between two to four players. Check it out in the trailer below.

Loco Dojo Unleashed enters players into the Table of Trials where they’ll spin the dice to move across the board and face different challenges as they go. If you played the game before you’ll be familiar with the tasks, which including racing wooden pigs, firing cannons and grabbing fish out of mid-air with giant claws. Each game is designed with VR specifically in-mind, making this about as close to a Mario Party VR game you’ll currently find.

New to this version of the game is a quick play mode to get into matches faster as well as a single-player offering so you can train between multiplayer games. Acting legend Brian Blessed also still lends his trademark bellowing to the game’s narration, if you somehow hadn’t noticed in the trailer. Make Real also provided the screenshot below to show how the game holds up graphically on Quest compared to the old Rift version. There’s definitely a noticeable difference but, overall, the Quest version’s looking petty close to the original.

Will you be picking up Loco Dojo Unleashed later this year? Let us know in the comments below!

October 10, 2018

Oculus Launch Rift Software Update

Oculus Connect 5 at the end of September brought with it a whole bunch of announcements, with the pick of the bunch obviously being the reveal of the Oculus Quest. The finalised vision of that which was begun with the Santa Cruz prototype head-mounted display (HMD).

However, it wasn’t just new hardware that was discussed at this year’s Oculus Connect, the evolution of the current software sets was also very much a topic of discussion – and, after being previewed at the event, Oculus has pressed the button to roll out the latest version of the Oculus Rift’s software package. (Previously known as Rift Core 2.0.)

The update brings with it both new features and optimisations for previous ones. Performance has been improved, the user interface upgraded and there are changes within Oculus Home which is now more customisable than ever before.

“This new software release marks the culmination of months of work and the start of an exciting new phase for Rift.” Confirmed Oculus VR in their latest company blog focusing on the update. “From here, we’ll continue to evolve features and functionality on a monthly basis.”

Such evolution will be achieved in part through the Rift’s new system interface called Dash, which will not only be bringing Rift users greater access and control of both their apps and PC but that will also include what Oculus is calling Experiments. As the name suggests, this toggleable addition showcases a number of potential upcoming features for users to test and feedback on.

Oculus Home Unlockable - Loco Dojo The big update for Home includes Custom Developer Items – unlockable pieces of art, in-game objects and all manner of other things related to your favourite virtual reality (VR) videogame. From a statue of Quill from Moss to the latest addition to the ranks, an animate statue of the Grand Sensei from Loco Dojo. This makes 32 unlockables in Home across nine very different titles. The other seven being Lone Echo II, OrbusVR, Arizona Sunshine, Job Simulator, Echo Arena, Brass Tactics and SUPERHOT VR.

Oculus have also been getting in the holiday spirit – as have a lot of developers since October began – by debuting a new spooky décor for Home (seen above). You can find a list of key features in the update, as revealed by Oculus below.

With dynamic lighting and physically-based renderers, Home looks better than ever and turns off in the background to reduce overhead
Bring the power of your PC into VR with Dash’s virtual desktop, which lets you easily access and interact with your desktop windows and apps
Carve out a corner of the metaverse and customise your Oculus Home with hundreds of themed items and environments—and import your own 3D models and objects for a more personalized touch
Get the party started and host up to eight friends simultaneously for social hangouts and co-watching.

VRFocus will bring you more updates about the ongoing changes to Oculus Home in the near future.

September 5, 2018

New Speakers, New Panellists, New Games – Last Chance To Get Tickets For The Post Gamescom XR Review!

We are but a day away from our Post Gamescom XR Review, which is taking place in London this Thursday at The Realities Centre’s venue at Huckletree West. The review is, among all things, a chance for people to get together, try some virtual reality (VR) and discuss with those working with VR what they are doing and VR’s videogaming path coming out of Gamescom and all that happened there.

You can sign up here incidentally and get a ticket.

Huckletree West (1)[2] Of course you’re like as not aware of things already mentioned on the site which will be in attendence, but as with all events some things change so we have some changes to the card (as it were) to inform you of. The bad news is that Firesprite and their VR videogame The Persistence will no longer be able to attend which is a great shame. Don’t worry though as we’ve some new items to announce as well!

First up is confirmation of one of our talks for the event. Dave Raynard, the CEO of Dream Reality Interactive (DRI) will be talking to attendees about the life of a young development studio in The Terrible Twos: The DRI Story So Far.

“Dream Reality Interactive is two years old. DRI have had the opportunity to work on some amazing projects – and still be in business! In this talk, Dave will speak about their journey and reflect on what went well and where they could have improved.”

DRI will also be at the event showing of their VR title Arca’s Path VR of course, and Dave Raynard will also be contributing to the panel at the end of the evening.
Arca's Path keyArt

Also taking part in the panel will be Sam Watts of Brighton-based developer make[REAL], a familiar face to the VR talk circuit and to VRFocus readers with his recent developer diaries about the studio’s project Pastimes for Pirates. Watts will also be showing off the studio’s hit party game title Loco Dojo at the event. Attendees will be able to adventure into a whimsical world overseen by the mysterious Grand Sensei. Can you stand up to his ‘Table of Trials’?

LocoDojo Screenshot 3_RockyDesert One more member of the Post Gamescom panel has also been announced: Kish Hirani. The CTO of Terra Virtua, Hirani has undertaken roles at Acclaim, BBC Multimedia, THQ, Microsoft and at Sony as their Head of Developer Services, running the PlayStation developer technology services division. Hirani is also a former Chair of BAME in Games and a Board member of Women in Games, so will no doubt have much to say on VR’s direction as we begin to look past 2018 and into 2019.

Our final announcement for now is that we will also be joined on the day by Tara Reddy and Sam Weekes, the co-Founders of LoveShark. Who will be showing off their forthcoming augmented reality (AR) drawing-based videogame LaserDRAW. Look out for them on the day.

LaserDraw - Screenshot We’re still awaiting the confirmation of more developers and speakers so look out for more news. But before that act fast if you want to check out everything at the event tomorrow!

January 7, 2018

Something for the Weekend: Oculus Store Price Drops Galore

The new year is here finally, and we’re kicking off 2018 by highlighting a bunch of deals and price drops you can find on the Oculus Store, just in case you got a fancy new Oculus Rift or Gear VR head-mounted display this Christmas.

We’ve got a bunch of titles here for you to peruse, from strategy titles, racing videogames, minigame collections and much more. Great for your new HMD, or to just add another videogame to your library to show off and play with friends.

Project CARS

The only way to make a modern, realistic driving simulator even more immersive is playing it in virtual reality (VR), and that’s exactly what Project CARS is for. The graphics, dynamic time of day and weather, and a host of different tuning mechanics for car nerds is sure to satisfy driving fans.

Project CARS – Game of the Year Edition is now £10.99 (GBP) on the Oculus Store, down from £39.99.

Nature Treks VR

Ever fancied being a God? Well, we don’t exactly have a VR deity simulator here, but Nature Treks VR comes pretty close in the moments where you can command the weather and set the sun. Nature Treks VR has even more content and environments since the latest update, making it a better deal than ever.

Nature Treks VR is only £4.49 (GBP), down from £7.99.

Loco Dojo

LocoDojo Screenshot 1_Guru

In Loco Dojo, you’ll go up against a variety of bizarre challenges against your friends, such as hooking pigs, shooting targets, knocking out teeth and more. It makes great use of the Oculus Touch controllers, and is a great way to introduce people to VR.

Loco Dojo is down to £7.99 (GBP) from £14.99.

Tethered

Tethered - Screenshot18

In this title from Secret Sorcery, The Peeps have given up hope, and as the Spirit Guardian, it’s up to you to restore life and balance to the world. The Peeps will fight for you, build for you, and lay down their lives on your orders. There are thirteen islands waiting for your help in this VR strategy, and there’s never been a better time to try it.

Tethered is down to £8.79 from £18.99.

Just In Time Incorporated

Just In Time Incorporated screenshot 3

Have you ever wanted to die? No? Well then you need Death Prevention Insurance, and that’s exactly what Just In Time Incorporated provides. You’ll be slowing down time, saving people jumping from buildings, protect them from explosions, or even take a chainsaw to them once you get sick of their attitude. Lovely.

Just In Time Incorporated is now £7.25 (GBP), down from £10.99.

Detached

Detached Race Mode

It’s a race against time. Your oxygen supply is low, your crew is missing, and for some reason every airlock requires solving a puzzle to open. Maddening. But such is the design of the spacecrafts of the future, and in Detached it’s up to you navigate in zero gravity and save your crew.

Detached is now £10.99 (GBP), previously £18.99.

Hidden Temple VR Adventure

hiddentemple3

If you’ve ever wanted to feel like Indiana Jones, but wanted to gracefully skirt around copyright issues, then Hidden Temple VR Adventure might be the perfect experience for you. Essentially a point-and-click for Gear VR, you’ll explore an ancient temple, solve puzzles, collect treasure and – hopefully – survive.

Hidden Temple VR Adventure is now £1.99 (GBP), previously £3.99.

Shufflepuck Cantina Deluxe

Travelling through space and billions of miles per hour, your vessel is sucked into a wormhole, and you awaken on an alien desert planet. A bit like Jakku, really. There’s nothing around but desert, and one large building. A casino. Where everyone plays air hockey. Yes. And you’ll play air hockey. This is basically an air hockey videogame, is what I’m trying to get at.

Shufflepuck Cantina Deluxe is now only £2.29 (GBP), down from £7.99.

Augmented Empire

Augmented_Empire_Screenshot_3

In Augmented Empire you’ll take control of six wacky characters and guide them through an “augmented reality” world. Climb the Citizen Grade System, and become much more than just a low-tier thug.

Augmented Empire is now £3.99 (GBP), down from £7.99.

In Car Racing VR

Oh yes, perhaps even better than Project CARS, here In Car Racing VR puts you in a car. And you race it. In VR. How can thing get better, you ask? Well, there’s easy controls, multiple sceneries, and multiple camera modes, of course. You can even set what kind of traffic you like. Amazing.

In Car Racing VR is only £0.79 (GBP), down from £2.29.