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Greenlit Content

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Blog Entries posted by Greenlit Content

  1. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: A Story of Distress
     
    This rogue-lite VR experience feels nice, but ultimately falls short with subpar audio design, voice acting, and gameplay.
     

    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
    I wanted to love A Story of Distress. As a huge fan of rogue-lites, A Story of Distress felt like the perfect combination of rogue-lite meets dungeon crawler. However, the game’s cutscenes and voice acting leave a lot to be desired, and the overall gameplay loop and combat is less than perfect.
     
    Gameplay in A Story of Distress involves sneaking around town to try to find out who killed your brother. It’s a noble cause, I suppose, and overall the story wasn’t a huge issue that I had. However, the cutscenes leading up to the gameplay and the game’s overall voice-over quality are features worth taking into account. The voice acting isn’t that great, but it’s something that can typically be overlooked if the gameplay itself is good enough.
     

    Unfortunately, A Story of Distress doesn’t really offer gameplay that lives up to the standards needed to be so forgiving. After going through all the cutscenes—you can skip a good bit of them if you want to, thankfully—you’re let loose upon the town and tasked with finding the men that killed your brother. It’s a perfectly fine MacGuffin to get things moving, but the gameplay loop as you move through the town—hiding your dagger, pulling it out, murdering someone, and then repeating—isn’t really that endearing, and it grows boring rather quickly.
     
     
    Now, I understand that the nature of rogue-lites is to create an experience that builds off doing the same things over and over again. However, throughout my time with A Story of Distress, I never really got the same feeling of progression that I ever got with any rogue-lites I’ve played in the past. Combat in the game was another sore point, as it came down to simply walking up behind enemies and stabbing them in the back. Sometimes they’d die immediately, other times they’d somehow realize you were behind them and turn around, leading to a constant series of mindless jabs to take them down. There’s no skill or challenge involved here, which made things feel even less entertaining.
     

    On top of the combat issues, the AI of the villagers is very hit and miss. Sometimes they’ll run from you when you commit a murder, but oftentimes they just stand there, oblivious to the fact that you just killed someone less than a foot away from them. This breaks the immersion of the experience altogether, making it hard to justify diving deeper into the game.
     
     
    Like I said before, I really wanted to like A Story of Distress. The idea behind the game seems good on paper, but in practice, it’s very lacking compared to other titles that offer the same kind of experience. The graphics aren’t the worst, and the details throughout the town are nice, but wonky combat, quirky AI issues, and a lack of any real challenge bring the story grinding to a halt before it even really gets off the ground. If you can look past that, though, there’s a little bit of a gem hidden beneath the rough.
     
     
     A Story of Distress is available on Viveport or as part of Viveport Subscription
  2. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: A-Tech Cybernetic VR
     
    This beautiful sci-fi shooter offers fans plenty of ways to enjoy high-octane action.
     
    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
     
     
    There is a lot to like about A-Tech Cybernetic VR, from the beautiful sci-fi visuals to the smoothness of the animations, and even the overall feeling of the experience. All told, developer XREAL Games did an excellent job bringing their experience to life in a fluid way.
     
    Combat is a large part of A-Tech Cybernetic VR, and while it follows many of the same principles of other FPS VR games, it also provides a fluidity that I haven’t seen. Bending over and interacting with objects is smooth and feels good, all of which is important when you’re dealing with fast moving enemies that you need to be quick on your toes to attack.
     

    I was also very fond of the way that the developers allowed you to move around. Unlike most games, which limit you to one method of locomotion or movement, A-Tech Cybernetic VR gives you the option of using both free movement and teleportation, all without having to change an option. It’s a nice fluid combination that allows you to do some great things with the movement system, and I found myself able to move around the world much easier with a combination of the two.
     
    Honestly, there wasn’t much about A-Tech Cybernetic that I didn’t like. The game has a very good tutorial that is well-crafted and points everything out. There’s also plenty of ways to play. You can dive right into Quick Play and survive as long as possible. Or, if you’re looking for more investment in the world, check out the campaign. Both options have plenty of content to keep you busy for a while, and it was nice having different ways to enjoy the game.
     

    The only real issue I ran into with A-Tech Cybernetic seems to be tied to the latest update. I kept experiencing crashes while trying to play, and while I was eventually able to get things working smoothly, it was frustrating for a bit getting things sorted. This is a known issue, though, and I’d expect the developers are probably working on a fix, which means it shouldn’t be a problem for that long.
     
     
    A-Tech Cybernetic VR is a fantastic sci-fi virtual reality experience that offers a great combination of free movement and teleportation to create a fluid combat experience unlike any other VR application available. There are a few small issues with the latest update, but once they’re patched, A-Tech Cybernetic VR will stand tall as one of the best VR shooters for the Vive. It’s definitely worth your time and energy, and I look forward to seeing what the developer does with it in the future.
     
     
    A-Tech Cybernetic VR is available on Viveport or as part of Viveport Subscription.
  3. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Acute Art VR Museum
     
    Developed specifically for virtual reality, Acute Art VR Museum introduces users to stunning and beautiful artwork told in the most immersive way possible.
     

    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
     
    The idea behind Acute Art VR Museum is an intriguing one, and the overall goal the developers have set out to complete is admirable. Virtual reality offers an immersive way to bring art to life, and Acute Art VR Museum looks to make that experience even more unique by offering artwork that was crafted specifically for virtual reality.
     
    By focusing directly on new artwork made to be enjoyed in virtual reality, developer Acute Art has put itself in a unique position to offer some of the most immersive and tangible experiences available in the art and creativity section. Based on the offerings they have available right now, many are very strong, and offer a fantastic—and rather abstract—tone of narratives which make them easy to dive into.
     

    The application works by providing a series of different experiences that users can download and explore. There’s a goal in place to offer a ton of subscription-based content for the application that will be perfect for those who enjoy diving deep into their artistic side. There are also plans in place to offer the artwork of up and coming artists to help get their names out there.
     
     
    As far as the individual experiences go, each one differs in quality. Some are more appealing than others, and out of the several that I tried, only around two of them really blew me away. That isn’t to say that the others aren’t good, but you should expect differing levels of quality. Naturally, as any art is subjective, your experience may vary.
     
    The one thing that I wasn’t a huge fan of in Acute Art VR is that none of the content is downloaded when you first launch the app. This means that you’ll need to choose the ones you want to download—which is nice if you don’t plan on trying them all out—but it is also a bit annoying when you’re expecting to be able to dive right in, only to find yourself blocked by slow downloads.
     

    Aside from this, though, navigating around the various experiences is as easy as point and click. It’s also easy to see how big an experience is, which can help you gauge which ones you want to try out first. This is one of those applications that’s really hard to review because it merely acts as a hub to several other experiences. If you look at it for what it is, then it works well. If you choose to look at it for what it is capable of, then it has room to grow.
     
     
    Altogether, Acute Art VR Museum offers a unique way to experience new, fresh artwork built specific for virtual reality. Grab your VR headset, strap in, and dive into several different abstract narratives that have been hand-crafted to make you feel like you’re really a part of the world that they created.
     
     
    Acute Art VR Museum is available on Viveport.
  4. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: AI Rebellion
     
    Immergity’s starfighter sim delivers beautiful visuals but lackluster gameplay.
     

    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
    AI Rebellion has a lot to offer when it comes to visuals. The game looks beautiful, and the sensation of flying through space is wonderful. The bad thing, though, is that these beautiful visuals are all torn to pieces by lackluster audio and a limited gameplay loop.
     
    The first time I loaded into AI Rebellion, I was excited. The cockpit looked great, and I really felt like I was seated inside of a small craft barreling through space. Sadly, the interface is pretty rough around the edges. The location of the controls is awkward, and most of the time I felt like my arms were digging into my sides because of how I had to hold them in order to actively reach the controls.
     

    As far as combat goes, it’s not anything to write home about. Aiming is easy enough, and firing the two different types of weapons is simple. There’s no real oomph like in other star fighter games, though, and the battles leave a lot to be desired.
     
    Another big problem is the way that the game handles different ships. As you progress through the game, you gain access to a few larger ships. The biggest issue here, though, is that the ships all fly and act the same; the only difference is the number of weapons that they have, and the visuals of the bridge.
     
    On top of the rough gameplay loop, AI Rebellion also struggles with immersive audio. During the first mission, you crash into a planet and meet an odd robot that helps you out along the way. It’s a great looking robot as far as visuals and animations go, but the audio tracks that it plays feel so out of place and really break the immersion of the entire experience—which seems a bit strange considering how much work was put into the visuals.
     

    The unexciting gameplay, bad controls, and terrible audio quality of the NPCs were more than enough to break the immersion and feeling that the visuals brought to life. While you control the ship directly, those controls are wonky and often end with you jabbing your elbow into your side as you try to follow a ship around trying to shoot it. The final nail in the coffin, though, came when I finally reached the AI planet. Thanks to the awkward control positioning, I found it extremely frustrating as I tried to control the ship, the throttle, and take out enemies in the enclosed space that they put me into.
     
    All told, while AI Rebellion looks stunning, I can’t recommend giving it a chance unless the developers tinker behind the scenes with the game. Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee this will happen, so for the time being, give this one a pass.
     

    AI Rebellion is available on Viveport and as part of Viveport Subscription.
  5. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Alcatraz: VR Escape Room
     
    Origins VR expertly weaves story into this puzzle-driven escape the room experience.


    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
     
    Most 'escape room' games drop you into a room and then leave you to solve the puzzles and escape. Origins VR’s attempt at bringing their escape room to life is different, and instead weaves an intriguing story of mystery into the entire escapade, creating a unique experience that feels good and is easy to dive into.
     
    Like most escape room games, puzzles are made up of different clues that you will need to find around the room. This means that you’ll need to look inside of closets, vases, and even drawers to find the clues that you need. The puzzles in Alcatraz: VR Escape Room aren’t the toughest that you’ll come across, but they also aren’t the worst in the world either. They offer a nice enough challenge without being too difficult, which means you never feel like you’re hitting your head against the wall, even if you happen to hit your head on the wall while trying to pick up something from the corner of the room.
     
    Moving around the room is two-fold. You can teleport, or you can walk around in your play space. Walking around is nice, but there are so many nooks and crannies to explore that you’ll eventually need the teleport function. That’s not a bad thing, as teleportation is one of the most reliable forms of locomotion in virtual reality, so it fits well in this game and makes moving around the tighter places much easier.
     
    What sets Alcatraz: VR Escape Room apart, though, is the story. Instead of dropping you into the world, players wake up unaware of where they are, or who they are. From here, you must solve puzzles to figure out your identity and why you’re trapped in this room. I wish the game had been longer, but clocking in at just under an hour, it was more than enough time to really experience the breadth that the app has to offer.
     
    My biggest complaint with Alcatraz: VR Escape Room, and really any VR escape room is the way that items in the games feel. They never feel real, which leads to issues with presence that leaves the entire experience feeling more like a traditional game with motion controls than a full-fledged VR experience. That isn’t a bad thing necessarily, but it does mean that you won’t get the same feeling as you would with games that offer a better sense of presence.
     
    At the end of it all, Alcatraz: VR Escape Room is a solid escape room experience, but it leaves something to be desired. The sense of presence isn’t that great, but if you’re looking to try out a good escape room, then this is a good place to start - just don’t expect to be blown away. Still, it’s worth checking out for puzzle-lovers, especially if you’re looking to get an intriguing story alongside your puzzles.
     
     
     
    Alcatraz: VR Escape Room is available on Viveport or with a Viveport Subscription.
  6. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review:  Apex Construct
     
    Stunning graphics and excellent combat are combined with immersive movement and a great sense of presence in Apex Construct.
     

    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
     
    A sense of presence can make or break virtual reality experiences. Not only does presence make the entire experience more immersive, but it also helps to create a thriving and realistic world around the player. This is extremely important when you set out to bring games like Apex Construct to life, and developers Fast Travel Games did an outstanding job of creating a great title that brings together many great elements.
     
    Combat is a huge part of the gameplay in Apex Construct, and as you explore the different environments, you’ll need to fend off robotic enemies of varying difficulty. Now, the main weapon of choice here is a bow and arrows that you fire from it. This feels extremely smooth to interact with, and you can even shield yourself—or duck and dodge—to keep their shots from hitting you. It’s a simple process that happens with a press of a button on the controller, which means it’s easy to dive into and get the hang of. Of course, mastering the art of the bow will take some time, so be prepared to practice and retry missions if you want to get great at combat.
     
    Unlike other virtual reality experiences out there, Apex Construct attempts to harness some of the finer qualities of regular games out there. The game has various secrets and collectibles hidden throughout, which encourages players to explore and look inside of cubbies, drawers, and rooms that they come across.
     
    Progression is usually locked behind doors, which require codes, or different powering devices to open. This gives players different types of puzzles to solve, and you can even interact with and search through the information on computer terminals to learn more about the story. As far as story goes, the basic premise is intriguing, and is something that will probably catch the eyes of science fiction fans who give the game a chance.
     
    Brought back from the void by ‘Father’, you must find a way to defeat the robots that have taken over the world and stop ‘Mother’. As you dive deeper into the game, you learn more about these two ‘parental figures’, which creates some great drama and conflict within the story.
     

    When it comes to visuals and performance, Apex Construct is by far one of the smoothest games I’ve played. The visuals are beautiful, the animations all feel on point, and moving around within the world is as smooth as you could hope for. This is probably one of the few games that I’ve just wanted to keep playing and keep playing. I didn’t want to leave, but I needed to in order to write this review.
     
    If you’re looking for a great science fiction game with tons of content and exploration to offer, as well as a great combat system, then Apex Construct is a must-have. It’s one of the best games available on the HTC Vive right now, and not playing it means you’re missing out on one of the best experiences out there.
     

    Apex Construct is available on Viveport.
  7. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Arizona Sunshine + Dead Man DLC
     
    Step into the zombie apocalypse with this brutal and terrifying shooter.
     

    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
     
    Arizona Sunshine was one of the first big titles to hit virtual reality devices, and while the game’s campaign is only a few hours long, it’s one of the premiere experiences available on the HTC Vive. If you dream of stepping into the zombie apocalypse (and why wouldn’t you), look no further.
     
    On top of having great gunplay that feels smooth and polished, Arizona Sunshine also excels at quality map design. All of the game’s maps are massive and give you a ton of room, and the various weapons at your disposal will more than make up for any brutal deaths that you might experience. That being said, there are a couple of inconsistencies to be aware of before you dive in.
     

    First, the game’s movement system can be a bit rough at times—especially if you’re having to work with the flashlight. It’s not too bad when you first get started, but as time wears on, it can get a bit tedious to walk around and explore the maps with this device. This is a shame, as the maps are all extremely detailed and beautifully crafted.
     
    The other thing to take into account is the niche market. While the single player campaign is great, the game really shines in its horde and co-op modes. However, because the virtual reality audience is a bit low due to the cost of hardware, it can often be tough to find matches and people to dive into the game with. This takes away a large portion of the replay value, because nobody wants to sit around waiting two to three hours to set up a match with random players online. Of course, if you have a dedicated VR buddy, this won’t be that big of an issue.
     

    Graphics are another high point. The zombie animations and movements look smooth, and it’s easy to get lost within the immersive world. Zombies swagger towards you, skin dripping from their pale bodies. As far as the aesthetics of the world go, everything feels apocalyptic. Vehicles are covered in dust and cobwebs, really bringing the feeling that they haven’t been touched in a long time. Kills feel satisfyingly brutal, as gore sputters from the zombies when you take them down; blood splatters, the crunch of bullets hit flesh and bone, and bodies slam to the floor. It all comes together to create a terrifying, yet thrilling game that’s hard to forget.
     
    The developers have started to release DLC for the game, starting out with a short expansion, Arizona: Sunshine - Dead Man, a prequel story that will take players roughly an hour to complete. It’s more of the same stuff you’ll see in the base game—though a few new guns and some new locations have made their way into the title. There’s not really much to say about the DLC—it’s tiny—but it is a nice addition to the world and story that they’ve already managed to craft.
     
    All around, Arizona Sunshine has a lot of promise. The DLC so far has delivered more of the same great content and hopefully that means we can still expect to see more content release for the zombie shooter in the coming months. No matter which way you slice it, though, Arizona Sunshine is one of the smoothest experiences available for action fans looking to dive into the zombie apocalypse and it’s easily one of the first games I’d recommend to those looking for an intense and satisfying first-person shooter experience.
     
     
     Arizona Sunshine and Arizone Sunshine - Dead Man DLC are available on Viveport.
  8. Greenlit Content

    Ark Park

    By Greenlit Content,

    Viveport Review: ARK Park
     
    The idea of a living, breathing dinosaur-based theme park in virtual reality is brought to its knees by over saturation and a lack of any real identity.
     

    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
    More is not always better. When ARK Park was first announced, I was excited, even enamored at the idea. However, now that I’ve had a chance to actually dive into the game and try it out for myself, I really can’t help but feel like the developers have over-extended themselves by trying to fit everything that you do in the original ARK: Survival Evolved into the virtual reality edition.
     
    It’s really easy to overdo things in virtual reality. When I first stepped into ARK Park, I was expecting a relaxing experience that would let me walk around and enjoy the sights and sounds of the island. Instead, I found myself thrust into this crafting, survival, wave-based shooter that just barely lets you grow your own dinosaurs, feed them, and ride them down a linear path. It’s an insane amount of content thrust upon you at once, and for the first hour or so it feels really good. However, it’s when you continue putting time into it that things start to take a turn for the worse.
     
    It’s literally just the same thing over and over again. You unlock new regions. You travel to them. You walk around, put on your leather gloves, swipe at some plants for crafting materials, then return home to craft stuff and grow your dinosaurs. Once a dinosaur reaches full growth, you can then ride it through a linear path, but that’s really about all you can do with them. If you want, you can also feed your dinosaurs, though the animations are a bit clunky.
     
    All around, when it comes to visuals, ARK Park looks the part. The forests and dinosaurs all look really good, though you aren’t going to be blown away if you’ve played other games like Apex Construct or the Ready Player One OASIS beta. They’re passable though, and it helps to bring the world to life pretty well.
     
    The biggest plus I found with ARK Park is the game’s audio. The audio design here is magnificent. It helps to bring the world to life through the sounds of the forest, the dinosaurs, and more. The noises that dinosaurs make are all immensely well-crafted and really help the creatures feel alive as you interact with them. There’s no bad bits here, and that really helps to create a believable atmosphere despite the other issues that the game has.
     
    I really want to love ARK Park. It’s a great idea and it has some really good things about it—like the visuals and the audio design. Unfortunately, the developers have just tried to do too much with it, and the game itself doesn’t even have its own identity, which makes it hard for me to recommend it to people, as I’m not even completely sure how to classify it among the ranks of other virtual reality titles out there.
     
     
    ARK Park is available on Viveport.
  9. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Asteroid Blaster VR
     
    Prepare for classic arcade blasting madness with this homage to the smash hit coin-op game, Asteroids.
     

    By Desmond Madison, Greenlit Content
     
    Strap yourself in for a hyperkinetic space ride in Asteroid Blaster VR, as you don your jetpack in a 3D throwback to the classic rock-blasting 70’s arcade shooter, Asteroids.
     
    The development team at Senomix Research makes no mistake in acknowledging their inspiration from the original Asteroids gameplay, and that’s really the best place to start in imagining what this VR homage has to offer.
     
    With the power to thrust yourself towards large asteroids and UFOs, you grip a gun in each fist, blasting away at each and every rock. Much like the original though, you’ll have limited control over your trajectory once momentum is established, flying forwards around the curve of gravity. Using the thrust as your main means of locomotion will take some getting used to, but with enough practice, it’s rewarding to master your skills flying around each rock.
     
    You should make sure to try the tutorial and practice, practice, practice! Your fingertip and thumbs on the grip buttons will apply a limited amount of thrust, with the left grip for forward and the right grip for backwards, but the buttons are completely mappable in the options menu. Thrust will always be applied in the direction that you look, and to save energy, you’ll want to be sure you’re thrusting in short bursts.
     
    While you’re gliding, your path will not change, so make sure you’re headed in the right direction. You can also always view your status and game score on the screen beside your right-hand gun. Everything recharges after you deplete it, but if you exhaust all 100 percent of your thrust, your recharge will be delayed, leaving you vulnerable to incoming objects. You can also turn on your radar and get a long view of all of your surroundings. Your radar will track all dangerous asteroids within at least 250 meters, but you can always shoot enemies lying outside that range. Bonus items can boost weapons, energy, or score depending on the item.
     
    You also need to be on the lookout for UFOs, as they’ll shoot at anything that moves! Make sure to shoot them down before they escape to maximize your score. Asteroids are your main targets, and you’ll want to break up the largest of them and keep firing as they break off into smaller pieces. Once you’ve cleared all of the asteroids, you’ve finished off a wave and you’re ready to do it again, although at least here you don't have to insert more coins to continue.
     
    There isn’t much more depth to Asteroids Blaster VR, but that is sort of the point. It harkens back to the days of pure arcade simplicity and challenges the you to complete wave after wave of asteroid destruction. It’s great for blowing off steam for a few minutes, or for hopping into marathon sessions trying to topple your high score over and over again.
     
    The dev team at Senomix says it best: “Fly around, shoot stuff, and have fun!” It’s really that simple.
     

    Asteroid Blaster VR is available on Viveport and as part of Viveport Subscription.
  10. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Bartender VR Simulator
     
    Mix drinks, pull off tricks, and wow customers in this sorta-educational bartending simulator.
     

    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
     
    Bartending is both art and science, between the presentation and preparation of cocktails, and the knowledge and use of ingredients. In Bartender VR Simulator you'll concentrate a little more on the art, but don't be surprised if you also learn some science, in this prep-and-serve sim that owes something to many cooking preparation games before it.
     

    Much like those games, you have to juggle different ingredients and remember recipes while dealing with your customer and keeping them happy. Bartender VR Simulator takes this idea and brings it to life quite realistically, allowing you to practice drink-making with authentic physics and destruction,  without the mess. Even if you don’t have any kind of training or bartending experience in real life, you’ll be able to dive in and start making a variety of drinks throughout the four different bars in the game.
     
    Bartender Simulator VR also gives you quite a few ways to play. If you already have an idea of what you’re doing, you can head into Regular Mode, which tasks you with completing the drinks that people order without help. If you run into any issues during this mode, you can also ask for a hint, but it will take away from the amount of cash that you make after you complete the drink. If you don’t know what you’re doing, then you can dive into Practice Mode, which will show you how to make the drinks step by step. It doesn’t completely hold your hand, but it will give you all the information that you need to make the drinks.
     

    The fun part about Bartender VR Simulator comes when you start learning to do different tricks between making drinks. You can earn additional tips by doing things like tossing bottles into the air and catching them as they fall back down, as well as other snazzy moves. You’ll also be rewarded for making drinks more authentically, which challenges you to mix ingredients correctly while switching between various bottles at the same time.
     

    The complex thing about Bartender VR Simulator involves remembering all the recipes for the different drinks that you’ll need to make. After you practice them in each level, you head into the main version of the game to prove yourself. If you can prove that you’re good enough, then you’ll unlock new bars.
     
    When it comes to presence and visuals, Bartender VR Simulator looks and feels great. It’s easy to pick up items, and the way that you can handle them feels natural, despite the fact that you’re doing it all within a virtual environment. Additionally, the audio sounds cool. Everything, from the ice hitting the bottom of the glass to the various liquids pouring adds to the ambience.
     
    Everything about Bartender VR Simulator shines, and it’s easy to get lost trying to make the drinks without messing up. I’ve never done any kind of bartending, so I can’t speak to how accurate the drink mixtures are (or how they taste, being virtual and all) but it’s still a fun experience that showcases virtual reality and room-scale very well.
     
     
    Bartender VR Simulator is available on Viveport.
  11. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: BattleSky VR – Early Access
     
    This online multiplayer shooter brings the fast-paced action of hero-based FPS games to virtual reality.
     

    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
     
    Blizzard made waves when Overwatch debuted, revitalizing the hero-based shooter genre. Now Battlesky VR is attempting to do the same thing, but within the confines of virtual reality. The result is a fast-paced shooter that feels good to play, but comes up short in a few areas.
     
    BattleSky VR’s biggest draw is the game’s frantic aerial combat, which pits heroes of different sizes against each other in various game modes like Free for All, Attack & Defend, and more. Just like in Overwatch, each hero plays completely differently in BattleSky VR, giving it a greater potential longevity than the average shooter. 
     
    Combat is pretty simple. Each hero has different attacks, including an Ultimate ability, and you fly around the map making use of these abilities to take down enemies. So far, so shooter; but as BattleSky VR often takes to the skies, what starts off as simple can quickly become complex, when you factor in the 360 degrees of freedom the game offers.
     
    Learning the controls that let you fly and shoot is simple, but mastering them is a different story. You'll have plenty of opportunities for improvement, and will need to keep improving if you want to remain competitive.
     
    Alongside the multiplayer modes, there are some single player missions planned that will detail backstory on the heroes, while offering a short tutorial to get you used to each character. There’s only one of these missions available right now, but more are in the works.
     
    Where BattleSky VR has problems, though, is with visuals and audio. While the sound effects aren't terrible, the announcers sound like you're listening to a cheap text to speech program, which certainly broke my immersion. The visuals are functional too, but since BattleSky VR is supposed to be a frantic, fast-paced FPS game, that isn't a huge deal - frames per second is going to be more important in the long run. Bear in mind, BattleSky VR is still in early access, so any of issues could change or be improved before launch.
     
    Aside from our gripes with the visuals and sound quality, BattleSky VR is a fairly immersive experience that challenges players to master the mechanics, as they zoom around each other in intense aerial combat. It’s a great game that has a lot to offer, and the developers are already doing a good job of creating a unique virtual reality experience. I’ll be interested to see how BattleSky VR evolves in the future, but so far, I’m impressed by it has to offer and hope that it continues to grow and thrive.
     
     
    Battlesky VR - Early Access is available on Viveport and in Viveport Subscription.
  12. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Beast Pets (Early Access)
     
    Make new friends and create new friendships in this cute and fun pet simulator.
     

    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
     
    Virtual reality has a lot of uses, and while many people are focused on creating more mature content for VR headsets, developer Beast Inc. chose to instead focus their own development on designing a cute, fun, and fantastical adventure that can be enjoyed by all ages. Beast Pets is quirky, it’s cute, and it’s pretty much everything you could want from a pet simulator. Well, assuming those pets are baby dragons.
     
    According to the developers, players will typically get about 30 minutes or so out of each play session of Beast Pets. Of course, the experience is in early access right now, so things are always being added and upgraded to give players more to do. The shorter gameplay sessions don’t account for the full breadth of the game, though, and while it might not be as enticing as more action-oriented experiences, it’s a nice way to chill out and show some of your family members what VR has to offer.
     
    The way that the baby dragons move around feels authentic as you interact with, pet, and play with them. The experience overall feels nice and smooth, and the ability to teleport allows you to move around the beast park and interact with the l'il lizards in different areas. The reactions of the dragons to your presence feels authentic as well, and overall, it’s a very smooth experience that is easy to pick up and play.
     

    The visual appeal is definitely something to take into account. Since you place the Vive directly over your eyes, many experiences can be a bit overwhelming for new players. That’s why Beast Pets is a good way to break people into virtual reality. The visuals look cutesy, and the color palette makes for a nice experience that is easy on the eyes. It’s a delicate balance that the developers have handled well, and while Beast Pets doesn’t have a whole lot of content available just yet, the direction that they are going leads me to believe that the developers know what they are doing, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the game has to offer in the future.
     
    For now, though, Beast Pets is a great addition to your Viveport library if you’re looking for something easy for family members or friends to experience in virtual reality. There isn’t a whole lot of content, and the developers know that. But, they are working hard to continue updating the experience to give players more to do and enjoy, and I look forward to seeing how this title evolves in the months ahead.
     
     
    Beast Pets (Early Access) is available as part of Viveport Subscription.
     
  13. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Black Shield: Upora Story
     
    A swarm of enemy robots have their sights set on you, but thankfully, you have the weapons to defeat the horde.
     

    By Desmond Madison, Greenlit Content
     
     
    The lead entry point for what’s planned to be a grand-scale “Black Shield Universe” full of dazzling sci-fi combat, Black Shield: Uprora Story puts players in the heat of battle with some of the most impressive visuals on the platform.
     
    Developed by Shanghai Vsensory Network Technology, this intense action epic is chock full of gunfire and explosions with robots coming at you from around every corner. There's something lost in the chaos though, as this shooter tends to lose focus in its execution across its roughly one hour, four-mission long play time. The visuals are the absolute standout, and while not wildly original, you’ll be treated to dual-wielding weapons as you teleport from spot to spot eviscerating and decapitating alien robots on the warpath along the battlefield. With dialogue that doesn’t seem to be intentionally cheesy, and more-so lost in translation, there’s a noticeable lack of authenticity to the voice acting in this version of the game, though the developers have noted that they are looking into hiring new talent for future updates to the game and story.
     
    Gunplay is key in a forward-moving, relatively on-rails action-shooter like this, and for the most part, Black Shield does a serviceable job of keeping you stopping and popping along every wall as the waves of different colored robots run in your direction. Their color varieties are important, with yellow and red ready to bust your skull melee style, while white, blue, and orange use pistols, shotguns, and rocket launchers, respectively. Make sure you’re aiming for their heads to take them all out before you’re toast, and don’t miss the chance to rip the heads off these fiends with your bare hands and use their torsos as body-shielding bullet sponges.
     

     This will be pretty rinse and repeat for a good three quarters of the game, and the rest of the time you’ll be trying your hand at stealth missions, taking control of a giant turret, or working as fast as you can to beat the clock to make it to a certain point along the battlefield. The A.I. itself isn’t the smartest and a lot of the action is scripted, making for few surprises on your second run through the game, but that still might be enough to satisfy those out for some over-the-top, trigger-happy eye candy.
     
    Visually, Black Shield: Uprora Story is an absolute showpiece, but right now with a short campaign and some repetitive and less than inventive action, the team at Vsensory have already admitted they’ll be putting more work into the experience to extend its length and expand upon its quality. It’s not uncommon for games like this to hit the store and only get better based on player feedback, and thankfully the dev team seems to be listening, so this should grow into an impressive universe of sci-fi action if the team can realize their goals. Until then, maybe only jump in if this genre is all you’re craving.  
     
     
    Black Shield- Upora Story is available on Viveport and as part of Viveport Subscription.
  14. Greenlit Content

    BOXVR

    By Greenlit Content,

    Viveport Review: BOXVR
     
    BOXVR may look like your average workout game, but it’s amazing what adding music can do to your daily routine.
     
    By Emily Medlock, Greenlit Content
     
     
    BOXVR is a fitness game that may possess magical powers, as it just might encourage you to workout on a daily basis and enjoy it! The idea of the game is to do a standard boxing routine to music as you hit the incoming orbs at the right time. Although BOXVR sounds like so many other fitness games, this one seems to offer something different.
     
    There are multiple game modes in BOXVR, including Workout, Survive, Multiplayer, and Training modes. Workout has your typical presets with borderline boring music. Survive is basically the same, except the music never ends, so you can play for as long as you wish. Multiplayer could be a blast if there was ever anyone online. The real star is Training mode, which allows you to add your own music to box to in the game. We all know that personalization goes a long way in the video game world.
     

    Unfortunately, you may run into a few minor bugs while playing BOXVR. After getting mildly frustrated with small bugs and glitches in the game, I did some research to see if others were experiencing the same issues. It seems that the game had very few problems in the past, but it wasn’t until after a few updates that bugs started to appear. This means that if the game used to run smoothly, then it’s quite possible that after the next update, the current problems will be resolved.
     
    Aside from the bugs, my biggest problem with the game has to do with what I like the most about the game, ironically. This would be the option to play using your own music. At first, I thought they had removed this feature, because the first song I uploaded (which had a strong drum beat) wouldn’t work. Whenever I pressed play, no orbs popped up for me to punch. I tried another song, and thankfully it worked (although the timing was a bit off). This leads me to believe that if you want a fun workout, you need to upload a song with a specific beat that BOXVR will register. This isn’t a big deal, but it can be frustrating if your favorite songs aren’t compatible.
     

    All things considered, BOXVR is still a great game for those who want to sneak in a bit of exercise without their mind realizing it. If you can ignore the glitches, then you’ll likely have a blast practicing your boxing skills and burning as many calories as your virtually gloved hands possibly can. And if you’re lucky, you can do it all to your favorite compatible jams!
     
     
    BOXVR is available on Viveport or as part of Viveport Subscription.
  15. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: C O S M Worlds Within Worlds
     
    Go deeper than ever before as COSM takes you on a journey that you’ll never forget. You won’t miss a single cell!
     

    By Emily Medlock, Greenlit Content
     
    Science geeks, beware! You may spend hours living out your dreams in COSM Worlds Within Worlds.
     
    Remember the hype about the game Everything where you could play as anything in the universe, from a bumble bee to the blade of grass it’s crawling on? Well, COSM is reminiscent of that general idea. Only this time, you’re not playing as these objects, but exploring the deepest levels of them, peeling away at their components as if they were onions ready for you to find their center.
     In COSM Worlds Within Worlds, you get to choose an object or substance such as solar energy or a human hand. Then you are taken to that object. From the outside, you cannot move, but can only view the object and its simple purpose. From there, you go on a Magic School Bus-style field trip to the object’s innermost layers. You get to see human skin, skin cells, and everything beneath (just remember not to sneeze, Ralphie!). You can hover over something and zoom in for even more definitions and explanations. The truth is, everyone has wanted to take part in one of Miss Frizzle’s field trips, so that’s definitely the best part of this game.
     
    However, if you’re not really into science or informative experiences, then you’ll likely get bored with this one, no matter how much you loved after-school specials. The entire point of COSM is to teach you things that you didn’t know. You may know everything there is to know about human skin, but that doesn’t mean you are well versed when it comes to the anatomy and functions of sea bottom plants. That’s something that SpongeBob just can’t teach you, even with a million memes. Do you truly know what a plankton is? Maybe the next COSM DLC will help you with that. The truth is, kids these days do want to learn new things, but it takes a VR experience like COSM to teach them in a way they can easily understand or want to understand. It doesn’t take a long attention span to enjoy this one.
     
    COSM Worlds Within Worlds is an all-around great experience that has much to share with anyone who opens it up. It may not be that top-rated RPG you are looking for, but if you want a hands-on science adventure, then this is right up your alley. Besides, it’s better than reading a 30-pound biology book. Like I said, not a bad way to research for your report on solar energy!
     
     
    C O S M Worlds Within Worlds is available on Viveport and as part of Viveport Subscription.
  16. Greenlit Content

    Cat Sorter VR

    By Greenlit Content,

    Viveport Review: Cat Sorter VR
     
    Pawmigo Games' fast-paced, lighthearted arcade experience is fun for everyone.
     

     
    By Desmond Madison, Greenlit Content
     
    Cats wearing sombreros and sporting slimy tentacles for arms? They go over here. Cats with bird beaks for noses and cartoon eyes for butts? They go over there!
     
    Indie studio Pawmigo Games has put its experience from working at Disney Interactive to unexpected use in Cat Sorter VR, crafting a wonderful, fast-paced, lighthearted arcade experience that’s fun for everyone. Well, as long as you don’t mind helping a few cats get back to “normal” by sorting through their special quirks as they’re rapidly churned onto a conveyor belt ready for inspection.
     
    You’ll need at least 2.5 x 2.5 meters of space to go to work in the cat factory, but as long as you have that, you’ll be sorting cats with your friends and family right meow! Each three-minute “shift” on the cat sorting job begins at the Kitty Kreator. There, you’ll prepare by grabbing each cat off of the quickly moving conveyor belt to inspect 11 points of interest for cat quality assurance.
     
    Legs, ears, eyes, noses, tails—and yes, butts—must all be inspected for cat manufacturing errors. If you notice a bizarre anomaly like a banana peel for a leg or an antler for an ear, you must turn around and reach for the bin of proper cat parts to quickly get those cats up to factory standards. Once your cats are ready to be sent out into the world, you slip them into the pneumatic tube to be sent to the cat scanner to analyze them for defects.
     
    The faster you do this, the more points you’ll earn. As long as they’re free of defects, you could earn yourself a purrfect streak. Don’t drop them, though! Cats don’t like being dropped - just like they often don’t like being held. Although in Cat Sorter VR they do seem to like being hurled across the factory to score extra points when being swooshed through a basketball hoop or sent through a field goal.
     

     In case it wasn’t obvious, Cat Sorter VR doesn’t take itself very seriously, even though it’s a serious amount of fun for everyone playing. Another nice feature is the competitive aspect of the arcade-like experience, which allows for players to easily alternate in and out of VR in order to compete for the best scores on the cat sorting job.
     
    Cat Sorter VR also features an easy height adjustment option on the in-game Kitty Kreator, so you can easily add both shorter and taller players each round. This comes in handy when you add younger players to the mix, making the game a family-friendly experience, and a great way to introduce everyone to VR and the power of 360-degree room-scale activity.
     
    Cat Sorter VR is cute, goofy, fast-paced, and competitive. Even if you’re allergic to cats in real life, chances are there will be little you’ll need to stay away from in this uniquely addictive and downright adorable cat sorting simulator from the brilliantly twisted minds at Pawmigo Games.
     

     
     
    Cat Sorter VR is available on Viveport, and in Viveport Subscription.
  17. Greenlit Content

    Cat Sorter VR

    By Greenlit Content,

    Viveport Review: Cat Sorter VR
     
    Embrace your inner crazy cat person with Pawmigo Games’ whiskery VR experience.
     

     
    By Desmond Madison, Greenlit Content
     
    Cats wearing sombreros and sporting slimy tentacles for arms? They go over here. Cats with bird beaks for noses and cartoon eyes for butts? They go over there!
     
    Indie studio Pawmigo Games puts its experience from working at Disney Interactive to unexpected use in Cat Sorter VR, a wonderful, fast-paced, lighthearted arcade experience that’s fun for everyone. Well, as long as you don’t mind helping a few cats get back to “normal” by sorting through their special quirks as they’re rapidly churned onto a conveyor belt ready for inspection.
     
    You’ll need at least 2.5 x 2.5 meters of space to go to work in the cat factory, but as long as you have that, you’ll be sorting cats with your friends and family right meow! Each three-minute “shift” on the cat sorting job begins at the Kitty Kreator. There, you’ll prepare by grabbing each cat off of the quickly moving conveyor belt to inspect 11 points of interest for cat quality assurance. 
     
    Legs, ears, eyes, noses, tails—and yes, butts—must all be inspected for cat manufacturing errors. If you notice a bizarre anomaly like a banana peel for a leg or an antler for an ear, you must turn around and reach for the bin of proper cat parts to quickly get those cats up to factory standards. Once your cats are ready to be sent out into the world, slip them into the pneumatic tube to be sent to the cat scanner to analyze them for defects.
     
    The faster you do this, the more points you’ll earn. As long as they’re free of defects, you could earn yourself a purrfect streak. Don’t drop them, though! Cats don’t like being dropped just as much as they often don’t like being held. Although, they do seem to like being hurled across the factory to score extra points when being swooshed through a basketball hoop or sent through a field goal.
     

    In case it wasn’t obvious, Cat Sorter VR doesn’t take itself very seriously, even though it’s a serious amount of fun for everyone playing. Another nice feature is the competitive aspect of the arcade-like experience, which allows for players to easily alternate in and out of VR in order to compete for the best scores on the cat sorting job.
     
    Cat Sorter VR also features an easy height adjustment option on the in-game Kitty Kreator, so you can easily add both shorter and taller players each round. This comes in handy when you add younger players to the mix, making the game a family-friendly experience, and a great way to introduce everyone to VR and the power of 360-degree room-scale activity.
     
    Cat Sorter VR is cute, goofy, fast-paced, and competitive. Even if you’re allergic to cats in real life, chances are there will be little you’ll need to stay away from in this uniquely addictive and downright adorable cat sorting simulator from the brilliantly twisted minds at Pawmigo Games.
     

     
     Cat Sorter VR is available on Viveport, and in Viveport Subscription.
  18. Greenlit Content

    Cosmic Trip

    By Greenlit Content,

    Viveport Review: Cosmic Trip
    Despite its cutesy image, this strategy VR game provides intense action set in a beautiful world.
     

     
    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
     
    When it comes to virtual reality, the first types of experiences you hear people mention are those that really pull the player in and make them feel like they are these different characters. So, when I first heard that Cosmic Trip, a virtual reality real-time strategy game, was being developed by Funktronic Labs, I was a bit curious, but also wary of what the final product would be. An RTS in virtual reality? It didn’t seem like a winning idea, but when I finally dove into the game, I realized I should have never doubted Funktronic’s ability to create an engaging, fun, and terrifically immersive environment ripe for intense RTS action.
     

    Cosmic Trip is reminiscent of other RTS games. You must gather supplies using worker bots, create soldiers, build bases, and eventually take out enemies as you try to survive as many waves as possible before your defenses crumble. To get around the world, you’ll need to teleport to the different bases. This will let you move quickly between areas, which will come in handy as the waves get progressively tougher throughout the match.
    While not as immersive as games that offer full room-scale VR, Cosmic Trip does a great job of making you feel like you’re in this world. The enemies respond to your actions, as well as your AI worker bots that wave if they don’t have something to do. On top of that, the controls are easy to manage, and it was very simple to get set up and move through the game without much of an issue.
     
    That said, this game will suffer if you have a smaller play space, which is something to keep in mind if you don’t have a large office or dedicated virtual reality room. If you can make it work, though, the awe that comes with struggling to keep things managed, while constantly fighting off enemies is a rush that never subsides. Unlike other RTS games (both inside and outside of VR), Cosmic Trip takes on enemy attacks more like a wave-based shooter, which works well given the approach that Funktronic Labs took with the game. It makes for an intense experience.
     
    Cosmic Trip is a fantastic game for VR lovers, and it shows that while traditional RTS might be a bit too complex for virtual reality, there is still a place for games that draw inspiration from the best that the genre has to offer. On top of that, it also shows that you don’t have to serve up a first-person shooter experience to make players feel like they are a part of the world and the environment that they explore.
     
     
    Cosmic Trip is available on Viveport, and in Viveport Subscription.
  19. Greenlit Content

    Crashimals

    By Greenlit Content,

    Viveport Review: Crashimals Review
     
    Reduce tasty-looking cakes to crumbs in this Angry Birds style puzzle game.
     

    By Desmond Madison, Greenlit Content
     
     
    Bombs away! Developer Rogue Earth takes you to an island airport full of crash-happy animals, or Crashimals, if you will, across 72 physics-based puzzles that have you soaring through the skies and dropping bombs on some… birthday cakes?
     
    It's pretty clear that the concept behind Crashimals is effectively VR Angry Birds with Airplanes, and that’s not a bad way to describe this light-hearted action puzzler at all. So strap in, buckle up, and take to the skies with a motley crew of badgers, giraffes, hippos, and flamingoes all armed to the teeth with explosives.
     

     Just like Angry Birds, the concept is simple: see building, knock down building, gain sweet, sweet points. The main difference here is that instead of an army of pigs, you’re out to destroy the Kaiser’s cakes before he takes over the world. Each animal will have its own unique bombing characteristics as well. The hippo starts things off with a simple arching curve dropping bombs from above, and as the game progresses, you’ll play as other Crashimals with new bombing techniques altogether. There are homing missiles, cluster bombs, timed explosives, and more bang for your buck as you take down each cake one by one.  Once everything is in your arsenal, you’ll be able to decide which method of cake destroying you prefer the most and stick to what works best for you. Remember, though, that while you can use any Crashimal you like once unlocked, some puzzles are best set up for a preferred style of mammalian mayhem.
     

    While there’s a ton of puzzle variety across this adorable and explosive adventure for all ages, there’s something to be said about the control scheme that many players may find difficult to learn at first. It’s a tricky combination of steering your plane from far away with one hand and dropping bombs with the other while standing still. It definitely takes some getting used to, especially as you speed up or slow down the plane on the fly. Most puzzles start off easy enough to take the shotgun approach, but as the game continues, your bomb placement will need to be more precisely accurate in order to topple the towers just right. Your arms will squirm and it will take quite a while until you’re feeling comfortable with the controls. That said, it may even take until you’re completely through the game that you start to feel like you’ve mastered things.
     
     
    In the end, Crashimals takes the tried and true physics-based puzzlers of the casual mobile gaming world and translates them nicely into the VR space.  It’s explosively charming, and it’s a solid game to help introduce some players into VR if their mainstay is playing games from this genre in the touchscreen space. Stick with the control scheme until you’ve earned your pilot wings, and keep pushing onward to the skies for a delightful puzzle experience that takes the proverbial cake.
     

    Crashimals is available on Viveport, and in Viveport Subscription.
  20. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Domino Craft VR
     
    Create, experience, and knock over dominoes to your heart’s content in this fun and casual VR experience.
     
     
    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
     
    There’s nothing more fun than spending an hour creating one of the most complex domino patterns you can, and then knocking them over and watching them fall to pieces. It’s an age-old experience that has been done by generation after generation, and Domino Craft VR approaches and succeeds at bringing this experience to life in virtual reality.
     
    I’ve always enjoyed messing around with dominos and trying to create these massive and complex patterns, all with the end goal of eventually knocking them down and watching them fall over. Of course, all the hard work put into this can go to waste pretty quickly, as you can easily knock over a domino and watch your work go clattering to the floor as everything collapses around you. It’s a sinking feeling that is bound to happen at some point. Domino Craft VR works because it allows you to easily set up intense domino puzzles without having to worry about the issue of knocking things down early.
     

    It’s a great idea that’s easy to work in, and the two different modes open it up to almost any domino lover. You can easily test your mettle against some of the most challenging domino puzzles in Challenge mode, which tasks you with completing a series of levels that gradually move from easy to hard. Improve your skill, become a domino master, and complete all the levels to prove you’re the best at domino puzzles.
     
     
    Or, if you want to get creative, head into Creation mode and make your own puzzle. The UI is extremely simple to use, and you can place dominos down with decent accuracy in the immersive environment. The visuals also look smooth despite being rather simple, and it’s easy to get lost in the experience for a few hours on end.
    Altogether, Domino Craft VR is an exceptionally crafted experience that brings a lot to the table for casual players looking for a unique experience. It’s fun, it’s challenging, and it’s pretty, which makes it a no brainer for those looking to take their first steps in VR. Domino Craft VR is also extremely easy on the stomach and eyes, which means you won’t have to worry about getting sick while you play.
     

    If you want to experience a nice game that has hours of fun to offer, then I suggest giving Domino Craft VR a try. It’s all of the fun and challenge you’d get from dominos, but without all the extra mess to worry about cleaning up afterwards. It’s really a win/win situation when you think about it.
     
     
     
    Domino Craft VR is available on Viveport and as part of Viveport Subscription.
  21. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Don't Knock Twice
     
    Go in search of your daughter… if you dare… in this spine-tingling horror experience.
     

     
    By Desmond Madison, Greenlit Content
     
     
    “One Knock to wake her from her bed, twice to raise her from the dead.” 
     
    This is an echo of the grim urban legend portrayed by an award-winning developer at Wales Interactive in the gripping and paralyzing VR horror/adventure, Don’t Knock Twice. While the game was based on the feature film of the same name starring Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) and directed by Caradog James (The Machine), Don’t Knock Twice stands on its own as a terrifying tale that requires no previous knowledge of its source material.
     
    Searching for your missing daughter, you’ll play as a mother seeking answers as she investigates a mysterious manor full of frightening puzzles in a race against time to prevent her child from suffering an unthinkable fate at the hands of a demonic witch.
     

    Making full support of the Vive controllers, you’ll be able to sit or stand in room-scale using either hand-forward locomotion, head-forward locomotion, or teleportation. You’ll want to find the option that’s most comfortable for you, as you’ll be haunted by demons looking to scare the pants off of you at every chance they get!
     
    That’s an ultimate test of the experience as well. Much of the gameplay will have you wandering the manor and interacting with a wide array of highly detailed objects as you seek clues and receive text messages on your phone. You’ll solve five main puzzles before your heart bursts through your chest, across this roughly two and half hour tour into the darkest depths of your own paranoia. Who or what might be lurking behind your back?
     
    Searching far and wide across the manor starts out easy enough, but it’s worth noting that these puzzles ramp up the closer you get to finding your estranged daughter. Occasionally, you’ll find a few axes lying around that give you a sense of security and protection from the demons lying in wait, but don't think they'll save you....
     
    It’s often said that what you can’t see on screen is the scariest aspect of storytelling in the horror genre. While that’s true of the mostly invisible demon, the developers at Wales Interactive deserve nods for filling this creaky old house with a horrific and richly detailed environment. The manor is rife with haunting photographs, trails of blood, and mortifying Russian Dolls that are impressive to look at, but also manage to make you keep moving as quickly as you can. The same praise can be said of the dreadful atmosphere in the audio, as the sounds of the rickety floorboards and ominous babies crying engulf you with a pulse-pounding sense of fear.
     
    Once finished with the main story, you just might find yourself looking to give it another go to see if you can test the fates to outsmart the witch. Although, the team has done such an incredible job with the terrifying atmosphere in Don’t Knock Twice, that playing through just once may be all your heart can take. Horror fans, this one is for you!
     

    Don't Knock Twice is available on Viveport, and in Viveport Subscription.
  22. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Dreamworks Voltron VR Chronicles
     
    The iconic 80s cartoon series comes to life in virtual reality! Command the Blue Lion and help defend the universe.
     

    By Desmond Madison, Greenlit Content
     
     
    Dreamworks and Digital Domain have teamed up to bring classic 80s cartoon action series Voltron to life, in a virtual reality experience that neatly ties into the Netflix Voltron: Legendary Defender series. Anyone who grew up watching Voltron (or is a new fan!) has probably dreamed about what it would be like to pilot one of the mechanized space lions across the cosmos - and now you can do it.
     
    With a unique blend of 3D and cel-shading animation, along with the magic of VR presence, the developers have managed to pull off an incredibly convincing feeling of actually being inside the cartoon itself.
     
    That wouldn’t matter if the story weren’t there, but thankfully the cast and writers from the show have joined forces to present an experience that’s unique and authentic to the series, giving fans a real taste of what it would be like to be inside the show itself.
     

    This playable episode allows fans to control Lance from the cockpit of the epic Blue Lion, solving puzzles, blasting down enemies and asteroids, and teaming up with the crew to take down Zarkon as the experience weaves between arcade action and 360-degree cut scenes that absorb the player in the story.  The sheer size of the universe really shines in VR, as the sense of scale of each ship is truly felt within the cockpit. Some puzzles are easy to figure out, but others may slow down the pace if you aren’t fast enough to figure out the solution on the fly. While the shooting itself is on rails, it keeps the action fun and focused in a way that won’t slow down players new to playing these type of experiences in VR.
     

    While it may not be the longest experience from start to finish, the level of polish and production value is really what shines the most overall. Few games have really been able to capture exactly what it feels like to be inside of an established animation series as much as Voltron VR Chronicles has, though many fans may be a bit disappointed that you aren’t necessarily given the opportunity to pilot Voltron itself… just a single part of the robot.
     
    That said, what’s on offer here is something that marks a true milestone for VR experiences based on Saturday morning cartoons, and it’s absolutely essential for fans of the Voltron series old and new. If you’re looking for a showpiece experience to onboard newcomers to virtual reality for the first time, even if they aren’t big fans of the show, Voltron is still a prime candidate to demonstrate the level of Hollywood caliber storytelling that can enrapture a player in an animated universe unlike any other medium.
     
     
    Dreamworks Voltron VR Chronicles is available on available on Viveport.
  23. Greenlit Content

    Drone Fighters

    By Greenlit Content,

    Viveport Review: Drone Fighters 
    This arcade shooter delights and challenges players as they go head to head against each other in immersive and enthralling drone-based combat.
     

     
    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
    Drone Fighters is the sort of high intensity experience that VR was made for. As you face off against opponents—both AI and player controlled—you’re bound to come across some fun challenges that will leave you wanting to dive back into the game again and again.
     

    Admittedly, I wasn’t a big fan of Drone Fighters at first. The learning curve for the game is high because you need to focus on both movement and shooting at the same time. This is something I’ve done in previous VR games, but Drone Fighters is a bit tougher to grasp. By default, you shoot with your left hand and fly around with your right. The tricky thing, though, is that you’ll need to use both the direction the controller is facing, as well as the buttons on the controller to make the drone fly in different directions, which can take some getting used to.
     
     
    Audio is a huge part of the experience, and the developers did a great job with the 3D placement of sound and how it reverberates through the arena. It’s a good feeling as you fly your drone around, and the good news is that you can always tell where your drone is thanks to the audio; it’s nice not having to constantly figure out where you are—especially if you happen to fly the drone out of view.
     

    When it comes to customizing your drone, though, the options are limited. There is a good assortment of weapons to choose from, but the colors and different drone types are few and left me wanting more. This isn’t that big of a problem unless you really care about cosmetics, and you won’t get to have eyes on your drone most of the time anyway, so it isn’t a deal breaker. Thankfully it’s easy to unlock new cosmetics, as you only need to earn stars (which are rewarded for each fight that you complete against the AI), and there are multiple types of combat sims to run through.
     
     
    If you don’t enjoy going against other AI, you can always chill out and practice your movement and shooting skills in the target practice mode. You still receive rewards, but you’ll only have to worry about hitting moving targets, and none of them will fight back. This is more like an arcade than anything else, but it’s something to think about if you are having a tough time getting used to the game.
     
    That said, Drone Fighters is a ton of fun, especially once you get the hang of the controls; if you aren’t into the default control scheme, you can choose a different control option in the settings. The use of 3D audio, and the fun gameplay that offers a challenge to players of all skill levels is something that I love about this title, and those looking to challenge themselves against other players will find the online mode extremely fun and accessible.
     

    Drone Fighters is available on Viveport or as part of Viveport Subscription.
  24. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Dwingle B.O.T.
     
    Locked in your apartment and alone until you build your new BFF, Dwingle B.O.T. is equal parts virtual pet, escape room, and horror show as the mystery unfolds in this deceptively whimsical narrative puzzle from XXII Group.
     

    By Desmond Madison, Greenlit Content
     
     
    At the dawn of the first day, you awaken in your apartment to find yourself locked inside with a curious robot core sitting on the table next to you. You spot some legs on the floor, some arms near the couch, and then a robo hat suddenly appears near the front door. Piecing all of these things together, you quickly assemble what appears to be your friendly new playroom pal! He’s got a thick French accent, he loves shooting hoops, and he seems to want to order more pizza than he can handle. Just like your first roommate in college, right? Well, maybe not…
     

    Dwingle: B.O.T. tasks you with resolving small riddles and objectives throughout your room, like feeding your fish and baking cookies as the days pass by while you’re locked away in your quarters. A big part of the game involves trying to understand exactly what to do in your apartment as your robot friend drops hints while also beginning to exhibit some unusually sinister behavior. Most players will experience the story in different ways as the Bot’s mood will change and adapt depending on how you interact together, so each playthrough has the potential to feel very different along the way.
     
    As the days continue to roll on, sanity begins to slip away. Did your robot friend just threaten your existence with a message written on the wall smeared in blood? What are these hidden numbers sprawled across the apartment? What’s locked in this safe, and why do I need to open it while this robot is asleep on his charger? You’ll be asking yourself these questions and more as things escalate towards a surprising finale that we wouldn’t dare spoil here, but credit goes to the team at XXII Group for creating a highly original escape room experience that stands apart from the rest.
     

    The experience never holds your hand too closely and allows you to experiment just enough without the pressure of a timer ticking down on a clock that must be beaten.  It’s safe to say that the experience isn’t the same by the end, as what it seems to be when starting off, and that’s perhaps the best part about Dwingle: B.O.T. overall – it manages to delight, shock, and surprise you all within its roughly one-hour playtime alongside your potentially homicidal housemate.
     

    Priced just right on Viveport and available in Viveport Subscription, you shouldn't pass up the chance to spend a week with your new robotic buddy in an escape room puzzle that’s full of charm, atmosphere, and character that’s rarely seen in the genre. Just remember to turn off his phone privileges before he gets carried away with the pizza… he really doesn’t know when to stop!
     
     
    Dingle B.O.T. is available on Viveport or with a Viveport Subscription.
  25. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Earthlight: Spacewalk
     
    This short but immersive cinematic experience showcases the strengths of virtual reality.


    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content 
     
     
    Depending on who you ask, immersion is often considered more important than gameplay when it comes to virtual reality, and while there is an assortment of cinematic applications out there, few provide the immersive feeling that Earthlight: Spacewalk captures so perfectly.
     
    This outstanding game lets you take a spacewalk around the International Space Station (ISS) while utilizing astronaut tools and learning how to move in zero gravity. The experience is extremely short, taking only a few minutes to complete. But the immersion that it offers is well beyond almost anything else available on the market, and it showcases what is possible with VR when you focus on the beauty of things.
     
    Of course, this isn’t the type of experience for everyone. The gameplay is short and miniscule. In fact, it holds your hand the entire way, which means you won’t get to openly explore anything—which could be a deal breaker. That said, Earthlight: Spacewalk isn’t meant to wow people with its gameplay.
     

     
     
    Everything about the experience—from the visuals, animations, and even the movement within zero gravity—feels genuine and realistic. It’s a wonderful app, and as I made my way across the outside of the International Space Station, I was in awe of what we have accomplished by going to space. I’m not sure whether this was the developer’s intent… to celebrate one of mankind’s greatest achievements, but it’s definitely something that resonated in me.
     
    As I said, though, the $9.95 (or free via Viveport Subscription) experience is brief, and many might not think it’s worth the asking price. Despite the fact that the game only takes roughly 15 minutes to complete, though, it’s among the coolest games you’ll play.
     
    On top of that, it offers—by far—the most realistic spacewalk experience that you’ll find without actually going to the International Space Station. The amount of work and dedication that the developers at Opaque Space put into this title is clear, and if you’re as big a fan of space as I am, then I recommend checking this out. You won’t be disappointed.
     
     
     
    Earthlight: Spacewalk is available on Viveport, and in Viveport Subscription.
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