Bigscreen Streaming Update Improves Remote Desktop, Audio & More

Bigscreen - Streaming Update

Bigscreen may have expanded its focus from a remote desktop app for virtual reality (VR) headsets to a social platform where you can watch movies and TV shows but it hasn’t forgotten where it came from. Over the weekend Bigscreen launched its “Streaming Update”, improving a lot of the core functionality of the app, from the performance and audio to UI tweaks and hosting larger rooms of guests.

Bigscreen

The first big improvement is the addition of dedicated streaming servers which the Bigscreen team say ups the video streaming quality as well as offering “perfectly synced audio”. Another bonus from using dedicated servers is the ability to reduce the bandwidth requirements for room hosts who would experience choppy video, with blocky, low-quality video artefacts as well as delayed and laggy audio on occasion. Not only has Bigscreen solved those issues the platform has managed to up the room count for both PC VR and Quest users to 15 (previously 12 and 4 users respectively).

On the Remote Desktop side of things there have been some major enhancements, most notably for Meta Quest users. While Meta Quest had basic Bigscreen functionality users would get a laggy and low quality 30fps video stream. The update ensures the Remote Desktop app streams at 60fps over a local network and that when playing videogames the latency can be sub-20ms.

This should all mean that the social aspects of Bigscreen are greatly improved, making sharing your PC screen with a group of mates to watch a film a far more fluid and enjoyable experience.

Bigscreen

That’s not all though, voice chat now supports Spatial Audio so group events now feel more immersive as you’ll be able to tell where someone is within a virtual room. Rendering performance has been upped, especially for original Oculus Quest users which can also handle 15 people in one virtual space.

As for what’s next in the coming months, Bigscreen is still working on its Friend System, a built-in YouTube app, and Input streaming for Remote Desktop, including support for Bluetooth gamepads and keyboards. For continued updates from Bigscreen into 2022, keep reading VRFocus.

After the Fall Achieves $1.4m Revenue in First 24hrs

After the Fall

Vertigo Games launched its long-awaited follow up to Arizona Sunshine, the snow-filled After the Fall across most virtual reality (VR) platforms last week and it’s been a welcomed success. Today, the studio has revealed that the co-op shooter managed to surpass $1 million USD in revenue in just 24 hours.

After the Fall

After the Fall managed to hit $1.4 million on its first day, via Meta Quest, PlayStation VR and SteamVR platforms. Vertigo Games says that’s more than Arizona Sunshine managed to achieve in its first month on sale in December 2016. Although that’s hardly surprising considering the popularity of VR in comparison to five years ago when you only had Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and the newly released PlayStation VR to choose from.

The developer hasn’t broken down the revenue figures per platform, however, so it’s unclear which has been the most successful and whether there was a clear trend among consumers.

The revenue landmark continues Vertigo Games’ success during 2021 that’s seen it acquire SpringboardVR, a management platform for location-based entertainment (LBE) centres, and Force Field (now Vertigo Studios Amsterdam). The company has also helped publish Anotherway’s hand tracked Meta Quest title Unplugged, InnerspaceVR’s Maskmaker, and Little Chicken’s Traffic Jams. As for the future, Vertigo Games has already teased that five VR titles are currently in production, hopefully, more details on those titles will arrive in the new year.

After the Fall

If you’ve not yet jumped on the After the Fall hype, this new shooter is all about teaming up with a few mates and diving into the frozen hellscape of an alternative era Los Angeles, where climate change has ravaged the city and a designer drug mutated the populace into monstrous creatures called Snowbreed. Up to four players across supported platforms can go on Harvest runs to collect valuable resources to upgrade their weapons. Featuring 32-player hubs to socialise in, if teams of four can’t be built AI bots will fill in the blank space. Plus, there’s a 4v4 competitive multiplayer.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Vertigo Games and After the Fall, reporting back with the latest updates.

Preview: AGAINST – Slicing a Hardcore Rhythm

Against

When a virtual reality (VR) developer reveals another rhythm action videogame it can be a little difficult to get excited about the whole prospect. However, when Joy way revealed that its latest project AGAINST would be in this genre it piqued VRFocus’ interest due to its dark aesthetic and multiple gameplay features. Looking unlike any other rhythm action title is one thing but providing a unique gameplay experience, that’s a bit harder. Due to arrive as a Steam Early Access videogame, AGAINST does have its own flair, even if it is a bit cheesy at points.

Against

You might have already played a version of AGAINST as Joy Way took part in Steam Next Fest during the summer, offering an early demo of its gritty design. The look and feel of AGAINST has been significantly enhanced since then, particularly where the visuals are concerned. Gone is the very striking, almost film-noir style in favour of an environment a touch easier on the eyes. That hint of colour which would only appear in an enemy’s eyes or as the indicator to slice in a particular direction has made its way across the landscape, making for a far more polished looking experience.

AGAINST might look prettier but it’s no less brutal in its delivery, where you can hack henchmen in half, cut the heads off giant snakes and uppercut gormless goons with visceral trails of blood. Unlike a lot of other rivals AGAINST doesn’t pretend to try and handhold new VR players with friendly, bouncy rhythms; it’s brutal, in your face and definitely looking to attract those hardcore VR fans.

In a similar vein to Pistol Whip 2089, AGAINST employs a narrative campaign strategy rather than loads of individual songs you can swap between. So you get a story set in 1930’s New York City, playing out over seven levels. Full of the stereotypical comic book tropes, there’s an over-the-top villain who wants to unleash darkness on the world and you play a detective determined to stop him. While the narrative does provide a mildly humorous respite between levels and provides some explanation of why you’re fighting werewolves, burly blokes and snakes, if you skip it you won’t be missing much. Although the skip function never worked, so replaying levels meant having to listen to it all again and again, unfortunately.

Against

When you first start AGAINST it drops you almost immediately into the tutorial, and for good reason, there’s a lot to get to grips with. If you’ve played any rhythm action title several components will be instantly familiar such as using the sword to slice opponents, knuckle dusters to punch them, and a revolver – followed by Tommy guns later on – to shoot them at range. Kill them in time to the music – which is mainly Dubstep or heavier EDM – and you’ll score points, helping attain that leaderboard position, you get the gist.

AGAINST mixes things up by adding punchable directional arrows, thus activating a short wall run sequence or boosting you up to a higher platform. The wall running especially helps to open up the dark and moody levels, providing a novel switch in focus for a moment. However, later levels naturally bombard you with opponents, obstacles to dodge and these switching moments. Even on the normal difficulty setting (Easy and Hard are also available), this can get quite fierce which some players may find jarring.

Get past that and you’ve got a really challenging experience that takes two or three levels to get into. The first just seemed ridiculously difficult even on normal with multiple restarts required to complete the level. The second and third were a breeze in comparison and moments where you have to use the sword to deflect bullets back at the shooter became mini (John Wick style) badass moments that were very satisfying to complete. What you have to get used to is the constant weapon switching between the sword, guns and fists. As any Beat Saber player will know, you find a nice rhythm and flow that makes the more expert levels manageable. AGAINST doesn’t quite have that as it just feels like it’s trying to do too much all at once.  

Against

That being said, AGAINST has a personality that other VR rhythm games lack and additions like the mini-bosses at the end of some of the levels help to give it a classic arcade vibe VRFocus loves. Joy Way says that the Early Access period will be used to add a couple more weapons and polish and that the core campaign is done, which is slightly concerning regarding longevity as there are only seven levels. There is a free Beatmap Editor (VRFocus hasn’t tested this tool yet) which could extend the experience by making your own custom maps if you really want to. AGAINST didn’t instantly hook, it takes time to warm to but there is a little magic under the surface. Hopefully, Joy Way will nurture it and not leave it in the early access abyss.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall Patch Adds Hardcore Mode & Gameplay Improvements

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall

Carbon Studio’s Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall looked set to offer a big glorious virtual reality (VR) adventure ahead of its launch last month but didn’t quite live up to expectations. The developer has been quick to respond to player feedback with a series of patches to hone the gameplay. Today’s patch is a big one, not only adding more quality-of-life improvement but also a new Hardcore Mode.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall

If you’ve already completed the campaign in Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall and want something tougher the new Hardcore Mode should, hopefully, offer the kind of challenge any Stormcast Eternal would relish. If heading back into the campaign doesn’t exactly fill you with excitement, maybe the addition of all the bug fixes and improvements may pique your interest?

Carbon Studio has been hard at work patching Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall with a smaller 1.16 patch earlier this month adding a few refinements. v1.2 will offer a much wider raft of enhancements to the gameplay, addressing critical performance bugs, improving motion-based tracking, combat polishing, audio refinement, as well as other elements. 

Players should find that physical spell casting is easier to execute, chests are easier to open, and the inventory system has been improved. Carbon Studio hasn’t just been working on gameplay elements either: “The team has also added a selection of lighting and visual detail fixes as well as improvements to multiple environments throughout the game. In addition, a wide variety of bug fixes and combat improvements have been added,” a press release explains.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall

Combining both physical melee combat and devastating magical abilities, Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall put you in the role of Lord-Arcanum Castor Stormscryer commanded by the god-like Sigma to vanquish a plague of Nighthaunt forces that have arisen. However, whilst the VR experience had some great elements the overall delivery wasn’t quite there with VRFocus saying in its review: “Warhammer Age of Sigma: Tempestfall offered the prospect for the sort of adventure Games Workshop’s brutal universe is renowned for, and the history and narrative is certainly there. Yet there’s no connection to or development of the main character, the action is mostly forgettable and there are just too many little glitches and inconsistencies to create a world Warhammer fans can really immerse themselves in.”

With this run of patches Warhammer Age of Sigma: Tempestfall might become the no-holds-barred Warhammer experience everyone hoped it would be. For further updates keep reading VRFocus.

Demeo: Roots of Evil Expansion Now Available, PC Edition Arrives April 2022

Demeo

Resolution Games’ table-top multiplayer Demeo arrived back in May for Meta Quest and PC VR headsets, to much acclaim. Since then, the studio has continued to expand the turn-based adventure with Realm of the Rat King and now Roots of Evil, available today for free. Additionally, Resolution Games has unveiled its 2022 roadmap including a PC version and a PvP mode.

Demeo

The third adventure for Demeo fans, Roots of Evil moves away from the previous dungeon-crawling locations, heading to the surface and into the Drych Forest. Here you’ll find a commune of druids that have captured a being of absolute evil that can’t be controlled, and so it is up to you to liberate the forest of this dangerous force. To help in this quest Resolution Games has introduced a new character class; Molthas the Bard. Molthas comes equipped with a lute and dagger, playing songs that can buff party members, silence enemies, and summon destructive winds to defeat foes.

While that’s all available to download today, looking into 2022 Resolution Games has a feature-packed roadmap ahead. The biggest of the bunch is Demeo: PC Edition which is due for release on 7th April, offering cross-play functionality between PC and virtual reality (VR) players, allowing them to tailor parties that can be all PC, VR or a mixture. It’ll come complete with all the previously released expansions.

“Since Demeo launched, we have more than doubled the size of the team dedicated to its ongoing development,” said Tommy Palm, CEO and founder of Resolution Games in a statement. “The reception from players has been incredible — and with the PC Edition, we’re looking forward to bringing an authentic tabletop experience to even more players. This is the real deal for desktop gamers, as we’re completely rebuilding Demeo for a native PC experience — and we can’t wait to welcome you into the world of Demeo.”  

Demeo

Also on the list of updates is a PvP mode for later next year, creating fierce competitive battles with up to four players going head-to-head. Arriving much sooner on 24th February is the Players Hangout, a whole new environment where you can socialise and relax, customize your avatar, and play mini-games. The studio has also teased two new adventures that are set to arrive in 2022, bringing the tally to five.

“With Demeo, we set out to make a game that rekindles that feeling of gathering around a table with friends to fight monsters and find gold,” added Palm. “The game’s first year proved that we absolutely hit the mark. What really made those games fun in the long-term, though, was the promise of more content, more adventures and more ways to play. As we head into 2022, we recognize how beloved Demeo is and have made our most ambitious plans yet as a studio. This is a game we’ll all be playing for years to come — and with the launch of Demeo: PC Edition in 2022, even more friends will be able to join the adventure.” 

Demeo is available for Quest and SteamVR headsets with the Roots of Evil expansion available as a free update. As further details on the 2022 roadmap are released, VRFocus will let you know.

Review: Warhammer Age of Sigma: Tempestfall

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall

Games Workshop’s Warhammer franchise has rooted itself in every entertainment medium and virtual reality (VR) gaming is no different. It’s a universe that fits well in VR, where you become a god-like warrior defeating hordes of horrifying enemies. While Warhammer 40,000: Battle Sister took you to the more modern equivalent of Games Workshop’s war-filled universe, Carbon Studio’s Warhammer Age of Sigma: Tempestfall takes place in an era without all that technology, where knights fought ghastly ghouls to ensure the protection of mankind. Which all sounds awesome doesn’t it? Yet the final delivery just doesn’t quite live up to the potential.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall

Ever since Warhammer Age of Sigma: Tempestfall was revealed in October 2020, each drop of information bathed the experience in deep, rich lore that you just couldn’t wait to be part of. All of that lore is there if you wish to delve into the menu and extract it, which is why it’s such a shame that all the surface level stuff – i.e. the main storyline itself – lacks delivery and a real sense that you’re embodying this epic Stormcast Eternal warrior come to vanquish the plague of Nighthaunt forces.

So some context. As the name implies the videogame is set within Warhammer’s Age of Sigma universe, where a devastating Necroquake wakes up all these horrible forces who go on to attack the mortal realms. As Lord-Arcanum Castor Stormscryer, an all-round badass and leader of the Stormcast Eternals you have to cleanse the world using your superhuman skills, some rather brutal melee weapons and a suitable amount of magical abilities.

Starting in a city ravaged by Nighthaunt forces, Warhammer Age of Sigma: Tempestfall is mostly a linear adventure that takes around 7-8 hours if you don’t get lost or delve into all the side missions. Lost you may be wondering? Carbon Studios has created an intricate city where the narrative will simply move you forward as intended but with a bit of exploration, you’ll find plenty of hidden secrets including Sigmarite and ancient scrolls (vital for upgrades) and doors unlock that provide handy shortcuts later on. Alas, these are useful but other gameplay elements hamper that usefulness, more on that later.  

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall

Warhammer Age of Sigma: Tempestfall is in no way subtle about its gameplay style, you’re a massive warrior who smashes through everything to get the job done. In your inventory are three weapons ranging from the really close combat sword to the long staff. These can be dual-wielded so you can mix and match depending on your preferred strategy and the magical abilities of each weapon. They all have three castable spells, performed by holding the trigger and either lunging forward, swiping horizontally, or lifting the weapon skyward He-Man style. Fairly simple yet they’re all effective in different circumstances and are suitably fun to unleash.

However, even though combat is the core of Warhammer Age of Sigma: Tempestfall, it also becomes one of the titles weakest facets. To begin with, smashing Deathrattle Skeletons apart – you can just rip them apart with your hands – or unleashing magical bolts of lightning at Nighthaunts is a blast until it becomes clear that the collision detection isn’t that great. There were numerous times when slashing at an enemy produced no result, and the same goes for the magic casting. It was erratic enough that it took a lot of the joy out of battles, especially when surrounded.  

And you’ll get surrounded a fair bit as the enemy AI is set on grunt default of charging straight at you. You’d kind of expect it from the skeletons but you’d hope for a bit more from the Nighthaunt that float menacingly around. Fights then become a real close quarter hack ‘n’ slash affair instead of intense sword fights. Elements such as being able to block and parry are there, alas they fail to properly solidify the battles as they’re not easy to read when toe to toe with multiple enemies. And when waving both weapons around does just as good a job why bother?

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall

On the subject of opponents, there’s also a lack of variety, Deathrattle Skeletons and Nighthaunt come in several flavours but you have to wait until the latter half of the campaign that some new enemies actually appear, at which point you’ll miss the ghostly foes. Running the Steam version of Warhammer Age of Sigma: Tempestfall at full resolution the enemies are incredibly well designed and intricately detailed, they do look the part, but after continually fighting so many the repetition quickly sinks in.

That’s made all the worse by the spawning layout. Basic enemies like the skeletons appear in packs during the city level, making for nice natural fights as you turn a corner and suddenly spot a group. It’s when you come across a wide-open area that you know Nighthaunts will appear and quite often you’ll be locked in an arena battle, over and over again. You’ll feel that inevitable sigh building as you walk into another grand area to fight the same enemies. Remember that mention of opening up handy shortcuts, they’re all well and good but the spawns happen in the same spots so wandering back over an area looking for secrets will trigger them again.

It must be said Carbon Studio has done well with the level layouts, they twist and wrap around one another to simulate multiple paths and there are plenty of sneaky hidden areas to find. This is vital if you want to upgrade that equipment of yours. Weapons can have their base stats improved followed by each magical spell, so there’s plenty of reason to hunt down elusive chests. As you might have guessed by now there is a but, a big but. There’s no easy way to access your main base to incrementally add these upgrades unless you want to keep walking through the city fighting the same opponents again and again. There really needed to be more anvil placements or a quick return feature.   

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall

If that wasn’t enough Warhammer Age of Sigma: Tempestfall has some annoying mechanics that hampered the general gameplay. It was little things like picking up a Spirit Flask or using the Gravesand Hourglass. Weapons instantly appear in hand when pressing grip so you can get right into a fight, that’s perfectly fine. Pick up an empty Spirit Flask – used as a grenade when full – and it automatically equips, the Hourglass is two-handed but with the same effect. Thus, every time either of these items are used you have to reequip your weapons again. After several hours of this, you’ll understand the annoyance.  

Warhammer Age of Sigma: Tempestfall offered the prospect for the sort of adventure Games Workshop’s brutal universe is renowned for, and the history and narrative is certainly there. Yet there’s no connection to or development of the main character, the action is mostly forgettable and there are just too many little glitches and inconsistencies to create a world Warhammer fans can really immerse themselves in. Warhammer Age of Sigma: Tempestfall isn’t a bad VR game, there were enjoyable moments and with a bit of refinement it could be a decent game; at the moment being a Stormcast Eternal just isn’t a blockbuster experience.

After the Fall Pre-orders go Live as PvP & Early Access Revealed

After the Fall

Vertigo Games’ next big title After the Fall is only three weeks away from launch and today the studio has released further gameplay details as well as opening up pre-orders. Alongside a new trailer, it’s been confirmed that After the Fall will feature a PvP mode and that early access will be granted on select platforms.

After the Fall

From today, Oculus Quest 2, PlayStation VR and SteamVR owners can pre-order After the Fall with a 10% discount, dropping the cost down to £26.99 GBP. That’s for the “Launch Edition” which includes automatic access to the future Frontrunner season, including new a map called “Hollywood Boulevard”, the “Warehouse” PvP arena an unrevealed game mode and a new weapon type.

Depending on the platform early purchasers will gain different benefits. Oculus Quest 2 owners will receive access to the exclusive Fwd to the Past skin whilst Steam players gain access to a closed Steam Playtest. Pre-ordering After the Fall for PlayStation VR and Steam will also net players 48 hours of Early Access as an additional bonus. Plus, on the Oculus platform, there’s cross-buy support between Quest and Oculus Rift.

When it comes to the Steam Playtest players will be introduced to the first Harvest Run mission, taking place between 9 pm PT on 25th November until midnight PT on 27th November 2021.

After the Fall - Early Access_edition

That’s not all, Vertigo Games has a Deluxe Edition for Steam and PlayStation VR which features:

  • Automatic access to the Frontrunner season
  • Digital Artbook
  • Official Soundtrack
  • PS4 Theme and Avatars (PlayStation VR)
  • Exclusive Uncle Bob skin (Steam) or exclusive Ultimate Buster skin (PlayStation VR)

After the Fall is set for release on 9th December 2021 for the aforementioned headsets with an Oculus Quest version slated for 2022. It’ll feature a co-op campaign mode, the co-op Harvest mode and an eight-player (4vs4) competitive multiplayer. VRFocus went hands-on with the Harvest mode earlier this month, finding plenty of potential in this co-op horde mode.

As further details on After the Fall are released, VRFocus will keep you updated.

VR Nominees at The Game Awards Include Lone Echo II, Sniper Elite VR & Hitman 3

The Game Awards 2021

The biggest event in the videogame calendar, The Game Awards, has announced all of its nominees across 30 categories. Of course, the Best VR/AR category returns with entrants from across the year and multiple platforms, the one omission being no augmented reality (AR) content has made the cut.

Lone Echo 2

Each category is made up of five nominees with Sniper Elite VR, Resident Evil 4, Lone Echo II, Hitman 3 and I Expect You to Die 2 all making the cut. It’s great to see I Expect You to Die 2 getting a nomination as it’s the most niche of the lot, a comedic escape room title rather than big AAA adventures like the rest.

The rest aren’t too surprising as they do offer up some of the best VR gaming around. Oculus owners may also notice that the platform dominates with two exclusives, Resident Evil 4 and Lone Echo II. Only Hitman 3 doesn’t support an Oculus headset as its PlayStation VR exclusive.

Resident Evil 4 (Armature Studio/Capcom/Oculus Studios) arrived only a month ago for Oculus Quest 2, while Lone Echo II (Ready at Dawn/Oculus Studios) also dropped in October for Oculus Rift after several delays. Sniper Elite VR (Coatsink/Just Add Water/Rebellion Developments) and I Expect You To Die 2 (Schell Games) were both well-received summer releases, whilst Hitman 3 (IO Interactive) dropped in January.

Sniper Elite VR

As for the other categories, no other dedicated VR title has appeared elsewhere, unfortunately. Only Microsoft Flight Simulator with its optional VR support appears in the Best Sim/Strategy segment.

The Game Awards 2021 will be taking place on 9th December 2021 with a live stream usually filled with big announcements of what’s to come in the following year. Free public voting is now open. For continued updates, keep reading VRFocus.

Winds & Leaves Gently Breezes Onto PCVR in December

Winds & Leaves

During the summer, Prison Boss VR developer Trebuchet launched mystical gardening adventure Winds & Leaves for PlayStation VR. Today, the studio has announced that a PC VR version is on the way with a bunch of visual and gameplay enhancements.

Winds & Leaves

Bringing Winds & Leaves to SteamVR has meant that Trebuchet has increased the graphical fidelity, expanded the draw distance so you can appreciate the beautiful scenery whilst improving the tree and vegetation density so those forests look even more luscious. Additionally, a new roomscale mode has been included alongside a 360-degree rotation setting. Employing roomscale freedom should make planting all those seeds even easier.

“We are thrilled to bring Winds & Leaves to Steam VR players, taking advantage of the PC power to make the experience even more captivating with the farther draw distance and higher vegetation density that we can now render,” said Alexandre Pernot Lopes, Trebuchet Creative Director and co-founder in a statement.

Winds & Leaves drops you into a barren world almost entirely devoid of life. You take on the role of The Gardener, a being who has a unique connection to the trees and plants, even being able to see their interconnecting lifeforce. With a few tools in hand, you need to explore the various biomes and plant trees most suited to the environment, combining seeds to make new varieties ideal for each new habitat. The eventual goal is to entirely restore life to the planet.

Winds & Leaves

To ensure a comfortable walking experience Trebuchet puts you on stilts, rather unique for a VR videogame. That means you have to move the controllers just like walking with a couple of sticks, making for steady, gentle progression.

Reviewing Winds & Leaves for PlayStation VR, VRFocus found that: “Winds & Leaves has some nice ideas and for those looking for a nice tranquil VR experience with some light puzzles, it perfectly suits. The problem is Winds & Leaves can be a bit too quiet. Lush green grass and colour forests are all well and good but they’re still devoid of life, no animals suddenly return.”

Winds & Leaves is set to arrive via Steam on 8th December 2021, supporting Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index and Windows Mixed Reality headsets. For further updates from Trebuchet, keep reading VRFocus.

Dive Into Gritty Rhythm Combat Title AGAINST This Winter

Against

Virtual reality (VR) developer Joy Way caught a lot of VR fans attention earlier this year when it introduced the first teasing footage of AGAINST, a very dark and moody rhythm action experience. While the team noted in a feature piece for VRFocus that the design wasn’t final they’ve now revealed the first full gameplay trailer as well as confirming that AGAINST will be out this year for PC VR headsets.

Against

In comparison to the original aesthetics, AGAINST’s new look has certainly been brightened up and made a little more colourful. It might not be as instantly striking but the new visuals look a lot cleaner and detailed, retaining some of that gritty mood players were hoping for.

The changes are purely visual either. Previously, that dark, film noir approach was inspired by a narrative that involved you battling the mafia in 1930’s New York City. The timeline remains but the enemy has changed in favour of a far more comic book-style approach where you play a detective fighting their way through hordes of enemies working for an evil scientist called Dr. Vice. These can range from ordinary henchmen to more fantastical creatures.

Like any rhythm-action videogame, it’s all about dispatching these opponents to the beat to maximise your score. Unlike others in this genre, you’re given a range of weapons to do this with, whether that’s your bare hands, sword, guns, knuckle dusters and more. In a similar vein to Pistol Whip’s campaign mode, AGAINST will also feature end-level bosses to fight.

Against

Currently, Joy Way has revealed AGAINST will feature seven action-packed levels that can be tackled in three difficulties. Supporting Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Valve Index headsets, AGAINST is set to arrive via Steam Early Access at some point this winter. Previously, Joy Way had released a demo of AGAINST but that has now been removed. “Since the release of the demo on Steam, the game has undergone significant improvements during development. Although the core gameplay remained unchanged, we removed the demo, because it no longer represents the final product,” Joy Way said in a statement.

AGAINST isn’t the only VR title Joy Way has in the works. Also in Early Access is parkour experience Stride whilst roguelite shooter Outlier is expected to arrive in 2022. For continued updates, keep reading VRFocus.