It was this time last week when we were all gearing up for the launch of the PlayStation VR head-mounted display (HMD), and along with the launch of the HMD came a bunch of experiences and videogames that really brought it to life – this included the likes of PlayStation VR Worlds, which is a collection of five mini games. Today it has been said that if you have enjoyed the title, there is the official soundtrack posted on Spotify.
The tracks include the official opening to the game with Welcome to VR Worlds, and then moves onto each title starting with Ocean Descent whose main track is of the same name, followed by Manta Ray Moment, Jellyfish Cave, Submarine Reveal, Shark Attack. Scavengers Odyssey is next with the same track as its title, as well as Asteroid Hopping, Hatchlings, Scuttler Ambush, The Elevator, Exploring the Forbidden Belt, Sentinel Battle, and Coming Home. VR Luge features Mountain of Percussion and Desperate For The Luge.
The London Heist‘s tacks begin with To Be Frank, followed by Exploring Victor’s Drawers, Shooting Up Victor’s Office, The Getaway, and Frank & Mickies Fisticuffs. The last two on the soundtrack is Dangerball‘s own track, and the track for the VR Worlds Trailer.
These are all of course free to listen to on Spotify under PlayStation VR Worlds (Original Score), and there is a guarentee that if you have already played the title that you will be transported straight back to those exact moments.
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PlayStation VR Worlds is one of the most talked about titles by PlayStation itself, and for good reason with the amount of variety you can experience in this packed title. The official launch trailer has been released ahead of the big day, and you can get a real idea of what you can become.
The five titles that make up PlayStation VR Worlds is The London Heist, Danger Ball, VR Luge, Scavengers Odyssey and Ocean Descent, but none of these names were included in the launch trailer below. Instead, the trailer asks you whether or not you want to be a gangster, sports star, street racer, treasure hunter, or a deep sea explorer, which certainly puts you in the right mindset of what PlayStation VR will really make you feel.
For more on the latest launch trailers in the wake of the release of PlayStation VR, as well as all of the news, updates, and features in the world of VR, make sure to check back with VRFocus.
PlayStation VR Worlds is, for those not in the know, a confusing package of content. When you buy a PlayStation VR headset, you already get a multi-game demo disc packed full of short glimpses for some of the PS VR’s biggest and best games. It’s appropriately named the Demo Disc. That’s literally what the box says.
Naturally, people might be a bit confused when they hear about PlayStation VR Worlds, a collection of five short experiences intended as introductory moments into the possibilities of VR. That sounds an awful lot like a demo disc, right? Well, it kind of is, except there aren’t full versions of these games waiting on the other end of a price tag and this disc isn’t free. Instead, you pay for a small collection of unrealized or unfinished games and experiences with a mixed bag of results.
Since each of the five games is a standalone experience, let’s look at them individually.
The London Heist
This is likely the one you’ve heard of or seen before. Originally, people assumed it would become a full game, but as it turns out, it was rolled into the PS VR Worlds package instead. It’s an enjoyable romp through London and lasts about a half hour from start to finish. You’re in what appears to be a gang or mob of some kind and are planning to steal a very special diamond. What ensues consists of couple fire fights, some light interactive moments, and a grueling interrogation scene.
The gunplay itself is fun and the voice work is top-notch, but I was ultimately left wishing for more. It feels like an abbreviated version of a larger story with a lot of potential, but in its current state I’d hardly recommend ever playing it more than once. It’s certainly the only one that actually consists of a narrative.
Ocean Descent
This was originally known as Into the Deep and changed its name following the inclusion in this package. You’ll go down underwater in a cage, get harassed by a big ol’ shark, and probably get a bit nervous from time to time. Since you can hear and see the shark coming from roughly a mile away, it’s not as terrifying as some of the reactions you might have seen online would leave you to believe.
It’s visually stunning and makes me want a fully-featured VR scuba diving game really, really badly. There’s also a more passive viewing mode as well.
Dangerball
This is, surprisingly, my personal favorite of the bunch. While it’s basically just Pong, but with your face, the excitement comes from the fact that each of your opponent’s has a different paddle with different abilities. Some can blast back multiple balls, others can slam them at super fast speeds. By banging your head forward you can send the ball flying with force, or by sliding your head to the side, you can enact a special curve ball.
Panels of the room come flying off the walls as the ball makes contact, making it a visual splendor to watch. Gameplay is fast, fun, and satisfying. I just really wish there was multiplayer.
Scavengers Odyssey
This one feels a bit like a scrapped game idea that never got a whole lot of traction internally. Sony didn’t bother talking about this entry in PS VR Worlds very much, frankly because many the other three I mentioned are more enjoyable. This plays out like a mixture of a mech-combat and space shooter game, with you exploring space and structures in a unique ship.
There are more thrills to be found in the free EVE: Valkyrie demo on your demo disc than in this one.
VR Luge
Last and least is VR Luge. You’ll tilt your head from side-to-side to steer your street luge as breakneck speeds as you dodge and swerve between cars. The sense of speed is great, but the limited courses, lack of real challenge (hitting cars doesn’t do much other than give you a slight time penalty) and disappointingly shallow gameplay keep this one from breaking away from the pack.
I can see why this didn’t evolve into a bigger game, but it would have been nice to see it at least polished up a bit more.
Final Score: 5/10 – Mediocre
PlayStation VR Worlds feels like a poor attempt at creating a bundle game collection that could stand toe-to-toe with fully-developed games on retail shelves. The PS VR itself comes with a demo disc that’s frankly better than this collection, but if you’re getting the bigger bundle that includes Worlds already, or really want to check out The London Heist, Dangerball, or Ocean Descent, then it’s worth a quick run through. Three of the five games are pretty solid, but it’s hard to recommend as anything other than a nifty bundle purchase.
PlayStation VR Worlds will be available for PlayStation VR on October 13th, at the price of $39.99.
