The VR Drop: A Smorgasbord of Gaming Delights

The VR Drop

When it comes to virtual reality (VR) gaming October is not going to disappoint with a stunning array of titles set to be released. Next week kicks things off very nicely which is why The VR Drop has six videogames rather than five today, with PlayStation VR and Oculus Quest featuring prominently.

Puzzle Bobble 3D

Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey – Survios/Taito

Survios teamed up with Taito to launch Puzzle Bobble VR: Vacation Odyssey for Oculus Quest, but for the PlayStation launch there’s been a slight name change to Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey. Why? Becuase the videogame will be playable in PlayStation 4, PS5 and PlayStation VR formats. Particularly useful considering there’s a PvP mode alongside the 100-level solo campaign. As this is Puzzle Bobble you should know what to expect, loads of colourful, ball popping puzzles to get your head around.

  • Supported platforms: PlayStation VR
  • Launch date: 5th October

Song in the Smoke – 17-BIT

The first VR title from Japan-based studio 17-BIT and it’s going to be quite the experience by the looks of things. Song in the Smoke is part survival adventure and part magical narrative, dropping players in a primordial wilderness where they’ll have to scavenge for resources and hunt to keep themselves fed and alive.

  • Supported platforms: PlayStation VR, Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift
  • Launch date: 7th October
Song in the Smoke

Shadowgate VR: The Mines of Mythrok – Zojoi LLC

Coming from indie team Zojoi and Azure Drop Studios, Shadowgate VR: The Mines of Mythrok is an Oculus Quest exclusive. The first VR edition of the long-running Shadowgate franchise, players will be heading deep into dangerous dungeons filled with chambers of enemies and trap-laden corridors. Along the way they’ll have to defend themselves with elemental magic, solve devious puzzles and unlock ancient secrets.

  • Supported platforms: Oculus Quest
  • Launch date: 7th October

Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife – Fast Travel Games

It’s finally time for Fast Travel Games’ VR horror Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife to make its way to PlayStation VR. Step into Barclay Mansion and explore this creepy Hollywood home, as a Wraith, stuck between the living world and the afterlife. Discover why you’re in this inbetween realm and beware the Spectres, horrible, twisted beings that’ll come running at the faintest sound. Just because you’re dead doesn’t mean you’re safe.

  • Supported platforms: PlayStation VR
  • Launch date: 7th October
Loco Dojo Unleashed

Loco Dojo Unleashed – Make Real

On a lighter note there’s mini-game mashup Loco Dojo Unleashed. Originally released in 2017 for PC VR headsets, this is the Oculus Quest edition with new tweaks and improvements to make the multiplayer mayhem even better. Offering solo and upto four-player multiplayer, Loco Dojo Unleashed is all about trying to win the Grand Sensei’s (voiced by Brian Blessed) coveted black headband. Work your way around the gameboard and through the four themed areas, Countryside, RockyDesert, Seaside and Foggy Swamp, with 16 games to try and master.

  • Supported platforms: Oculus Quest
  • Launch date: 7th October

Gun Raiders – Gun Raiders Entertainment Inc.

Previously on App Lab, multiplayer shooter Gun Raiders is making the leap to the official Oculus Quest Store next week! Featuring multiple gameplay modes including Assault, Team Deathmatch, Free For All and Control, players are able to engage in frantic shootouts in tightly designed arenas using a mixture of melee and ranged weaponry. And best for all, Gun Raider is free-to-play!

  • Supported platforms: Oculus Quest
  • Launch date: 7th October

Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey Takes Aim at PlayStation in October

Puzzle Bobble 3D

Virtual reality (VR) developer Survios teamed up with Taito to launch Puzzle Bobble VR: Vacation Odyssey earlier this year, exclusive to Oculus Quest. Today, Survios has announced that PlayStation will be getting its own version called Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey next month, slightly reworked to support both flat screen gaming and PlayStation VR.

Puzzle Bobble 3D
Puzzle Bobble 3D VR gameplay

Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey will maintain the same modes as before, with a 100-level Story Mode, the endless Infinite Mode and the PvP online versus Duel Mode where players can battle it out. But now, of course, players can decide whether they want to sit back and casually play on a TV screen or delve into the Puzzle Bobble world in VR.

While the puzzles will remain the same as well as the Paintbrush, Spin Orb, and Chili Bomb power-ups; the control systems will differ. In VR you’ll be able to use PlayStation Move controllers to utilise the Bubble Cannon like a slingshot. You’ll also be able to swap between both iterations with Survios saying in a blog post: “A big goal for us was giving as many Puzzle Bobble fans access to the game, and the agency to choose how they wanted to play. This led to creating a game that can be fully experienced with or without a headset, and seamlessly swapped in-game for those who want to approach puzzles from a different perspective!”

That “Cross-Reality” functionality as Survios calls it means that PlayStation 4, PS5 and PlayStation VR players can all go head to head in the Duel Mode. Plus, buy the PS4 version and Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey will still come with the compatible PlayStation 5 edition.

Puzzle Bobble 3D
Puzzle Bobble 3D flat-screen gameplay

The Puzzle Bobble franchise is now in its 35th year, proving that its iconic mix of matching and popping colourful balls still hasn’t aged after all this time. Whether in VR or on a TV, it’s all about scoring as many points as possible by using the least amount of shots.

Survios will be releasing Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey for PlayStation consoles and PlayStation VR on 5th October 2021. For further updates on the latest Survios titles, keep reading VRFocus.