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Greenlit Content

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Blog Entries posted by Greenlit Content

  1. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Ready Player One: OASIS Beta
     
    Step into the thriving and beautiful world of the Oasis to find adventure, danger, and death at every turn.
     

     
    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
     
    Steven Spielberg’s big screen rendition of Ready Player One has been taking the world by storm, and the virtual reality focused story has quite a bit to bring to the table when you think about many of the experiences brought to life within it. In an attempt to capture this same beauty and chaos, several developers teamed up together to bring the world of Ready Player One to life in Ready Player One: OASIS. The experience just hit beta, and it’s one of the most promising virtual reality tie-ins we’ve ever seen for a motion picture.
     
    The basic idea behind Ready Player One: OASIS is to bring several different experiences together under one big umbrella. As a beta, the experience is set to grow and evolve over the coming months as new experiences are added to help bring the world of Ready Player One to life even more. Right now, though, players can dive into the experience and try their hand at three different games including Battle for the Oasis, Gauntlet, and Rise of the Gunters. Each experience is different and offers an excellent view of what virtual reality has to offer in the long-run.
     
    Gauntlet was by far one of my favorite pieces of the experience, as it drops players into an endless dungeon that they must navigate and search through as they collect treasure and take out undead enemies trying to kill them. It features bow-based combat, and it’s definitely something you’ll need some skill to get good at. The environments are beautifully rendered, and the almost endless amount of rooms to explore makes it a perfect piece for fantasy buffs.
     
     
    If you enjoy more wave-based experiences, though, then Battle for the Oasis is what you’re looking for. While it doesn’t offer anything new to the wave-based genre, it’s still a brilliant experience with some fantastic sounds and visuals. You take out enemies using an array of different weapons from shotguns to pistols. It’s a fun romp through the world, and with different levels to take on, it’s sure to keep you busy for a good little bit.
     
     
    Rise of the Gunters takes on more of an 80s arcade game feel, though, and while your goals is pretty similar to that of Battle for the Oasis, you aren’t locked down into one place. You can teleport around the world, or even strafe using free movement. It’s fast, it’s frantic, and it’s beautiful. This is the type of experience that you’ll want to avoid if you are prone to motion sickness, which is a shame as it is by far one of the strongest experiences out there.
     
    My only big complaint with Ready Player One: OASIS is that right now, things are tough to navigate when you first hop into the game. There’s no prompts to tell you how to move to the different planets and games, and you’re just kind of left wandering around until you sort things out. The HUD also feels a bit weird, as it is tied directly to your headset visor, which means it turns with you as you lean and rock to avoid shots. That’s definitely not something worth knocking it down for, though, and Ready Player One: OASIS has a bright future ahead of it if the developers continuing doing what they’ve started. I, for one, cannot wait to see what the future holds as new content becomes available in the OASIS.
     

    Ready Player One: OASIS Beta is available on Viveport.
  2. Greenlit Content
    Five VR Apps to Help You Relax
     
    Escape the real world and explore virtual reality with these five relaxing VR experiences, available on Viveport.
     
    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     

     
    Whether you’ve spent the day buried in paperwork at the office, or you’re enjoying a nice day away from work, sometimes you just need to take a step back and relax. If you’re looking for a way to relax while still enjoying new worlds and experiences, then virtual reality is a great way to take a trip without all the added expenses.
     
    There are a ton of applications out there that will transport you to distance places, all without making you worry about high scores or multipliers. To help you find your way, I’ve put together a list of five of my favorite VR apps to relax to, all of which are available on Viveport.
     
    theBlu

    Hailed as one of the most iconic VR experiences at the Sundance Film Festival in 2016, Wevr’s theBlu is one of my absolute favorite experiences to sit back in and just relax. Made up of a series of episodes, theBlu transports users to the bottom of the ocean, where they’ll get to experience the beauty of the ocean’s deepest parts. Sea creatures of all shapes and sizes swirl around you as you slow down time, capture images and more in this beautiful and relaxing experience.
     
    theBlu is available on Viveport, and as part of Viveport Subscription. theBlu: Whale Encounter, a free demo version, is also available.
    The Grand Canyon VR Experience

     
    I’ve always wanted to visit the Grand Canyon, and while I haven’t made the trip out west just yet, Immersive Entertainment’s attempt at bringing the beautiful canyon to life in an exceptional experience has not gone unnoticed. Step into a canoe and take a beautiful and epic journey through the heart of the Grand Canyon as you explore the vast and beautiful river that flows through the heart of one of America’s greatest tourist sites. It’s a relaxing and immersive experience that still gives you some level of interaction, while also allowing you to just sit back and enjoy yourself.
     
    The Grand Canyon VR Experience is available on Viveport, and as part of Viveport Subscription.
    Colosse

    If you’re looking for more of an interactive yet cinematic experience, then I’d highly recommend Colosse. Developed by Fire Panda Ltd., Colosse tells the beautiful story of the long-lost Great Spirits in a story that explores power, respect, and fear. Developed as a real-time interactive story, the viewer helps to shape the narrative, giving them a first-hand look into the tale that is being spun. It’s a beautiful experience that isn’t easily forgotten and is great for relaxing at the end of a long day.
     
    Colosse is available for free on Viveport.
    Naturallandscape – GuilinLandscape

    Created using satellite data, Naturallandscape – GuilinLandscape is a beautiful recreation (in Unreal Engine - it's not a video!) of the Lijiang River, which flows from Guilin to Yangshuo County in China. Composed of a simple journey down the river, Naturallandscape is a great way to just sit back and relax as you explore the beautiful Chinese countryside. It’s an exceptionally well-put-together experience that lets you explore the river from the comfort of a speed boat, bamboo raft, or a yacht. If you’re looking to explore some of the more rural areas of the world while you relax, then Naturallandscapes is a good place to start.
     
    Naturallandscape – GuilinLandscape is available on Viveport and as part of Viveport Subscription.
    Nature Treks VR
    There is a lot to love about Nature Treks VR, and honestly, it’s probably my favorite application to just dive into after a long day at the office. Not only are there an assortment of different places to explore, but you can also directly take control of the world, growing it along the way. It’s a beautiful and serene experience that’s easy to just get lost in for hours. If you wish to relax but still want to have something to do with your hands, then Nature Treks VR is probably the best app I can recommend for the job.
     
    Nature Treks VR is available on Viveport and in Viveport Subscription.
    If you’re looking for something in virtual reality to help you relax, then this list is a great place to start. Of course, there are still a ton of other great applications available on Viveport, so make sure you take some time to review the catalogue to see what other experiences are out there for you to enjoy and get lost within.
    All of the titles covered in this article are available through Viveport.
  3. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Skyfront VR
     
    This fast-paced VR shooter combines the zero-gravity of Lawbreakers with the frantic action of Overwatch.
     

    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
     
    First person shooters are a dime a dozen in virtual reality, but there are few that really capture the spirit and intensity of FPS games without making you feel sick to your stomach. Skyfront VR succeeds at bringing that frantic FPS feeling to virtual reality, and it also comes with a smooth framerate that helps make the nauseous feeling that plagues many VR FPS experiences bearable.
     

    Like other FPS games—especially Overwatch and Lawbreakers (RIP) —Skyfront VR has a loose story that influences the world that players step into. It’s not something that’s really needed, but it does add a nice touch to help make the experience feel more grounded in reality. In 2700AD, mankind has created a zero-gravity tournament in order to test people and crown them keepers of the peace; this is the foundation behind Skyfront’s multiplayer mode, which features both team deathmatch and regular free-for-all deathmatch. There’s little plot to speak of, but it’s enough to add a bit of depth to the environments and pull gamers into the world.
     

    During my time in the game, I focused on a weapon configuration that granted me a grappling hook and an assault rifle. It’s a nice combination that helps you get around the map easily, and as I tested the different maps available right now—there are only a few maps at this time—I found the movement smooth and easy to use. It was pretty simple to maneuver and work within zero-gravity, and the gun mechanics felt good, albeit a little rough around the edges.
     
    There is definitely a lot of potential in Skyfront VR, and the developers have quite a few plans for the future. Right now, the game has a bot mode, two beautifully rendered arenas, two game modes, and five different weapons you can work with—not including the grappling gun and the jetpack. It’s an interesting idea that I think can flourish if the developers continue to enhance it, and I can definitely see myself sinking a few hours into the experience each week.
     
    The biggest problem with Skyfront VR right now is finding other opponents. Like other multiplayer based experiences, Skyfront struggles from the small niche that makes up virtual reality’s population. Weapon switching can also be a bit wonky at times, but for a game that’s technically in early access, it’s coming along well. That said, the smooth framerate, fast-paced gameplay that doesn’t make you feel sick, and solid gunplay are all positives, and FPS fans will feel right at home if they enjoyed non-VR games like Overwatch or Lawbreakers.
     
     
    Skyfront VR is available on Viveport.
  4. Greenlit Content

    Nevrosa: Escape

    By Greenlit Content,

    Viveport Review: Nevrosa: Escape
     
    GexagonVR has managed to create a must-play escape room experience that takes full advantage of room-scale VR.
     

     
    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
     
    Room-scale virtual reality has been a very large selling point for the HTC Vive since its initial release, and while many games have employed room-scale VR to help coax in players, very few have ever really taken full advantage of the room-scale system that Vive offers to create a riveting and immersive experience that will keep you craving more. One of those few, though, is GexagonVR, the virtual reality developer responsible for creating Nevrosa: Escape, which is by far the best escape room experience I’ve ever had the pleasure of diving into.
     
    First up on the list: immersion. Immersion is such a huge part of virtual reality and Gexagon has managed to hit the pinnacle of immersion with Nevrosa: Escape. Set in an old, rustic house, Nevrosa: Escape pushes players to fully explore an old laboratory as they try to solve the puzzles left behind by their grandfather. The mystery is one worth investigating as well, and throughout the entire experience, the atmosphere and overall feeling of the setting really help to paint a vivid picture of the world around you.
     

    To help with this immersion, Nevrosa: Escape has done away with any artificial forms of locomotion. Instead, players will need to have a play space of at least 2m x 1.5m to even dive into the game and experience it, as you’ll need to move around your realistic playspace to explore the virtual world. Of course, I’d suggest going a little bit larger with your playspace if you can, as I managed to snag my hand on the wall a few times when trying to grab objects around me.
     
    Escape rooms are all about the puzzles that they have inside them, and making sure to balance the puzzles between challenging and impossible can be difficult to say the least. Gexagon have done a pretty solid job with Nevrosa: Escape, though, and each puzzle—while challenging—never feels impossible to progress past. This is something that a lot of other escape room experiences struggle with, so it was really nice to not see that as an issue in Nevrosa: Escape.
     

    On top of handling the usual pieces of an escape room well, Nevrosa: Escape also does a really good job of creating an atmosphere that puts the player on edge. This is something that I’ve noticed was missing from a lot of other experiences in this genre. Nevrosa handles this well, painting the world in a fog around you that you need to explore. The dark corners breed terror as you move closer to them; the dim flame from the candle in your hand slowly wavering as you move closer. There were several instances in the game where I noticed my hands shaking and my palms sweating as fear shivered down my spine.
     

     
    What’s so great about this atmosphere, though, is the developers never resort to jump scares for cheap thrills. Instead, they let the atmosphere do all the work, painting the entire picture in your mind. It’s a great setup that pays off in the end as you finish exploring the world and solving the puzzles that have been placed before you. As for dealing with the fatigue that can come with these types of experiences, Gexagon has crafted several different endings, giving players a reason to replay the experience and see it through to another ending.
     
    Nevrosa: Escape is by far one of the most atmospheric escape room experiences I’ve ever had the opportunity to try out. The mechanics are simple, and the use of real-world locomotion versus teleportation or another artificial locomotion system helps to make an immersive environment that just begs you to explore it as deeply as possible. Multiple endings give players plenty of reason to replay the experience again and again. If you want to see what room-scale virtual reality has to offer and see what a well-crafted and immersive escape room experience can be, then Nevrosa: Escape should be at the top of your list of must-play Vive experiences.
     

    Nevrosa: Escape is available on Viveport and as part of Viveport Subscription.
  5. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: SteamHammerVR -  The Rogue Apprentice
     
    Gamestorm VR’s wave-based shooter dazzles and engrosses the player with beautifully created environments and gameplay.
     

     
    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
     
    There are a ton of wave-based shooters for the HTC Vive, and while some of them continue to wow me and grab my attention, a lot of them fall short of offering enough replay value to keep me coming back. SteamHammerVR – The Rogue Apprentice tackles this issue by offering several different game modes, including a story mode, arcade-type mode, and even leaderboards that give players with a competitive edge something to strive towards.
     

     
    I’m a big fan of steampunk games and movies, and getting that old-school steampunk vibe from SteamHammerVR was one of my favorite parts of the game. Everything about it is made to feel like you’re in the steampunk era. As you listen to the narrative and play through the story, you really get this feeling that you’re back in Victorian London, fending off primitive steam-driven machines. It’s a fun and addicting loop that made it easy to get lost in the game, and the SMART movement system that the game incorporates to help you get around is by far one of the best teleport-based movement systems that I’ve ever seen in virtual reality. 
     
    If you aren’t into the story, you can also take on a more arcade-like experience with Seek and Destroy, which allows you to combo together shots to boost your score and earn a spot on the global leaderboards. This is perfect for those who want a competitive edge in the game because it gives you something to push towards, and getting good at SteamHammerVR is no easy task.
     

     
    The learning curve of the game is one of my favorite things. There are a ton of different gadgets and weapons to cycle through, and figuring out how to use them to your advantage and keep the mechanical vermin at bay requires plenty of skill and fortitude. It’s a lot to take in at first, and it took me a couple hours of playing to really grasp what I was doing, but once I had an idea, I was able to move more fluidly between the gadgets and make the most of them.
     
    This is what makes SteamHammerVR shine—forcing you to push through the learning curve and become a better player. Now throw in the insane replay value and options galore, and SteamHammerVR has earned a permanent spot in my library.
     
     

     
     
     
     
    SteamhammerVR is available in Viveport Subscription.
  6. Greenlit Content

    Townsmen VR

    By Greenlit Content,

    Viveport Review: Townsmen VR
     
    This cute and addictive town-builder brings the genre to life in virtual reality like never before.
     

    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
     
    I am a huge fan of town building simulators. I can’t even count the number of hours I've spent in these types of games, controlling the townspeople and building my cities from scratch, so I was very excited to strap on my headset and check out Townsmen VR. After spending some time as a virtual deity, I can tell you Townsmen VR successfully takes the fun of the town building genre and brings it to virtual reality, giving you an entirely new perspective on the way you might think about 'god games'.
     

    That new perspective starts with a giant pair of floating hands; yours, in fact, hovering over an idyllic island in the middle of a sparkling blue ocean. VR really does make you a god in Townsmen VR, as you can literally lean down and peer at your tiny virtual subjects below, then pick them up between your fingers and place them where you will, ordering them to harvest resources, go to work or venture into battle.
     
    That really describes Townsmen VR's gameplay loop, as you create more impressive buildings and manage your villagers, making sure they are constantly working to improve the island. Luckily that gameplay loop is uniquely engaging; one of my favorite things about Townsmen VR is how it gives you complete control, making you feel like a god. The controls are very intuitive, allowing you to move, 'grow' and 'shrink' with ease. In one moment you might have almost the entire island in your grasp, and the next you're the size of the people below. Getting used to that perspective change is key, as you'll go from the high-level strategic view down to the management of villager's tasks a lot. You can even lend a hand directly, by picking up resources and putting them where they need to be.
     

    The level of interaction doesn't stop there either. Townsmen VR's island is packed with surprises, from realizing you can combine clouds into a dark storm, to finding out that blowing air (in real life!) will cause the windmill to spin. Of course, snatching up your townspeople and tossing them around the map never gets old. It’s a great feeling to simply pick up a villager and throw this virtual person into the world somewhere to do your bidding.
     

    Finding the fun stuff and building up your island isn't all that Townsmen VR is about though, as you will have to worry about attackers coming to your island and trying to take down your village. This means you’ll need to learn how to build defenses like soldiers and catapults, and then train yourself to move those soldiers into battle, all the while keeping up with the supply of new soldiers.
     
    This is where Townsmen VR starts to get hectic, since the fights that occur later in the game are much more intensive and require you to quickly move around the island. It's exciting stuff, and a great example of how VR can be totally immersive, but you might want to experience it in small doses. Personally, I found after a few hours that the intensity of the gameplay gave me a little bit of motion sickness, and I had to step away for a break.
     

    That didn't stop me from coming back to Townsmen VR though. It just feels really good. I love zooming down to the streets or looking over the whole island, planning my town's layout in detail. If all future VR town building games could be this good, we could see some incredible experiences. SimCity VR, anyone?
     
    For right now though, if you want a great town builder that gives you full god-like control, then Townsmen VR is a fantastic choice that's definitely worth your time.
     

    Townsmen VR is available in Viveport Subscription.
    Read our interview with Christopher Kassulke of HandyGames about TownsMen VR.
  7. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Virtual Virtual Reality
     
    Step into a whacky adventure in this comedic narrative about the future of humankind, AI, and virtual reality.
     
    by Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     

     
    To call Virtual Virtual Reality an interesting virtual reality experience is a bit of an understatement. The game handles the idea of a dark future well—humans replaced by AI as the dominant “species” on the planet—but never takes itself too seriously. It’s a fantastic little romp that leaves the door open for a multitude of experiments to take place, experiments that will no doubt leave your stomach sore from laughing.
     
    One of the big features of Virtual Virtual Reality is the fact that the game contains over 50 unique experiences, each one broken down as a “job” that you the player—and resident human—must complete for various AI clients. It’s an interesting narrative point that works well within the game and begs the player to look deeper.
     

    If you happen to look below the surface, then that’s where you’ll find the big, underlying plot. According to a “group of humans” the AI—like Chaz your AI companion—have taken over the world, enslaving humankind and forcing them to work like animals to complete trivial tasks. It’s an interesting concept that works well alongside the normal flow of the game. As you progress further through the story, you’ll find yourself face to face with more of these revelations, and it’s up to you what you do with them.
     

    As far as the individual experiences go, Virtual Virtual Reality has a ton of different tasks for players complete, all nestled inside their own little virtual reality headsets. Place a headset over your face in the game and you’ll be transported to a new environment where you will need to complete tasks for different AI. During my time with the game, I completed tasks as simple as toasting bread and slapping it with a stick of butter, to more complex tasks like tending to a garden for a talking pinwheel and having to pot a freshly grown plant.
     

    Like the rest of the game, the experiences never take themselves too seriously, always offering a good bit of comedic gold in each one. However, you’ll want to be careful to complete your jobs on time and to the standards of the clients that hired you, otherwise you might find yourself dealing with some bad customer ratings.
     
    Virtual Virtual Reality is a blast to play and is easily one of the most enjoyable Vive titles I’ve had a chance to dive into. It’s easy to get lost in the experiences that are available and the narrative that flows underneath it all promises a dark and telling world that you’ll need to experience for yourself. If you’re looking for something that is a bit off the cuff, but is still highly recommended, then I’m more than happy to point you in the direction of Virtual Virtual Reality, where you’ll find a plethora of different experiences waiting to blow your mind.
     

    Virtual Virtual Reality is available on Viveport.
  8. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Kobold: Chapter 1
     
    Kobold blends cinema and virtual reality to create a chilling and memorable horror experience.
     

     
    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
    Kobold: Chapter 1 is the first installment in a horror series that thrusts players into the dark and creepy forests of Germany as they explore an abandoned villa on the quest for clues, answers, and the truth about a missing boy and his family. While the experience itself is outstanding, what really sets Kobold apart is the trans-media influences that it was built with, including a short film that explains the backstory for those looking to get more out of the entire experience.
     

    Before diving into the game, I headed over to the game’s website, where I watched the short film that the developers created to go along with the virtual reality experience. While you can play the entire experience without watching the film, taking the time to watch the short movie they’ve put together will tell you more about the world and the secrets that hide within it. The film is only 15 minutes long and serves as a very good introduction to the world, so that you understand exactly what you’re getting yourself into.
     
    To help blur the line between the film and the virtual reality experience, the location in the film and the movie was recreated for the game using photogrammetry, which was used to meticulously capture the villa—a real location in Germany—and then transfer it to the game to give players the most realistic experience. The developers also captured the various actors using motion capture and advanced facial capture techniques to help bring each character to life as realistically as possible.
     

    To be honest, that’s what makes Kobold such a chilling tale. While the story itself isn’t that long—this is only the first chapter—the techniques used to bring the world to life help create a dark and immersive story that sends shivers through your body. Each step that I took in the world was anxiety inducing because of the environments and atmosphere alone. What I liked the most, though, is that Kobold doesn’t rely on cheap thrills to scare the player.
     
    Even if you take away the supernatural elements and the different characters you run into, Kobold’s beautiful and surreal world is good enough to induce anxiety all on its own, creating this skin-crawling sense as you explore the different hallways and rooms that lie within the abandoned villa as you strive to find the secrets behind Kaspar’s disappearance.
     

    In fact, the only real negative to Kobold is the game’s various controls. They can be a bit clunky at times—especially the locomotion system—which can lead to things feeling a little jarring when you’re put into very intense situations. Aside from the clunky controls, though, Kobold stands high as a shining example of just how good trans-media can be, as the combination of the short film and the extensive details that translate to the actual virtual reality experience come together to create a unique and exceptionally well-crafted experience that I highly recommend for any horror fans out there.
     

    Kobold: Chapter 1 is available on Viveport or with a Viveport subscription.
  9. Greenlit Content

    The Body VR

    By Greenlit Content,

    Viveport Review: The Body VR
     
    A fully immersive exploration of the human body at a cellular level, gain a first-hand lesson in biology from within the bloodstream through the power of virtual reality. The future of education is here!
     

    By Desmond Madison, Greenlit Content
     
     
    Shrunken down in a travel pod and injected straight into a human artery, The Body VR is like going on a Magic School Bus tour of human biology as narrated by a suspiciously Michael Caine-like tour guide. The experience gives you an incredible and memorable journey though the bloodstream to discover how blood cells work while spreading life-giving oxygen throughout the human body. As the experience continues, you also enter into one of the billions of cells living inside our bodies to see first-hand how organelles manage to fight deadly viruses.
     
    As the tour marches onward, you’ll be introduced to all of the microbiological and molecular components of life with holographic diagrams presented in front of you for an up close and personal reference of how each component is shaped and composed. A small library of reference models accumulates in your pod and you can easily hold and manifest things like DNA proteins and microfilaments, to observe the shapes of the building blocks of life in ways previously impossible without the immersive presentation of virtual reality.
     

    The most fascinating thing about this roughly 15-minute experience is how much educational value and impact it seems to have in such a short matter of time. One may remember sitting in class through grade school reading about biology in a dusty old text book, but how many of those details are actually retained? This field trip inside the body manages to educate and fascinate in a way that simply wasn’t possible before this technology existed, and it’s the kind of experience that everyone should try.
     

    Experiences like this have the potential to replace entire education course methods that can’t compare to feeling this up close and personal with the subject matter itself. Where else can you shrink down to the size of a virus and watch a cloud of anti-bodies surround a cell as they protect it from an incoming attack? The Body VR impresses with its educational power and delights with its incredible animations of everything from Kinesin motor proteins walking along microtubules, to the scale of mitochondria and how it all relates to the size of a cell.
     

    It’s rare to see a piece of content be so incredibly attractive to teachers, students, doctors and gamers all at once. A true testament to the future of education, there’s never quite been anything like The Body VR that can deliver such a rich learning experience without putting anyone to sleep. It’s an experience that goes deeper and deeper into the wonderland of the cellular biology within us all, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a better way to learn about how DNA is converted into RNA. Distributed completely for free, don’t pass up the opportunity for a world class education at no extra cost.
     
     

     The Body VR is available on Viveport.
  10. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Glider Island VR
     
    This gliding simulation brings the fun of old school retro games to virtual reality in a fresh new way.
     

    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
     
    The idea behind Glider Island VR is simple. You take off from a launch point and then have ten minutes to glide around, collecting rings similar to those you might see in old retro games. It’s a simple idea for a simple application, and the simplicity pays off by offering a fun experience that never asks too much of the player.
    The overall premise behind Glider Island VR is to fly around and collect hoops while you try to stay in the air. You can do so by rotating between dipping and rising with your glider. You’ll also need to keep an eye out for boosters, which will allow you to gain more speed and stay in the air longer. As I said before, it’s a very simple system, and if you can survive in the air for the full ten minutes of each map, you’ll need to keep flying around and gather as many hoops as possible.
     

    The visuals in Glider Island VR aren’t the best, but for a game that’s more about being in the air than on the ground, it’s more than acceptable. FPS is a very important factor in an experience as fast-paced as Glider Island VR, so it’s a good thing that the developers chose to take a more realistic approach to graphics rather than trying to have the best-looking game around.
     
     
    You fly around in first-person (or third-person), and you’ll be glad that the developers have focused on FPS over visuals. I don’t get motion sick very often in virtual reality, but I even found myself a little nauseous feeling at the end of my first hour run. This means that other users who are more prone to motion sickness will want to be careful and take their time with the game, playing in smaller doses. Once you grow more accustomed to the movements and the speed, though, you should be fine to enjoy longer play sessions.
     

    Once nice thing about Glider Island VR is the replayability. While there are only a few levels included, it’s easy to replay each one and attack the levels from different directions. It reminds me of the old school retro games that I used to play—games like Sonic—that challenged you to collect as much as you could as you tried to stay alive and complete the level. It’s a nice change of pace from the more serious experiences that I’ve been playing in virtual reality, and it’s a welcomed buffer between slower-paced virtual reality experiences and more fast-paced games that require more attention and ability to deal with motion sickness.
     
     
    All around, Glider Island VR is a nice experience that has a lot of hours of fun, and it’s definitely one I’d recommend people check out when they have the chance.
     
     
    Glider Island VR is available on Viveport or as part of Viveport Subscription.
  11. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Gravity Sketch VR 
     
    Ease of use, intuitive UI, and a 3D canvas make Gravity Sketch VR one of the best creative apps available.
     

    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
     
    Since the release of the HTC Vive, artistic-focused applications like Tilt Brush have really pushed the way that creators work. Gravity Sketch VR takes this simple idea and gives users another cool way to express their creativity. Unlike many applications in the genre, though, Gravity Sketch VR provides artists with an easy way to upload and share their 3D creations with the rest of the world.
     

    The idea of 3D creation isn’t a new one, and Gravity Sketch VR isn’t the best application for it by a long shot. Despite this, the hard work that developer Gravity Sketch put into this definitely shows, and it's still a great application for creating and sharing your 3D works. Available on Viveport, the tool offers a very intui-tive and easy to follow UI system. With it, you can choose which kind of creative tools you want to use on your left controller. There are options like shapes, ink, strokes, and even things like revolving columns. This assortment of tools makes it easy to create things from simple drawings to complex creations, and it’s quite easy to switch between them.
     
    On the right-hand controller you’ll find the various colors that you have available. You can easily choose the color from a wheel, and it also showcases the most recent colors that you used to allow you to easily swap back to a color after making some minor corrections. It’s an easy to use application, and even though I don’t have any kind of background in creating art, it was simple to learn and start drawing.
     

    You also have the ability to move the canvas around, twisting and turning it as needed to make sure that you can get to the pieces that you need to change. Like most 3D drawing programs, though, Gravity Sketch VR can be tough to use when it comes to lining up angles, corners, and other lines. This is because it can sometimes be hard to tell where your pen tip is located, making it easy to over-draw the line, or even draw behind it. This means you’ll need to do a lot of micro-management to get things perfect.
     

    Gravity Sketch VR is one of the better artistic applications available. It’s not perfect, and there are a ton of features it could make use of—most notably a collaborative option to have multiple people working within the same space, but that isn’t something that seriously holds this experience back. All in all, Gravity Sketch VR has a lot to offer for its price tag, and the developers have done a good job of making everything easy to use, simple to navigate, and easier to share.
     
     
     
    Gravity Sketch VR is available on Viveport.
  12. Greenlit Content

    The Wizards

    By Greenlit Content,

    Viveport Review: The Wizards
     
    Rid the land of orcs, goblins, and other nasty creatures, all with the power of your hands!
     

     
    By Renee Ruiz, Greenlit Content
     
     
    Move aside Harry Potter! A new wizard is in town to save the day. In The Wizards, Carbon Studio deliver a spell casting adventure game that is both immensely satisfying and great looking to boot!  Orcs, goblins, and other creatures invade the realm of Meliora, and it’s up to you to rid the land of these unwelcomed guests.  If you daydream of casting magical orbs at monsters and piercing them with frozen arrows, The Wizards belongs on your must play list.
     

    Our adventure begins with a meet and greet with the previous guardian, the master spell caster named Aurelius. He is a mighty wizard who intends to find a pupil and train this person in the ways of wielding powerful spells; this protégé, of course, is you. After you've settled in and picked up the basics, you set forth and begin the assault to take back Meliora.
     
    Thanks to The Wizards' intuitive controls, learning spells is a breeze even for the most novice of wizards.  Moving your hands in specific patterns to create spells gets easier over time, and before long, you’ll unleash those aforementioned ice arrows and fireballs, while levitating objects like a pro. If you're finding arcane mastery a little tricky, you can train in a safe realm created by Aurelius as a private practice area.  Mastering these spells pays off, with each hit to an enemy feeling powerful and satisfying.
     

    Teleporting into the enemy infested realm, you'll experience how devastated the land has become.  Orcs and goblins run rampant, and must be stopped by any means necessary.  Fireballs, the ice crystal bow and various other spells become available the further you progress into the campaign.
     
    Additionally, the more you fight, the stronger your spells become, eventually leading to new forms and schools of magic. Finally, your arsenal contains powerful Fate Cards that can weaken even the strongest of adversaries. These provide a welcome advantage against the imposing horde.
     

    I've also got to point out - if you can't tell already from these screens - that The Wizards looks incredible. There are plenty of details to soak up in the fantasy world of Meliora, from crumbling caverns to abandoned fortresses. The spells you'll summon also brighten up the screen, with fireballs and other spells magically appearing from your virtual hands. This is definitely one of the more graphically intense VR games that we’ve played.
     
    With tight controls to summon spells, ever increasing powers and amazing graphics, The Wizards really makes you feel like a mystic enchanter.  If you are into fantasy, get ready to don your wizard robe and set off on your next adventure!
     

     The Wizards is available on Viveport, and in Viveport Subscription.
  13. 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.
  14. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR
     
    Step into the future and experience hands down the best table tennis game for the HTC Vive.
     
    By Desmond Madison, Greenlit Content
     
     
    In an all-robotic future after two millennia of fighting, the ultimate sport of table tennis has evolved into the peace-keeping Racket Fury Tournament, which also represents the best cyber-simulation of ping pong to date. Do you have what it takes to keep the peace in the Crown Galaxy by dominating lesser beings along with your team of cyber-champions from the Division of Steel? Game on, human!
     
    All of that, of course, sounds ridiculous. The absurd premise of why these robots are playing table tennis, however, is completely beside the point. Racket Fury is hands-down the best digital representation of the sport in virtual reality. Be sure to crank up the haptic feedback in the settings menu and prepare to feel the ball as it clicks and clocks across the table against some of the most sophisticated physics and A.I. in the genre.
    In single player, there are two modes to choose from – Full Simulation and Arcade, which will allow you to lean towards a more realistic physical experience or a more enhanced and exaggerated version like you’d play in an arcade. Throughout the single player experience, you’ll be up against 16 opponents that will get progressively more difficult while also having their own temperament and play style, all based on some sophisticated performance capture from several of the real world’s best table tennis professionals.
     

    The level of shine and polish on the game stands out in its handling and visual presentation. Every robotic opponent sparkles with a fresh coat of metal and their pacing never slows down to go easy on you. If you’ve ever played ping pong in real life, your muscle memory for the rhythm of the game will kick in instantly as you adjust to returning the ball to your mechanical adversary across the table. Few game experiences can feel as seamless as this, and it’s fair to say that playing in VR will inversely also prepare your reflexes to be a better player in reality as well. The physics and the sensation of the sport is incredibly well represented here, even if it does carry an unrealistically sci-fi theme.
     
     
    Some additional customization features are a nice touch, allowing you to reposition and turn the table any way you like and adjust the color of the ball, spin, light trails, and power shots as well. There’s also a workshop that allows you to custom build the aesthetic of your own machine with any of the cash that you earn by playing either the single player campaign or the multiplayer mode online. You’ll also find an incredibly useful practice mode that allows you to tweak the A.I. to monstrous proportions, prepping your reflexes for the absolute hardest the game has to throw at you.
     

    In all, while it may have an incredibly silly sci-premise for such a realistic table tennis game, this is still the most impressively lifelike representations of ping pong in the medium. Developer 10Ants Hill has set a new standard in the genre, and you don’t have to be a sports fan to appreciate the level of realism achieved in recreating a sport with as much subtlety and speed in its back and forth as Racket Fury does within seconds of picking up a virtual paddle.
     
     

    Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR is available on Viveport or as part of Viveport Subscription.
  15. 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.
  16. Greenlit Content

    Witching Tower

    By Greenlit Content,

    Viveport Review: Witching Tower
     
    Step into a magic-filled adventure full of twists, turns, and puzzles galore.
     

     
    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
    I absolutely love games that make you think, especially when they come in the form of old-school dungeon crawlers. Right from the start, Witching Tower does its best to build up a narrative that’s sure to entice players to want to explore the dark and magical world that Daily Magic Productions has created. Join Anna, a fugitive of the magical world, as she sets out on a quest to escape her Tower and defeat the Queen of the Undead.
     

    Many of the VR dungeon crawlers rely too heavily on combat to help keep them interesting, and while combat plays a large part in Witching Tower, the puzzles that you come across also provide a welcome challenge that rewards you for thinking with more than just your sword or torch. For me, dungeon crawlers have always been about more than just fighting endless waves of monsters, and Witching Tower does a really good job of bringing puzzles and mystery back to the forefront.
     
    While the developers have done a great job of creating a grand dungeon crawler in Witching Tower, the game falls into one of the same pitfalls that many other dungeon crawlers do. While the narrative starts out strong—promising a lore-filled journey as you fight to escape the Tower that the Queen of the Undead has placed you in—the story putters out quickly as you move from puzzle to puzzle, fighting enemies along the way. There are moments where the story pops up once more, but it’s just enough to entice players to continue forward with the promise that more lore awaits around the next bend in the path.
     

    Unfortunately, the promises of a great narrative are never really met, and the story ends with even more enticement as the game comes to a close. Now for many, this might not be a big issue, but as someone who enjoys diving into expert-crafted lore and the deep inner workings of the different worlds that we can explore, I found myself a bit disappointed that we didn’t see more out of the narrative. It was an entertaining enough story, which meant the developers had more than enough to work with to create an immersive, enjoyable and story-driven experience.
     
    Aside from this downfall, though, everything else about Witching Tower is excellent. The combat feels on point as you swing your sword and strike down your enemies. The visuals are also excellent, even though they have a more cartoony appeal. Movement is smooth, and the overall performance of the game is outstanding as well. It is a well put-together experience that’s sure to give you several hours of good fun.
     

     
    Altogether, Witching Tower is an excellent dungeon crawler experience that’s got plenty to offer players looking for a fun, action-packed fantasy world to explore. Just don’t come into things expecting a deeper narrative and you’ll find more than enough enjoyment here to justify the download.
     
     
    Witching Tower is available on Viveport or with a Viveport subscription. 
  17. Greenlit Content

    Sairento VR

    By Greenlit Content,

    Viveport Review: Sairento VR
     
    Dive into nonstop action and violence with this brilliant and addicting shooter.
     

     
    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
     
    There is a lot to love about the first-person game, Sairento VR. When I say that the developers managed to pull off one of the smoothest feeling combat games in the entire VR catalogue, I’m not in any way joking. Gunplay is smooth, sword-based combat feels amazing, and all around, everything else just works. That being said, there’s more to this game than amazing combat, and that’s why it managed to garner such popular opinion.
     
    Player choice is huge in Sairento VR, and how you tackle the obstacles is completely up to you. Not looking for a challenge? Then drop the difficulty. Looking to amp things up a bit and get your blood flowing? Toss the difficulty up and ride the wave of violence coming in with the tide of enemies that flow your way. On top of this, your loadout is completely up to you as well, which is part of what makes combat feel so good.
     
    You never receive a lineup of weapons that you must use. Instead, the developers allow you to dive right in and customize your loadout from the start, before you even activate missions or take on objectives. Want to run in guns blazing with machine pistols? Go for it. Looking to take things to the next level and chop your enemies to bits with dual swords? You can do that, too.
     

     
    Another great thing that really stands out about Sairento VR is the avatar system. Right from the start, you are given a massive amount of options to customize the height and waist location of your avatar, which makes working inside of the game so much easier and more appealing, instead of being stuck with a default setup height and waist location. It really gives you more control of things, which leads to a smoother and more enjoyable experience.
     
    All around, Sairento VR is a shining beacon of hope for future VR games, as it shows that you can create a great feeling and very immersive experience that thrives within virtual reality. The gunplay and combat is amazing and feels smooth throughout every interaction, and the ability to customize your waist location, height, and other factors makes for a truly ‘real’ feeling and changes the way that the game plays for every player that tries it out. It is without question one of the best VR games in recent memory.
     

    Sairento VR is available on Viveport.
  18. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Final Soccer VR
     
    Deflecting soccer balls is one thing, but actually kicking balls with your feet towards the goal? Mind blowing!
     

    By Desmond Madison, Greenlit Content
     
    You might remember this title’s initial release on Vive way back in November of 2016 when it was called Final Goalie. The talented team at Ivanovich Games has a healthy catalog of great experiences under their belt, and Final Goalie was always a shining example of quality sports arcade simulation in virtual reality before it became Final Soccer VR in its current release. What’s the big difference now, you ask? Three words: Vive. Tracker. Implementation.
     
    That’s right! The initial release of Final Goalie put you on guard as a goalkeeper slapping, catching, and blocking soccer balls as they came hurling at your line of defense using only your hands. That experience is still an absolute blast - load up Arcade Mode and stop a barrage of soccer balls speeding at you out of cannons, while making use of awesome power ups like giant mitts and slow-motion time effects. It’s like a non-stop gym-class assault on the senses that’ll keep your heart rate up, but thankfully save you from the sting of actually being hit in the face… even if you still manage to get hit in the face.
     

    On top of local one-on-one penalty shootouts for two players, Final Soccer VR offers a supremely innovative mobile platform integrated form of multiplayer. If you’re a Vive user at home, chances are your friends will want to play along with you, and they can load up the Final Kick application to connect with your game in real time as you stand at your goal in virtual reality. Out-of-VR players can then hurl soccer balls at you with impressive accuracy from their phones, keeping you on your toes in VR from across the room. It’s a supremely interesting approach that we hope more developers will implement mobile integration like this for multiplayer in the future, but for now, Final Soccer is one of the best examples of this type of innovation on the platform.
     
     
    Speaking of innovation, the big transition from Final Goalie to Final Soccer really does lie in the integration of the Vive trackers that can now be attached to the user’s feet. This flips the script entirely, and now players can engage in Striker Mode, where you can take shots at the goal with your feet instead of just standing and blocking with your hands. The sensation is absolutely surreal, and it works with using just one Vive tracker or two... or even if you’re crafty enough to attach a single Vive controller to your sneaker. It may sound silly, but it’s worth it for the experience, and it gives you a sense of immersion that simply feels unlike anything else on Vive.
     

    Like many physically active experiences, you’ll want to be sure your room is clear and the pets are locked out of the room for this one, because you’ll be bending it (almost) like Beckham in your play space for days, and after it’s all over, you’re certain to have burned quite a few calories and worked up a sweat you can be proud of. Sports fans and lovers of arcade simulations will get more than a few kicks out of Final Soccer VR and it’s a solid addition to a growing library of top-tier content with innovative multiplayer compatibility.
     
     
     
    Final Soccer VR is available on Viveport and as part of Viveport Subscription.
  19. Greenlit Content

    Tilt Brush VR

    By Greenlit Content,

    Viveport Review: Tilt Brush VR
     
    Google’s 3D art suite makes it easy to draw, create, and inspire others in virtual reality.
     

     
    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
    When Google first announced Tilt Brush, fans of virtual reality were wowed by the simplicity and intuitiveness that the program brought to the table when it came to creating works of art in a full 3D environment. Now, two years after Tilt Brush launched with the HTC VIVE, the program still continues to be one of the strongest contenders in the art and creativity category, offering a simple experience that is leagues above almost every other one on the market.
     
    I am not an artist. I will be clear about that right up front. (The screenshots here are courtesy of Google!) I’ve dabbled with some different applications, as well as with some art stuff back in high school, but for the most part I stick to writing. There’s something about Tilt Brush, though, that makes it less foreboding to dive into creating things. Maybe it’s the lack of any real, tangible medium to have to worry about making messes in, or just the overall simplicity with which you can create and manage things. Either way, the program works great for those without any artistic skill at all, which makes for a huge positive compared to many of the more complex applications out there in this area of virtual reality.
     
    Part of what makes Tilt Brush so simple to use is its extremely well-crafted interface. The user interface is a huge part of any creative application’s appeal and Google has crafted one of the best in the creative market as far as I’m concerned. It’s easy to swap between your tools, to interact with your art work, and to move things around on the canvas—which just happens to be the entire room around you thanks to full, room-scale virtual reality.
     

    If you’re looking for a great way to draw or paint in virtual reality, then Tilt Brush is definitely an application you should check out. I can’t think of any complaints I have about the application, though there are a few things that serious artists should probably think about before picking it up. While it has a suite of useful tools and gadgets, Tilt Brush doesn’t offer the same focus and depth that some more professional-based applications offer. So, if you’re looking to use Tilt Brush for your daily work grind, then you might find it lacks some of the features that you require.
     
     
    Altogether, though, Tilt Brush is one of the best creative applications available and it has stood the test of time very well. If drawing is your thing—or even if it isn’t—then Tilt Brush has something to offer.
     

    Tilt Brush VR is available on Viveport or with a Viveport Subscription.
  20. Greenlit Content

    Twisted Arrow

    By Greenlit Content,

    Viveport Review: Twisted Arrow
     
    Unleash a barrage of virtual arrows upon zombies, mechs, and monsters!
     

     
    By Desmond Madison, Greenlit Content
     
     
    Stay on target and set your sights on Phaser Lock Interactive’s extraordinary first-person arcade action shooter, Twisted Arrow. Armed with your high-tech bow, the Manticore, and an extensive array of powerful arrows, you’ll be thrust into a fast-paced, high-impact tour across a dystopian city occupied by a paramilitary force who’ll stop at nothing to take you down.
     
    From the rooftops to the streets, you’ll traverse the environment as quickly as possible in search of the best strategic spot to take on an enemy army of drones, armored mechs, snipers, foot soldiers, and even biological mutants about to be unleashed in your direction.
     
    There are dozens of “wave shooter” action games to choose from on Vive, but this isn’t really a wave shooter at all. Instead, it’s important to note that the level of freedom you have to progress from point to point really helps Twisted Arrow stand out from the crowd of games that have you standing in one place for long periods of time.
     
    In fact, traversing the city is key to survival, as staying in place for too long will spell your certain doom. What’s nice is that the options to teleport from predetermined locations are plentiful, which helps you avoid getting bogged down by focusing on moving in full locomotion when the focus is really on shooting everything that moves.
     

    Like a lot of bow and arrow heavy shooters in VR, you can rest assured that this one will be giving you quite the workout. The speed at which you’ll be firing arrows and blowing the enemy army to high heaven is a little faster paced than other options in this genre. It also helps that you have multiple trick shot and explosive arrow options at your disposal, so precision aiming isn’t always going to be needed in the heat of battle.
     
     
    There’s a split shot option on your Manticore that will help home in on multiple enemies in a general direction, as well as and a bomb-tipped arrow that comes in handy when firing at giant robots and flammable barrels to take out waves of enemies all at once. The atmosphere of Twisted Arrow really helps it come to life as something much more like a blockbuster action movie than a lot of other archery focused games on the market.
     

    Fans have watched for years as super heroes like Green Arrow and Hawkeye stood in the shadows of Superman and Iron Man, but Phaser Lock Interactive’s bombastic take on the genre really show off how underappreciated their skills with a bow truly are. There are a lot options to choose from in the bow and arrow genre of arcade action shooters in VR, but there aren’t many that can go toe-to-toe with this intense, fiery, explosion-filled tour of a city on the brink of chaos.
     
    If that sounds up your alley, don’t hesitate to give Twisted Arrow a chance to hit the bullseye!
     

     Twisted Arrow is available on Viveport, and in Viveport Subscription.
  21. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Galactic Gallery
     
    Bearded Eye brings art to life in an interactive and beautiful way.
     

    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
     
    Since the dawn of virtual reality, artistic applications have grown in numbers, giving artists new ways to interact with their creations. Galactic Gallery takes this concept and turns it on its head. Instead of allowing users to create art, it instead thrusts them into a beautiful journey through space and time that’s filled with tons of gorgeous artwork to look upon and enjoy.
     
    The experience is simple; players are surrounded by different showcases of artwork that spiral and come to life in front of them. The visuals look pristine, and the sense of presence from the way that you interact with things—and how items collide with each other—make it almost feel real. You won’t move around, though, since the showcases are placed around you in a rectangle, allowing you to simply turn to one side to see new artwork.
    I’m not exactly sure how many pieces of art there are, but there’s definitely a nice variation in there for anyone who loves looking at different types of art. I’m not really into this form of art, but I can definitely understand the appeal, especially when you’re looking at some of the beautiful pieces portrayed in Galactic Gallery.
     

    Perhaps my favorite part about the app, though, is the new 360-degree painting that the developers added. Created by Anthony Sirios West, the piece is absolutely gorgeous and enthralling as you look up and around at its various parts. It’s a beautiful way to showcase art, especially given that you won’t have to pay a hefty gallery fee to see it.
     
    If you aren’t into art, though, then Galactic Gallery is probably not something you’ll want to download. At $4.99 to purchase (or as part of your Viveport Subscription), while it isn't a huge investment, Galactic Gallery doesn’t have too much to offer outside of gawking at some pretty paintings. If you're an art afficionado, I can assure you it's money well spent.
     

    Galactic Gallery was clearly created for a people who enjoy art the same way that its developers do. The sense of presence, the beauty of the visuals, and the overall feeling of the atmosphere create a fantastic experience to view artwork, but aside from looking at the various pieces, there’s not much else to do in the experience. Still, it’s an excellent contender for what VR can do for something so simple, and if you enjoy art, this app comes highly recommended.
     
     

    Galactic Gallery is available on Viveport and as part of Viveport Subscription.
  22. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Starway Fleet
     
    Surprisingly, this dogfighting VR game holds its own against heavy hitters like EVE: Valkyrie.
     

    By Desmond Madison, Greenlit Content
     
     
    The independent band of veteran developers at StormCube Games have cooked up a treat for die-hard fans of the deep space action dogfighting genre in the detailed and high energy Starway Fleet.
     
    You'll step into the cockpit and take part in various missions that will have you escorting convoys, defending allies, or just blasting enemies to smithereens. It’s difficult to imagine a tiny developer going toe to toe in the genre with the likes of EVE: Valkyrie already showing so much shine and polish in the VR space shooter market, but the team at StormCube really brought their A-game with a surprisingly deep experience that’s worth a look for fans of space explosions and dogfights.
     

    It’s important to remember that Starway Fleet doesn’t support the Vive controllers, and you'll have to be seated using a standard gamepad controller to take the helm of the cockpit. You can take part in offline missions against the whip-smart artificial intelligence, or log online with your space pirate buddies for three player co-op mode. Multiple single player modes exist as well, allowing you to choose from quick missions, survival mode, and custom battles that allow you to set the parameters for training up your skills as an interstellar dogfighting machine. The quick missions themselves can also be played in single player or co-op, and really adds to the value of the experience with more opportunities to play through with friends. 
     
    Combat may not be as fast as some players are used to, but it still has a fun pace that keeps you exploding ships left and right as you barrel around each enemy freighter, raining fire across all of the weak points to take them down. You’ll have three different settings on your lasers at your arsenal, along with multiple missiles, a chain gun and heat-seeking torpedoes used to take town the opposing fleets. If you’ve got a laser-focused eye and think you’re a good shot, you stand a better chance at survival with only two layers of shields at your own protection. Most of the other fighters can be a breeze to take down with a steady aim, but capital ships will take some more planning and strategy as you swoop around their blue barrels without missing a beat.
     
    From start to finish, players can expect to tackle the breadth of what Starway Fleet has to offer in roughly three hours for the single player experience. While it isn’t the most groundbreaking game in the genre, fans of space simulations of old like Wing Commander or X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter will find a lot to love about what StormCube Games have cooked up for their first effort in virtual reality. It’s definitely not a game for beginners in the VR medium, nor is it a good introduction to the space simulation genre itself, but it holds its own for hardcore fans dying to get their fix of high-octane action on the platform.
     
     
     
    Starway Fleet is available in Viveport Subscription.
  23. Greenlit Content

    SUPERHOT VR

    By Greenlit Content,

    Viveport Review: SUPERHOT VR
     
    Bullet time takes the forefront in this striking and unique virtual reality experience.
     

     
    By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content
     
    The idea behind SUPERHOT is simple. Time stands still until you start moving, at which point all the threats around you become active, moving in on you. It’s a game that forces you to think on your toes and stay ten steps ahead of the action. When SUPERHOT originally released, it turned the idea of bullet time—the slow-motion, matrix-like movement system—directly on its head, forcing players to instead think about what their actions meant, how they would react to the world around them, and how to anticipate what might come next. The game itself was a hit, quickly pulling in a following of its own without any big issues.
     
    Now that SUPERHOT has made its way to virtual reality, the frustrating yet satisfying experience of dodging bullets and anticipating what might come next is even better. Sure, it’s a bit confusing at times—trying to move your head around and see what is behind you, only to have your head explode as a bullet or object you didn’t see strikes you—but overall the game has created a distinguished and amazing experience that really continues to draw you back in.
     

    In SUPERHOT VR, you take on the role of an unnamed person who must fight against an army of glass men trying to kill them. In order to make moves on your enemies—you can punch, shoot, stab, or even throw objects at them to destroy them—you’ll need to make them move too, as time begins to roll forward each time you make even the slightest movement. It’s a catch-22 of sorts, but one that you’ll need to learn to use to your advantage.
     

    The real shine of the game comes in these sticky situations. From dodging to the side at the last second, catching a gun as it falls from the hand of a now-shattered enemy, or even ducking behind cover as a hail of incoming rounds dash over your head, SUPERHOT VR offers a unique experience that has yet to be duplicated in non-VR or VR gaming, and honestly, it’s probably one of the best virtual reality experiences I’ve had a chance to get addicted to.
     
     
    With that in mind, SUPERHOT VR is a tough game to master. Not only is the game demanding on the mental side of things—forcing you to think ten steps ahead and determine what you need to do next to survive—but it’s also quit a physical game, as you’ll need to be able to bend behind cover, duck to the side, and even jump out of the way of incoming rounds. You’ll want to ensure you have enough room to work with here, and while you can do it with standing room only, you’ll want plenty of space around you to keep from hitting things.
     

    Altogether, SUPERHOT VR is one of the hottest games in virtual reality right now. The feeling of success that comes with each completed level and the overall way that the game forces you to stay on your toes—both physically and mentally—is something that few other titles have managed to do. It’s definitely at the top of the list for my most loved virtual reality games, and if you haven’t tried it out yet, then I highly recommend picking it up as soon as possible to get a taste of this unique and innovative world.
     
     

    SUPERHOT VR is available on Viveport.
  24. Greenlit Content

    Overkill VR

    By Greenlit Content,

    Viveport Review: Overkill VR
     
    Straight-up arcade shooting action for old and new VR gamers alike.
     

     
    By Desmond Madison, Greenlit Content
     
     
    Duck and cover! The Overkill series leaps into VR with impressive results that’ll keep your heart pumping and your guns blazing. Taking gameplay cues from classic arcade wave shooters like Time Crisis with a pinch of tongue-in-cheek humor in the style of Duke Nukem, Overkill VR succeeds at crafting a well-paced and physically demanding action experience that must be played with room-scale VR to appreciate.
     
    While devoid of any narrative structure, the experience is really all about its heavy artillery of highly customizable weapons and armor (all of which you’ll upgrade each time you survive one of Overkill VR's more than 30 explosive levels).
     
    Throughout the campaign, the “crouch and stand combat” serves as a major part of the experience. It really gets your blood flowing as you duck, squat, and sometimes even crawl on the ground to fire from behind sandbags, partial walls, and piles of rubble—the only things protecting you from an onslaught of the oppressive Faction’s foot soldiers, snipers, oversized quadcopters, and APCs.
     

    Taking down the Faction will require more than a “one size fits all” approach with your weaponry. The better you perform in headshots, multiple kill combos, and accuracy, the more you’re rewarded each round with experience and currency for upgrading your gear.
     
     
    In regard to the game’s expansive arsenal of assault rifles, machine guns, shotguns, rocket launchers, and more, each weapon purchased can also be upgraded across upwards of ten different points of customization. Each of these customization points offer multiple levels of enhancements, all of which provide tons of replayability to the campaign experience should you want to max out everything.
     
    While you’ll always have your trusty pistol handy, you’re better off sticking to a solid two-handed weapon, as it affords additional stability and accuracy versus spraying bullets wildly from behind cover and hoping to get lucky. The cover system is key here, and it’s worth noting that you won’t be moving around the stages in real time.
     
    Instead, you’ll occasionally select pre-set locations to move forward and advance in the level. This is a defining gameplay aspect of the arcade shooter genre, and it’s best not to go into Overkill VR expecting an FPS experience with full locomotion. This game is far simpler to pick up and play, and also makes for a great option when ushering friends into VR for the first time if they’re looking to get straight into the action.
     
    Overall, the multitudes of weapons and hundreds of upgrades that await you after plowing down countless sums of enemies really help Overkill VR live up to its namesake. Even after a few hours of the campaign, you’ll want to revisit each and every location for higher rank and higher scores. Not to mention the act of gathering more experience and money needed to upgrade your own armor and weapons, and push yourself further and faster in your efforts to take down the Faction.
     
    If simple, straight-to-the firepower arcade action is what you’re looking for, it’s hard to go wrong with exactly what Overkill VR not only promises, but over-delivers.
     
     

     
     
     
     
     Overkill VR is available on Viveport, and in Viveport Subscription.
  25. Greenlit Content
    Viveport Review: Nature Treks VR
     
    Explore 15 unique environments and chill out with some dinosaurs in this improved relaxation sim.
     

    By Desmond Madison, Greenlit Content
     
     
    The power of presence in VR is such an incredible opportunity for creators to transport users into surreal and impossible worlds, but they don't all have to be filled with chaos and explosions. There are a growing number of experiences built for relaxation and meditation in virtual reality, providing a soothing escape not just from reality, but from a lot of intense stimulation found in virtual reality entertainment itself.
     
    Apps like Guided Meditation VR and Perfect are great examples of 'wellness' content, and in Nature Treks VR,  we have one of the best examples available in the medium.
     

     
    Independent developer John Carline of Greener Games has carefully crafted 15 gorgeous, soothing and ethereal places to relax and escape into. Stripping away all stress of competition, difficulty, and danger, Nature Treks VR offers you a raw sense of wonder that seems to dilate time as you explore over ten square kilometers of breathtaking scenery across the heavens and Earth.
     
    From a hillside nature trail surrounded by the crisp leaves of fall, to a lush and vibrant jungle full of wild elephants and tigers, Nature Treks VR has plenty to show you. You’ll even have a chance to explore the bottom of the deep blue see as you observe the sea life in their natural habitat.
     
    The latest 'Animal Kingdom' update to the app adds a wide range of additional content. There are now over 60 different animals across the experience, including dinosaurs! Unlike some other VR games though, these are dinosaurs (and animals) that pose no threat to you at all. This is the ultimate wildlife safari, bringing life to the environments and allowing you to get up close and personal without fear of getting hurt, and conversely without harming the animals. Nature Treks VR offers that rare opportunity to find communion with both wildlife and the very environments you’re exploring in order to slow down and find some peace in your day.
     
    Another thing that sets Nature Treks VR apart from anything else is the ability to change and influence the weather and environment by using the 'creator orbs' that hover in front of you at all times. Want the sun to come up across the vast ocean horizon? Simply switch on the orb. See an empty field and fancy a few trees and flowers to fill the grassy landscape in front of you? Toss some orbs and watch your forest grow right before your eyes. It's an interesting and welcome twist on the 'relaxation' genre that caters to anyone who might feel a little restless in all that nature.
     
     
    Nature Treks VR is a virtual relaxation sandbox that holds nothing back to create the perfect place for you to slow down, relax, and just enjoy the scenery before heading back into the real world.
     
    Whether you spend just ten minutes trekking across the mountains or two hours sitting alone on a desert island listening to the waves, Nature Treks VR offers a wider variety of ways to 'do nothing' than any other app. For those looking for that kind of escape, this one should be right at the top of the list for years to come.
     

    Nature Treks VR is available on Viveport.
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