Category: Operation Armstrong

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The VR Game Launch Roundup: Surgical Bubble Extermination

VR Game Roundup

Looking at the week ahead there’s a varied selection of indie virtual reality (VR) titles on their way, from monstrous shooters to tactical, asymmetrical co-op adventures. While more may appear out the blue, here are five videogames who’ve confirmed their release dates.

VAR: Exterminate

VAR: Exterminate – VAR LIVE International

A frantic zombie wave shooter coming to Steam Early Access, VAR: Exterminate will initially offer 12 levels to try and survive, with 3 weapons, 2 drones, and 50 ability cards. You can pick one of 3 abilities at the start of each wave tailoring each run-through. These range from steady hands and medkits to extended mags and improved critical hits. VAR LIVE International will further expand the experience with more weapons, cards, and maps.

Sheriff Exam – ITCStudio

A Wild West-themed shooting simulator, Sheriff Exam has a single-player campaign mode and six mini-games for you to test those skills in: Bottle Range, Flying Cans; Rolling Ducks, Shootball; Darts, and Whack ‘em Moles. As you progress you’ll be able to unlock new items such as revolvers, shotguns, custom gloves, bombs, and whiskey at the shop. There’s also a global leaderboard for everyone to compete on.

Operation Armstrong

Operation Armstrong – Fullbeans Studio

Developed by Australian indie team Fullbeans Studio, Operation Armstrong sees the VR player take on the role of a field operative, having to carefully sneak around a robot base. To aid in this endeavour, up to 12 other players can join for some cross-platform local co-op by logging in through a web browser on their smartphones. The team can then assist by clearing obstacles and disrupting the enemy. 

Puzzle Bobble VR: Vacation Odyssey – Survios

The one non-indie VR title on this list, coming from the studio behind The Walking Dead Onslaught and Creed: Rise to Glory, Survios has teamed up with Taito for Puzzle Bobble VR: Vacation Odyssey. Offering a single-player mode with 100 levels of bubble popping madness, an Infinite Mode for endless fun and an Online Duel Mode where players can go 1v1, Puzzle Bobble VR: Vacation Odyssey brings this classic puzzle gameplay into VR.

Puzzle Bobble VR

Crystal Raiders VR – Nieko

A Steam Early Access release from AR studio Nieko and VRKiwi, Crystal Raiders VR is an action-adventure where you can explore medieval castles either on your own or in co-op with three other players. Like any dungeon crawler you’ll have to fight monsters, customise your loadouts, avoid traps, and solve puzzles to survive until the end.

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Asymmetrical Party Game Operation Armstrong Touches Down in May

Operation Armstrong

There are some excellent asymmetrical virtual reality (VR) titles out there like Carly and the Reaperman or Acron: Attack of the Squirrels, and soon another will be joining their ranks. Australian indie team Fullbeans Studio is gearing up to launch Operation Armstrong later this month for PC VR headsets, a sci-fi party title where players have to save the world.

Operation Armstrong

An army of lunar robots plan on crashing the moon into the Earth (as you do) so it’s up to you and your infiltration team to stop the disaster by completing a series of dangerous missions. Operation Armstrong sees the VR player take on the field operative role, having to carefully sneak around the robot’s base. The rest of the team can join in via mobile, logging in through a browser for cross-platform local co-op with a 12-player limit.

The VR player is completely defenseless, relying on quick wits and actions to avoid the robotic guards. Of course, this process is made simpler by the team of mobile hackers who can assist by clearing obstacles and disrupting the enemy. As you can see from the screenshots, mobile players have a map overview of the base where they can control doors, teleporters, and other infrastructure.

“We made the game with the intention of providing a fun way for those spectating a VR user to join in on the action instead of just waiting for their turn. Phone users simply log in to a current game through their browser and can immediately start assisting their headset-wielding buddy,” says Fullbeans Studio in a statement. “Teamwork and communication will be key which can lead to some hilarious and tense moments. Players can drop in and out of the game at any time since responsibilities are dynamically shared equally across all phone users.”

Operation Armstrong

In addition to the core co-op gameplay, Operation Armstrong also features level scoreboards and completion awards. And to aid longevity the videogame will include a level editor and online level sharing through the Steam Workshop so the community can go wild with their own designs.

Fullbeans Studio will launch Operation Armstrong via the Oculus Store for Rift and Steam for HTC Vive, Valve Index, and Windows Mixed Reality headsets on 18th May 2021, retailing for $24.99 USD. For further updates on Operation Armstrong, keep reading VRFocus.

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All the Free VR Demos Available in the Steam Game Festival

Steam Game Festival 2021

Today sees the launch of Steam’s annual Game Festival where you can watch developer livestreams, chat with teams about their upcoming titles and, of course, play loads of free demos, over 500 in fact. And just like Steam’s summer 2020 edition of the event, there will be plenty of virtual reality (VR) videogames to sample.

Battle Blocks

Previously offering over 30 titles to try out, the 2021 edition doesn’t disappoint with 20+ VR videogames available. Some of these are entirely new which VRFocus hasn’t come across before whilst others like Monad Rock’s Blunt Force – which was first revealed four years ago – makes another return.

Those which have caught VRFocus’ eye include Battle Blocks, a competitive puzzle solver; asymmetric party title Operation Armstrong, and Desolatium, a Lovecraftian-style thriller.

Rhythm of the Universe: IONIA

As the majority of these are indie videogames the festival offers a great chance to see how small teams are leveraging VR in new and interesting ways.

The Steam Game Festival 2021 runs until Tuesday, 9th February at 10 am PST, so that should be enough time to play all those demos. For further updates on the latest PC VR releases, keep reading VRFocus.