It’s the Game Developers Conference (GDC) this week which usually means new VR titles being announced or updates to the ones we’re all looking forward to. If you’re impatient and want new videogames right now then here are a few landing over the course of this week.
Tomorrow Ends – Kadanss Games
Ok, so this one landed over the weekend but so what, it looks worth a pop. A VR title that looks like it may have taken a small amount of inspiration from Majora’s Mask,Tomorrow Ends is an Oculus App Lab videogame – so its not finished yet – where a small town is three hours away from being destroyed (by the sun/moon?) so it’s up to you to investigate, speak to folk and find out where a magical book that kept the place save has gone.
One of the original launch titles for Oculus Quest – as it was known – Coatsink’s Shadow Point is a puzzle adventure finally making its way to PlayStation VR. Featuring none other than Sir Patrick Stewart narrating – hopefully, you know who this acting legend is – Shadow Point features 80+ mind-bending puzzles that require gravity manipulation, playing with light and shadows, peering into alternate realities and more. All compatible with PlayStation Move.
Supported platform(s): PlayStation VR
Launch date: 22nd March
On The Morning You Wake – Novelab, Atlas V
This isn’t a videogame, rather an immersive documentary based on an event that took place in 2018 and the chaos that ensued during 38 minutes of nuclear terror. Created and produced by Atlas V, Archer’s Mark, Meta, and ARTE France, On The Morning You wake (to the End of the World) charts 18th January when every inhabitant of Hawaii received a nuclear warning threat. It was human error but what happens when you’re confronted with a very real and urgent threat?
For all you artists out there, Vermillion is an oil-based pro painting simulator that first appeared on Steam last year and will now come to Meta Quest. Mixing real painting mechanics with the benefits of digital tools, Vermillion features realistic wet-on-wet colour mixing as well as the ability to undo mistakes, paint in layers or pull up a YouTube video to help guide you. It also includes passthrough and virtual environments depending on how realistic you want your painting session to be.
Time for the most outrageous VR videogame on this list, where you get to play a giant (friendly) aquatic monster, using your tentacles to help the local townsfolk out. Tentacular is a building-based puzzler where you use those massive tentacle arms to build structures and contraptions that the inhabitants of La Kalma need. Or in your downtime, there’s also the sandbox mode to get creative.
Coatsink is bringing its Quest launch title, Shadow Point, over to PSVR this month.
The game, which also came to Rift, will launch on Sony’s headset on March 22nd for $19.99. Check out the PSVR announcement trailer for the game below.
Coatsink PSVR Released
Shadow Point sees players search for a missing schoolgirl that has stumbled upon fantastical other worlds. As you play through the game, you’ll solve observation-based puzzles that play with the space and light around you. Sir Patrick Stewart, meanwhile, lends his voice to one of the game’s main characters.
We enjoyed Shadow Point when it first released back in 2019, though thought the game never quite reached its full potential. “Shadow Point is another solid entry into Coatsink’s catalog of hopelessly charming VR productions,” we said in our review. “It’s got just enough of the right sort of puzzle-solving to overshadow (pun intended) the late game’s more exhausting trials and its sweeping score and art direction make it a joy to spend time in.”
Either way, it’s great to see new PSVR games releasing this year with PSVR 2 still seemingly some ways off and the headset now well into its fifth year. Hopefully there’s more to come for the device this year. Elsewhere, Coatsink is confirmed to be making a PSVR 2 launch title. We don’t know exactly what it is yet, but we’re hoping to see more of its games reach a wider number of platforms.
Are you going to be picking up Shadow Point on PSVR? Let us know in the comments below!
A couple of weeks ago gmw3reported on British developer Coatsink having several virtual reality (VR) projects in the works which included a PlayStation VR2 launch title. Also mentioned was Shadow Point, a story-driven puzzle title that was originally an Oculus Quest launch game. Today, Coatsink has confirmed that Shadow Point is coming to PlayStation VR later this month.
Shadow Point gained a lot of notoriety early on all thanks to the participation of Sir Patrick Stewart, who narrates throughout reading the journal of Edgar Mansfield. A theme Coatsink has continued through most of its VR videogames harking back to the early days of Esper which featured the vocal talents of Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead). Most recently the studio is known for Jurassic World Aftermath.
The PlayStation VR launch will feature all 80+ mind-bending puzzles that require gravity manipulation, playing with your own shadow, peer into alternate realities and more. As the title suggests, playing and manipulating light to create shadows is Shadow Point’s core mechanic, finding the right angles and depth to complete the puzzles.
To enable as much freedom as possible Coatsink has ensured Shadow Point is compatible with the PlayStation Move controllers as well as being suitable for seated or standing gameplay.
Reviewing the Meta Quest version of Shadow Pointgmw3 found the videogame to be: “a suitably well-accomplished puzzle experience…there’s enough here to provide a good few hours of entertainment without breaking a sweat”
Coatsink will release Shadow Point for PlayStation VR on 22nd March 2022 retailing for $19.99 USD, £14.99 GBP, €19.99 EUR. Check out the new trailer below and for further updates keep reading gmw3.
Coatsink, the studio behind the Esper and Jurassic World Aftermath series, is finally bringing Shadow Point out of Quest and Rift exclusivity, as the stylish story-driven puzzle adventure is headed to PSVR this month.
Shadow Point, a first-person single player game, throws you into a mystical world that unfolds between a mountaintop observatory and an ever-changing fantasy environment. It includes some clever puzzles that require you to think spatially, and use magical objects at your disposal to move forward through a beautiful, surrealist world.
Now Coatsink says it’s leaving Meta exclusivity with its PSVR launch scheduled for March 22nd.
The game includes over 80 environmental puzzles that you can play either seated or standing. You might also recognize the voice the trailer above: that’s Sir Patrick Stewart (aka Star Trek’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard).
Originally a launch title for Quest back in May 2019, Shadow Point will arrive on PSVR March 22nd, priced at $20.
British developer Coatsink has a long history in virtual reality (VR), from early titles such as Esper through to more recent offerings like Jurassic World Aftermath. And it seems as though the studio is continuing that trend, with parent company Thunderful Group’s 2021 year-end report revealing several VR projects are in the works including a PlayStation VR2 launch title.
Internet sleuths over on Reddit discovered the official confirmation that Coaksink is developing a videogame for the launch of PlayStation VR2, although it doesn’t state what it could be. Just as important is the fact that Sony Interactive Entertainment still hasn’t revealed when the headset is likely to arrive.
However, delve a little deeper into the report and you’ll see in the “Ongoing Development and Ongoing Releases” section Thunderful Group list 17 projects, three of which are VR titles all under Coatsink’s direction. Surprisingly, Oculus Quest launch exclusive Shadow Pointis reappearing during the first half of 2022, likely a port coming to either PC VR or PlayStation VR.
Then there are two codenamed Salted Caramel and Date. Salted Caramel is listed as a “Sports Action” game that’s slated to arrive in the second half of the year. But Date is even more intriguing, a “VR Co-op Survival” title listed for 2023, could that be the PlayStation VR2 launch project previously mentioned? With SIE still struggling to build enough PlayStation 5’s to quench demand due to supply issues, this is the main reason gmw3 would expect PlayStation VR2 to arrive next year.
Thunderful Group also publishes games by third-party developers and there’s a final VR title in there too. Again, not many details to go on at present, the project is codenamed, Cinnamon, its an “Arcade style shooter” and its currently earmarked for a 2022 (2H) release. Plus there isn’t any mention of who’s developing the VR game.
Oculus Quest has been the standout success of 2019, with consumers eager to buy the headset and developers equally eager to supply the standalone device with content. Not only does the device have its own dedicated store but thanks to Oculus Link all of Oculus Rift’s content is also available. For this roundup of the best Oculus Quest videogames, VRFocus is purely going to concentrate on those made for the headset, allowing you to enjoy untethered VR gaming freedom.
Oculus Quest may have only been available for seven months but it has already made an impact on the VR scene. The store may be highly curated but there are plenty of videogames worth your time across a range of genres and skill levels.
The Best Oculus Quest Games of 2019:
Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series
You could almost say this is three videogames in one, but as each is roughly around 45 minutes long and you need to play all of them to unravel the full story. While Star Wars fans will certainly get the greatest joy out of playing Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Seriesthanks to its story being canon material, even those that aren’t bothered about the franchise should still have fun playing with lightsabers and using the force.
Beat Saber
While the popular rhythm-action title couldn’t be included in VRFocus’ PlayStation VR ‘Best of 2019’ list, Beat Saber can most certainly be included here, as it was a launch title for Oculus Quest. Leading its genre Beat Saber needs little introduction as its simple yet addictive gameplay cutting cubes with a sword has struck a chord with VR gamers across the world.
There’s a reasonable selection of included songs plus a load of DLC tracks available to expand the selection. Beat Saber is one of those titles which has become a de facto addition to most gamers libraries no matter the platform and the Oculus Quest version is no different.
Pistol Whip
Another rhythm-action videogame, this time from the studio behind The Gallery puzzle series, Cloudhead Games. Only released in November, Pistol Whiphas already garnered quite the reputation as a non-stop action shooter inspired by the likes of John Wick.
You can choose to shoot or melee enemies whilst dodging incoming bullets like a badass, all to a thumping soundtrack and some intense visuals. Modifiers help to change the gameplay, adding dual-wield weapons or removing the aim assist to increase the score multiplier. If Beat Saber isn’t quite your thing then Pistol Whip could well scratch that gaming itch, a first-person shooter (FPS) with flair.
The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets
A small side project by Apex Construct developer Fast Travel Games, The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets is a cute puzzler with light challenges designed for all ages.
It may have only got three-stars in VRFocus’review but that does mean to say its not worthy to be on this list. While The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets is a little short, the design and ideas employed are definitely worth a look, each level a small diorama to be spun around, peered into and investigated. Charming and cute, The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets will put a smile on your face.
Gadgeteer
Another puzzle-based experience, Gadgeteer is a far more elaborate affair than others on this list. Gameplay mechanics revolve around Rube Goldberg machines, using a series of gadgets to build elaborate contraptions. Offering a single-player campaign to teach you the ropes, the sandbox mode is where most players will spend their time, offering free rein to create whatever machines you so please with the 50+ items available.
VRFocussaid in its review: “Gadgeteer isn’t going to be for everyone, much like being a watchmaker. It’s finicky, time-consuming and puzzling all at the same time. They’re also the reasons why Gadgeteer is a puzzle gem for Oculus Quest.”
Acron: Attack of the Squirrels
So far this list has purely been about single-player VR videogames so let’s change that with Acron: Attack of the Squirrels by Resolution Games. Multiplayer only, Acron: Attack of the Squirrelsis at its best with a few friends and family over, all playing locally.
The Oculus Quest player takes the role of a tree trying to protect several golden acorns while everyone else is a mischevious squirrel trying to steal them. The non-VR players join in via a free mobile app and up to eight can team up at once, offering some highly entertaining gameplay, with everyone laughing and shouting as they succeed and fail.
Shadow Point
More puzzling escapades, this time from Coatsink with Shadow Point. With a story narration by the legendary Sir Patrick Stewart, this British studio has previously released some excellent VR videogames and Shadow Point continues that trend.
Trying to unravel the mystery of a missing schoolgirl you head to Shadow Point observatory before being whisked to the heavens, tasked with solving evermore elaborate puzzles which play with light and shadows.
If you’ve tried The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets and want greater depth and difficulty then Shadow Point is a good step to take, providing a solid few hours of entertainment (depending on whether you get stuck of course).
Journey of the Gods
If you’re looking for a Legend of Zelda-like VR experience on Oculus Quest then Journey of the Gods is worth a look. With a bold cel-shaded style, there are big monsters to fight, people to save, weapons to upgrade and lands to explore. Everything that you could want or need in a VR adventure.
VRFocus noted in its review of Journey of the Gods: “Showcasing what’s best about VR adventuring, the title is ideal for those who want to make the most of their new headset purchase, with decent gameplay, narrative and fantasy feel.” Not one to be missed this festive season.
Thrill of the Fight
There are quite a few ways to burn calories in VR as this list very well proves and Thrill of the Fightoffers the most intensive workout here. Boxing fans will find a barebones experience with training and career modes available. There are no flashy gimmicks here, you need to block, watch your footwork and time those punches for maximum effect – no waving your arms wildly hoping for success.
Do a couple of fights back to back and you’ll soon start to notice if you don’t work out much. Thrill of the Fight is very much a videogame which relies on roomscale, as you’ll need a minimum of 2m x 2m to play. More is preferable, otherwise, during the heat of a match, you’re likely to hit a wall.
Originally a PC VR title released in 2016, Thrill of the Fight has translated well for those wishing for an energetic experience.
Synth Riders
Noticing a theme here? Yes, here’s another rhythm-action videogame for those that love to expel some energy. Synth Ridersdifferentiates itself from Beat Saber and Pistol Whip with Synth Wave tunes for that retro 80s feel.
This might be another arm swinger but its still great fun, and there are several modes and modifiers to change the gameplay mechanics. There’s a little more of a cheese factor with Synth Riders which is fine by VRFocusas the tunes just make you want to bop along.
Synth Riders might not be as well known as the other two but that’s no reason to dismiss it, plus its the cheapest of the three.
Shadow Point, the latest VR adventure from Coatsink, has been available for a few weeks now. It’s a typically enamoring game from the UK-based studio, with wholesome visuals and music. One of its best components, though, is its starring character, Lorna. She’s a fighty youngster, trapped in time. As the video below shows, Coatsink brought her to virtual life in a unique way.
As you jump between dimensions at different points in time, you meet several incarnations of the character. To help with this, Coatsink hired four different actors to represent Lorna at different ages. Each lends their thoughts to taking on the role in this short video. Not only that but we get some good ol’ fashioned first reactions to trying VR, too. Of course, Lorna isn’t the only character in Shadow Point. Sir Patrick Stewart also lends his voice talents to the game. You can also see him working on the project here.
We quite liked Shadow Point when we reviewed it a few weeks back. Ultimately we didn’t think it made the best use of Stewart himself, but Lorna was a standout character. “Shadow Point is another solid entry into Coatsink’s catalog of hopelessly charming VR productions,” we wrote. “It’s got just enough of the right sort of puzzle-solving to overshadow (pun intended) the late game’s more exhausting trials and its sweeping score and art direction make it a joy to spend time in. As far as VR brain teasers go, it’s an easy recommendation.”
Shadow Point is available now on Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest for $19.99.
Last week was quite the event with the launch of Oculus Rift S and Oculus Quest both on the same day. Here at VRFocuswe rather like the new standalone headset, with the redesigned Oculus Touch controllers. It’s a tidy package, and there are some great videogames available if you’ve picked one up already. Picking and choosing which titles to buy can be a tricky process so VRFocus is making it easier by giving away codes to some of the best experiences available for the headset.
In today’s competition, VRFocus is giving away codes for Moss and Shadow Point thanks to those fine creators at Polyarc and Coatsink Software respectively.
Moss is a lovely puzzle adventure featuring a little mouse called Quill. Originally released in 2018 for PlayStation VR, then Oculus RIft and HTC Vive, Moss was one of the best received virtual reality (VR) videogames of last year. When VRFocus reviewed Mosswe said: Moss is a flawlessly crafted experience starring a character that absolutely deserves to be the face of modern VR. Every inch of the world shows attention to detail, and a story is woven that draws you in, making you truly invested in the world and in Quill as a person.”
Shadow Point, on the other hand, is an exclusive VR experience for Oculus Quest. Coatsink Software has created a puzzle adventure narrated by none other than Sir Patrick Stewart, where you have to use light and shadow to solve the challenges and unlock the story.
Standard prize draw entry rules apply: Follow us (or already be following us) on Twitter or alternatively, visit our Facebook to get an entry for each. The competition will be open a week. Beginning today and ending at midnight UK time on 31st May 2019. The draw will be made shortly thereafter. Best of luck.
Patrick Stewart makes everything better. Star Trek, X-Men, Twitter, you name it. Well, okay, almost everything. As it turns out, he’s the weakest element of the latest entertaining puzzler from Esper developer, Coatsink.
Stewart is a third wheel in an otherwise promising narrative here. In Shadow Point, you go in search of a missing girl, lost somewhere inside a mountain-top observatory. You’re soon to join her, discovering portals to another world hidden within the facility. But while the girl, Lorna McCabe, can’t seem to leave, you travel freely back and forth, with significant time lapses between your visits.
Exactly why Stewart becomes involved with the narrative is something of a mystery. He provides a little exposition between trips to the other world, but his presence muddies the story’s cohesion. Why assign such star talent to such a minor role? I spent a good portion of the story wondering if he was destined to play a bigger part until he fully disappears in the final act.
Disappointing though it may be, there is intrigue to Shadow Point’s twisting narrative. It carries an unmistakable hint of Doctor Who to it all, reinforced by Lorna’s striking resemblance to Karen Gillan’s Amelia Pond. Combined with a gentle soundtrack of violins and acoustic guitars as well as a brash visual style, the game sees Coatsink at its most assured from a presentation viewpoint.
The same is true of the game’s many puzzles, which often spark inventive thinking if occasionally dipping into tritely frustrating. Shadow Point’s core hook is to, well, cast shadows. Outlines appear across the world, often requiring you to hold up a certain object in a certain position to match them. This can sometimes be a little more finicky than you’d like but it’s an effective showcase of spacial puzzling in VR.
Crucially, each of Shadow Point’s eight main worlds introduces an engaging new hook. Eventually, you’ll find puzzles in which you can change an object’s shape using an eyeglass, or trials that don’t let you carry certain items into certain rooms. Some of these ideas are technically fascinating; one sees you seamlessly switch between two variations of the same environment by pulling a portal over your head. Though the game can stutter trying to process this on Quest, it often feels like genuine magic. You get the same chills from the way the game’s doorways between dimensions slowly unfold and instantly let you step through into the other world. It’s a hugely impressive feat.
Easily the game’s best idea is a mirror-world level in which you have to trade items with yourself through a reflective portal. It has a sort of collaborate joy akin to Transpose, even though you’re actually just teaming up with yourself. These moments have a brilliant flow, allowing you to visualize a solution in your mind and then methodically work through it step-by-step.
Less enjoyable are the gravity-based trials, of which there are a few more than I cared for. It’s incredibly difficult to grasp the basic rules of these challenges, leaving your brain unsure of how anything works throughout. More often than not I stumbled upon an answer through trial and error rather than actually working it out.
That said, the good outweighs the bad here, and Shadow Point’s 3 to 4 hour runtime is just short enough for the game not to outstay its welcome.
Final Score: 7.5/10 – Good
Despite squandering its starring talent, Shadow Point is another solid entry into Coatsink’s catalog of hopelessly charming VR productions. It’s got just enough of the right sort of puzzle-solving to overshadow (pun intended) the late game’s more exhausting trials and its sweeping score and art direction make it a joy to spend time in. As far as VR brain teasers go, it’s an easy recommendation.
Shadow Point is available now on Oculus Rift and Quest for $19.99 with cross-buy support. Check out these official review guidelines to find out more about our process.
So you’ve spent your hard earned cash on a nice new Oculus Quest headset and now you need some awesome content to put the headset to good use. There’s certainly plenty to get your teeth stuck into, whether that’s action, horror, comedy, relaxation or to work up a sweat. The difficulty in choosing is what to purchase next, so VRFocus is here to guide you on the best videogames to add to your library.
None of these recommendations will feature the free content available such as YouTube VR, VRChat, PokerStars VR or Rec Room as they’re free, so should be the first ones you download anyway.
What we’re interested in are the ones that cost you cash as they range from £7.99 GBP all the way up to £22.99. There are some instant standout titles ported over from Oculus Rift, plus some brand new originals which have arrived just for the headset launch.
So in no particular order, the 10 best videogames to buy are:
Beat Saber – £22.99
The highly popular rhythm-action title has taken the VR world by storm over the past year and shows no signs of letting up. With thumping music and addictive gameplay, Beat Saberwill have friends saying ‘just one more go’ as they try again on Expert+ level. This is one videogame where you will work up a sweat and burn some calories, and enjoy doing it at the same time.
Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series – £7.99
This isn’t a videogame, instead Vader Immortal: A Stars Wars VR Seriesshows you the future of VR entertainment. Mixing cinematic design with interactive gameplay, this first episode slots you into the Star Wars universe between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. While you don’t necessarily need to be an avid fan to enjoy the roughly 50-60 minute experience, it certainly doesn’t hurt – especially when the lightsaber comes into play.
SUPERHOT VR – £18.99
Another title that has an avid fan base much like Beat Saber, SUPERHOT VR is one of those delightfully simple yet gloriously engaging VR experiences where the screenshots struggle to capture the gameplay. Essentially a first-person shooter (FPS), the trick here is that time only moves when you do, allowing for all sorts of Matrix-style bullet dodging.
Apex Construct – £14.99
One of VRFocus’ favourite bow shooters when it first arrived on PlayStation VR, Apex Constructby Fast Travel Games doesn’t seem to have suffered from its port to Oculus Quest. Somehow the studio has managed to cram in all the action or the original whilst maintaining the all-important bow features. A great adventure for all players.
Robo Recall: Unplugged – £22.99
Another reason why VR FPS videogames are the best, Epic Games’ Robo Recallstunned when it arrived for Oculus Rift. All out action that showcases VR at it’s best, whether that’s shooting robots or getting in close to get your hands dirty, the Oculus Quest version has lost none of the excitement, all it lacks is some of the visual fidelity of the PC original.
Journey of the Gods – £22.99
Turtle Rock Studios has released two new videogames for the launch of Oculus Quest. While Face Your Fears 2hasn’t made this list, stylish action-adventure Journey of the Gods has. Offering a large world to explore with fantastical creatures to fight, you chose to fight with a crossbow, sword and shield or mix between the two. Along the way, there are secrets to be discovered and upgrades to be had to the boss fights a little fairer.
Moss – £22.99
Easily demonstrating that all VR content doesn’t need to be first-person, Polyarc’s Mossis an adorable third-person puzzle title featuring a little mouse named Quill. She doesn’t say anything but knows you’re there guiding her, with you and Quill able to talk to each other through sign language. The studio has updated the videogame for the launch adding further content for players.
Creed: Rise to Glory – £22.99
Float like and butterfly and sting like a bee in one of the more realistic experiences for the standalone headset. Creed: Rise to Gloryby Survios puts you in the film, able to train with the likes of Rocky Balboa, before heading into the ring to see if you’ve got the skills to last. Another high energy videogame, this will definitely feel like a workout.
Shadow Point – £14.99
Coming from British VR studio Coatsink Software, Shadow Pointis a nice relaxing puzzler that’s all about light and shadows. Great for first time VR players, don’t be deceived by the cartoon design work, the challenges start off easy but do become more complicated as the gameplay develops. Plus there’s the added bonus with Sir Patrick Stewart doing the story narration, which is nice.
Job Simulator – £14.99
Finally, VRFocus finishes with an oldie but a goldie. Owlchemy Labs’ Job Simulatorhas supported almost every VR headset released and done well on all of them. The quintessential pick-up and play VR experience that’s all about using your hands, everyone who likes VR needs to have played this at least once. It’s bizarre, funny, and difficult to put down.
Beat Saber
Pistol Whip
The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets
Gadgeteer
Acron: Attack of the Squirrels
Journey of the Gods – £22.99
Shadow Point – £14.99
