V-Racer Hoverbike Pulls Some Extreme-G’s on HTC Vive and Oculus Rift

Last week VRFocus previewed VertexBreakers’ upcoming virtual reality (VR) racing title V-Racer Hoverbikes, which is due to be released via Steam Early Access for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. Today, racing fans get an even closer look at the futuristic experience with another VRFocus gameplay video.

V-Racer Hoverbike

V-Racer Hoverbikes is similar to classic N64 racing title Extreme-G where players fly around tracks not only trying to stay on course but also utilising an array of weaponry to give themselves an advantage. In its current form V-Racer Hoverbikes has four tracks available, with the first two being an easier introduction while the latter two ramp up the difficulty.

There are three gameplay modes to choose from, Combat Race, Time Trial and Party Mode. Combat Race is the main attraction pitting players against AI characters in three, five or seven laps races. To win not only to they need to ride well they’ll also need to make sure they pickup missiles, shields, mines, boosts and other items off the track as often as possible. Time Trial is your classic race against the clock, no opponents or power-ups, just you, the bike and the track. While Party mode is a local turn-based time trial challenge.

As you’ll be able to see from the gameplay video below coming first is easier said than done – or VRFocus is rubbish – learning how to effectively lean into corners whilst trying to get missiles to lock on. The tracks aren’t the insane gravity defying challenges like those found on WipEout, emulating more realistic designs. They just happen to have hoverbikes racing round them.

V-Racer Hoverbike

V-Racer Hoverbikes may not be out yet but VertezBreakers has already outlined its plans for early access development. These include continually adding more tracks, more weapons, a career mode where players can participate in championships, win stars and XP, and lastly a fully fledged online multiplayer. VRFocus will continue its coverage of V-Racer Hoverbikesreporting back on its release date and content additions.

Preview: V-Racer Hoverbike – Making the Superbike World Championships Look Slow

It’s difficult when talking about futuristic racers not to mention the Wipeout series, which has become synonymous with high octane, sci-fi racing across ludicrous tracks. Yet when it comes to bikes a far better comparison would be to a lesser known title that originated on the N64, and that was Extreme-G. VertexBreakers upcoming virtual reality (VR) experience V-Racer Hoverbike feels very much like a modern homage to Extreme-G, and that’s certainly no bad thing.

V-Racer Hoverbike

Tested on HTC Vive – it’ll also be compatible with Oculus Rift – V-Racer Hoverbike is very much a no frills type of videogame in its current form. There were four tracks to choose from across two gameplay modes, Time Trial and Combat Race. The options menu also featured three control configurations when racing, Head, Head and Controllers, and Head, left trigger and right controller. Having tested all three the second option was the easiest to get to grips with, using the triggers for acceleration and braking.

Combat Race is the meat of V-Racer Hoverbike, this is where several opponents can fight it out over a selectable amount of laps using an assortment of weaponry located around the track on coloured bumpers. Unlike the other aforementioned racing titles VertexBreakers courses are much more realistic in their presentation, with no vertical drops or climbs, no loops, or any other gravity bending designs. Actually, if it wasn’t for the fact that you can see the other racers hoverbikes and there are weapons available V-Racer Hoverbike wouldn’t be that far off a normal motorbike simulator.

As for the armaments these are your standard affair, speed boosts, triple missiles, lock-on missiles, mines and shields are all present, offering the usual array of offensive and defensive capabilities. Only one can be used at a time, so holding on to a shield in first is much better than the missiles for example.

V-Racer Hoverbike 15

Most important however is the feel and control of the actual bike. There are no bike options in terms of various designs or customisation, so every racer has the same making for an equal playing field. Much like an arcade racer where you’re actually sat on a bike, gauging the required amount of lean when entering corners is a fine art yet not too overly precise that the system becomes twitchy and frustrating. While the headset tracking gauges the lean, tilting your head really doesn’t cut it. The seated experience really gets you to move your entire upper body into each corner, making for far more immersive gameplay.

V-Racer Hoverbike is still in its early stages and has yet to feature a definite Steam Early Access release date. If that happens sooner rather than later players will find the makings of a highly competent racing experience. It certainly needs fleshing out – a local party mode is available – with an online multiplayer option as racing against bots is only fun for so long. For bike fans eager to get their hands on a decent VR racing title V-Racer Hoverbike is one to watch out for.

V-Racer Hoverbike Targets WipEout in VR

Sony Computer Entertainment (SIE) recently brought back the classic futuristic racing franchise, WipEout, in a compendium release for PlayStation 4.The lack of virtual reality (VR) support disappointed many, but indie developer VertexBreakers look set to capitalise on the resurgence of interest in high-speed racing with V-Racer Hoverbike.

V-Racer Hoverbike screenshot

Developed on the Unity engine, V-Racer Hoverbike is a fast-paced futuristic racing videogame designed from the ground-up for VR head-mounted displays (HMDs). According to VertexBreakers, the experience delivers an intense sensation of speed without the pitfalls of simulation sickness.

Little else is currently known about V-Racer Hoverbike, other than the fact that the videogame will be compatible with Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, and will launch on Steam ‘soon’. A debut trailer has been revealed, available below, and VRFocus will keep you updated with all the latest details from VertexBreakers.