Greenlit Content

Viveport Review: Puppet Fever This family-friendly party game lets you create puppet stories that are fun and safe for the whole family. By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content Giving you access to a host of virtual puppets and stages, Puppet Fever is a modern-day, 21st century, virtual and interactive take on charades. Coastalbyte Games came up with their initial idea for Puppet Fever after an intense hackathon. It's one of those ideas that's so brilliantly simple it's surprising no-one else has done it yet: one player puts on the Vive headset and creates a story using virtual puppets and props, which is then played out for others on your connected PC monitor. With hundreds of puppets, acting tips, bots for solo players (or practice) and the ability to stream your creation, there's an almost unlimited potential playtime here. To really test out Puppet Fever I had a few friends over. As a local multiplayer game, one person puts on the Vive headset to tell their story, while others watch. Puppet Fever prompts you when you need to pass the headset to someone else. On my turn, my task was to get my friends to guess my story's genre - and as it was mystery, well, it was tricky. Jumping around, manipulating puppets and trying to communicate without cheating made me feel like I was playing Pictionary, but with puppets rather than bad drawings! One of my friends decided to tell more of a comedic story, and it was really fun to sit back and watch him try! It was his first time in virtual reality, and although Puzzle Fever was a little overwhelming at first, he quickly picked up on the process and was able to start telling cohesive stories very quickly. That’s the nice thing about Puppet Fever; it makes transitioning into virtual reality very easy, and while there are a ton of options available, once the initial feeling of being overwhelmed wears off, you’re able to just keep going and get better with things. It’s a smooth experience that never hits any big hiccups, and that’s definitely something for Coastalbyte Games to be proud of. I’d really love to see Puppet Fever expand, though. I’d love to see new items, props, and even characters. The game has a way to go before we may see new content, but there's a little gold mine of potential here. Of course, what’s available right now is a perfectly good starting point. If you’re looking for a great place to tell stories and share the beauty of virtual reality with your friends, then Puppet Fever is a fantastic place to start. Coastalbyte Games (and Coffee Stain Publishing) have created a fun, family-friendly game that you can really dive into and enjoy without having to worry about inappropriate content - well, as long as it's not created by anyone playing! Puppet Fever is a really creative game that allows you to interact with all of your friends and family, while also giving you an outlet for your inner storyteller. Puppet Fever is available on Viveport and as part of Viveport Subscription.

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.

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.

Viveport Review: Final Force Dive into a futuristic world of brutality in Final Force, which features some of the best melee combat you’ll experience in VR. By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content Few games in the virtual reality market have ever tried to diversify the first-person shooter genre, usually sticking with simpler things that fit well within the already pre-defined confines of the basic formula. While Final Force doesn’t do much to break out of said formula, developer Tisense Interactive Company’s unique approach to force players out of their comfort levels is both appreciated and well realized. The main goal with Final Force is to provide players with a fun and enjoyable first-person shooter experience that not only relies on shooting mechanics, but also brutal melee action. It’s a decent mixture that blends nicely together, and each punch that you land feels good as it smashes against the helmets of the various enemies that you face off against; at times you’re able to land multiple blows to people’s heads, which never gets old. Of course, there is still some forced gunplay to enjoy (dual wielding), but while fun, it takes away from what I feel is the game’s strongest strength— the aforementioned melee combat. Aside from the things mentioned above, though, Final Force falls short of wowing the player. While the visuals look impressive, the audio design leaves a bit to be desired, and a robotic companion voice can be heard constantly droning on and on about the game’s extensive backstory. It’s something that feels out of place as you bash in the heads of different bad guys, and it broke my immersion in the experience as the companion never stopped to catch her breath. Additionally, there are some other issues with the game, like a bug that caused me to have both of my guns ripped from my hands. This left me unable to shoot enemies, which led to my eventual demise, as I was unable to defend myself against long-range opponents. This happened a few different times in the game, which was very annoying and brought my entire progress to a halt, since all I could do was die or restart from the beginning of the stage. Altogether, Final Force isn’t bad at all. The melee combat shines, and the feel of each punch is amazing as you slam your first into enemy heads, knocking these AI-controlled characters to the ground. Shooting isn’t the game’s strongest suit, however, and it forces you into gunplay moments quite a bit. Overall, it’s a solid wave-based shooter, but there is definitely room for something bigger and better, and I’d love to see that come to light in future updates. For now, though, it’s something worth keeping an eye on and watching as the game evolves and grows. Final Force is available on Viveport or as part of Viveport Subscription.

Viveport Review: Panzer Panic Panzer Panic offers an immersive and arcade-like experience that’s frantic and fun. By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content A lot of virtual reality developers choose to focus on immersion and realism above everything else. Sometimes this can lead to experiences that feel forced and unoptimized. For developer HandyGames, though, fun is the most important factor, and Panzer Panic is a fun, yet immersive game that offers an action-packed multiplayer romp in VR. One of the best things about Panzer Panic is that it doesn’t force you to think too much about what’s going on. The two modes—team deathmatch and capture the flag—are all straightforward, and the controls, while a bit tricky at first, are smooth and simple to navigate once you get used to them. On top of this, getting connected to a game is simple and easy to do, and if for some reason you can’t find real players, you’ll face off against some bots, which aren’t that bad at the game. What makes Panzer Panic unique, though, is the combination of realism and fun. While the game isn’t that realistic—this isn’t World of Tanks or any type of tank simulator—you still have the option of using a lever control system that reminded me quite a bit of traditional tank controls. You can also swap up and use a joystick method, if you prefer, but the lever controls are really what made the game stand out for me. On top of the easy gameplay loop, Panzer Panic also has plenty to do. There are achievements in the game for those who enjoy that sort of thing, and you also have plenty of different tanks to pick from and skins to unlock. It’s still pretty bare bones if you compare it to non-virtual reality tank games, but for a game built for VR, Panzer Panic is a lot of fun and works very well. If you’re looking for realism, though, there isn’t much of it here. The game focuses more on the fun aspect of virtual reality, but it mixes well with the immersive features in-game. It’s a nice balance, and HandyGames have outdone themselves. I’d love to see more modes make their way into the game in the future, as well as some additional arenas, but right now it’s got a ton of content for the price. Of course, if you’re looking for a single player experience, then Panzer Panic also has that going for it, as you can dive into a single player version of the game that offers the same immersive and fun combat made popular with the multiplayer modes. It is yet another reason why this enjoyable game belongs in your Vive collection. Panzer Panic is available on Viveport or as part of Viveport Subscription.

Viveport Review: The Kremer Collection VR Museum Experience over 70 pieces of art in this beautifully crafted virtual museum, featuring work from Rembrandt and other Old Master painters from the Dutch Golden Age. By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content Curated by George & Ilone Kremer, The Kremer Collection VR Museum brings attention to the Dutch Golden Age of art by giving art lovers an entirely new way to experience the works of Old Master painters like Rembrandt, Frans Hal, and more. Unlike a physical museum, The Kremer Collection allows you to get up close and personal with the paintings, even allowing you to look behind each one to take in every tiny detail of the creation. It’s a novel idea that translates exceptionally well to VR. What makes the experience special is the fact that every single painting has the perfect lighting to allow users to experience every brush stroke and color at its peak, giving you a new value for the artistic work of 17th century painters. Every painting is also accompanied by audio and written information, which gives additional insight into the pieces and their meanings. The entire setting also alludes to the Golden Age of Dutch paintings, with the museum built to feel like something the painters would have created. It’s an architectural masterpiece that had me in awe as I stood in the center, with the beautiful dome spread out before me. In order to capture complete authenticity and make sure that the paintings were recreated to the utmost level of realism, each piece was photographed over 2500 times to make sure that every detail and tiny stroke can be seen. It’s an experience that you won’t find anywhere else, and being able to stand that close to a Rembrandt piece is inspiring and breathtaking—even if it isn’t real. The authenticity of each piece, as well as the beauty of the environment around it creates a great sense of presence, and even though you never fully interact with anything, it still feels like you’re there. My only real complaint is the fact that you’re forced to sign up for an account to view The Kremer Collection. This is something that isn’t made clear until after you hop into the experience for the first time, which means that you have to remove your VR headset and go to the website in order to do that. This isn’t a huge issue if you use VR often, but if you keep your Vive tucked away until you need it, this might be a bit complicated to get started. On top of having to create an account, I also experienced an issue where my audio wasn’t available until after I restarted the application, so if you experience the same issue, just restart the app and you should be good to go. The amount of work that went into creating this virtual environment is incredible. The Kremers have done an excellent job of curating this collection, and the amount of information at your disposal will give you several hours of content to enjoy and experience. The authenticity of each painting also drives home a complete sense of realism, and being able to view these masterpieces from the comfort of my home is something that really sets the experience apart from all the rest. The Kremer Collection VR Museum is available on Viveport.

Viveport Review: Shooty Fruity This fun and frantic shooter blends first person gameplay, wave-based shooting, and Job Simulator into one. By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content From merely glancing at Shooty Fruity, you might think it lacks depth, and could be forgettable. If you thought this, however, you’d be wrong. NDreams Limited created a spectacular and unique experience with Shooty Fruity, and while it might sound like a weird knockoff of Fruit Ninja, it brings plenty to the table and will keep you coming back for more. What makes Shooty Fruity unique compared to other stationary shooters are the multitasking mechanics. Instead of just standing in one place and shooting at different pieces of fruit, players take on the role of a Mega Mart employee. Here, they’ll need to move their way up the ranks from cashier to canteen worker, and onward. It’s a nice progression that always makes it easy to see where you’re going, and the game feels really good because of it. As a worker in the Mega Mart, though, your job is about more than shooting fruit with guns. You’ll also need to complete various tasks for your job. At the start you’re responsible for scanning groceries at the checkout—all while taking out evil fruit trying to overrun the market. It’s a fun change of pace from other stationary shooters and brings some nice variety to the table. While you can pick up two guns and go to town, your ultimate goal in the end is to scan as many groceries as you can; the fruit are simply an obstacle in your path. When it comes to gunplay, everything feels awesome. The weapons are smooth to work with, and interactions with the game world are impressively realized. I never felt like I was struggling to grab something, even while trying to shoot an apple with one hand while scanning groceries with the other. It’s definitely not an experience that remains easy throughout, and it will completely redefine how you think of stationary shooters in virtual reality. In addition to variety, there are also a ton of different weapons and items that you can unlock along the way through a vending machine in the staffroom. It’s easy to interact with and having goals to work towards makes it easy to drop hours in the game. Progression has always been an issue with VR shooters, but Shooty Fruity tackles that issue quite magnificently, and it’s a great experience for anyone who loves VR shooters to try out—so long as you can take the whacky concept. If you’re looking for a more realistic setting, there are definitely better games out there. But, for what it is, Shooty Fruity definitely set a new standard for future stationary shooters to follow when it comes to VR. As a result, it is essential to your Vive collection. Shooty Fruity is available on Viveport.

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.

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.

Viveport Review: Island Time VR This time-trial survival game dazzles and engrosses you with great gameplay and immersive environments. By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content In Island Time VR, after crashing your boat, you find yourself lost at sea on a tiny island and must survive for as long as possible. This isn’t going to be easy. In fact, you're going to die, a lot. Which is actually kind of the point. Island Time VR isn't so much a survival simulation, as a 'survive as long as possible, but let's face it, you're gonna die eventually' simulator. It's you vs the elements, but those elements are capricious and very unforgiving. Survival itself isn’t hard. The basics are simple. You catch fish using a makeshift spear, cook them over the fire, or crack open and eat a coconut—all while keeping a pesky seagull from stealing any of your items. While you do this, you'll be listening to helpful tips and, let's just say 'colorful' commentary from Carl the Crab, voiced by Greg Miller of Kinda Funny. Unlike many games, the quirkiness of Carl doesn’t get in your way, as he allows you to just continue doing your own thing. While the mechanics of Island Time VR might feel a bit rinse-and-repeat, it's a fun learning experience. Before long you'll stretch out your survival time and start to get into the 'one more go' mentality that is the hallmark of a great game. As the challenge to staying alive increases, you'll be forced to learn from your mistakes if you want to increase your time on the island. Ultimately it was the chaos that really kept me driving forward in Island Time VR, as my survival times slowly grew from a few minutes, to five, then upwards of ten and fifteen minutes. I learned new things with each survival attempt, and I was able to use that knowledge to help push my survival forward. I honestly wasn’t sure what to think when I first launched Island Time VR. The experience seemed far too simple to hold my attention for very long, but the developers quickly proved me wrong, and before I knew it I had logged around four hours on the game. I wish there was more of a sense of presence in the game (your spear and other items only collide with certain objects, for example), but aside from this the experience itself was very positive. It still felt pretty immersive despite the lack of collision, which is part of what made it so easy to sink time into the game. If you want a challenging, frantic, and fun VR experience, then Island Time VR is a great place to start. It’s not too expensive to pick up, so you’re going to get more than your money’s worth out of this title. Project Flight School has done a great job bringing the tiny island together. As you collect new pieces and work to survive, you’re sure to come to love Island Time VR as much as I have. In fact, it’s earned a permanent place in my virtual reality library, and I look forward to revisiting it time and again to see what has changed and how long I can survive. Island Time VR is available on Viveport or as part of Viveport Subscription.

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.

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.

Viveport Review: REGENESIS Arcade DELUXE Rise to the top of the leaderboards in this intense arcade shooter that rewards skill and speed. By Joshua Hawkins, Greenlit Content There are a lot of arcade-style shooters for the HTC Vive. In fact, I’d even go so far as to call virtual reality a breeding ground for ways to innovate and create new types of shooting experiences. Unfortunately, there isn’t much that’s innovative about REGENESIS Arcade DELUXE. Despite its faults, however, it is a solid shooter with a ton of content that rewards players for being quick on the trigger and skillful at lining up shots. There’s a lot to like about REGENESIS Arcade DELUXE. The gunplay is good and feels smooth as you reload, aim, and fire at the enemies swarming around you. It’s one of the few shooters that allows you to make use of the sights on your weapon, as you can easily line up shots with the Holographic Sight placed on top of your rifle. It’s a nice touch that the developers didn’t have to include, and while you don’t get many chances to utilize it—the game moves too quickly to really take your time and aim—this a nice feature to have access to. Your main goal is to survive as many waves as possible. Each wave that you make it past reveals new upgrades that will make the fight easier. Of course, you’ll still worry about taking enemies down, as well as blocking incoming fire. The good news is that you receive access to a shield that can block enemy shots, as well as knock back some of their shots later on—after you’ve purchased a certain upgrade. My biggest complaint with the game is the fact that changing weapons is done by simply moving your hand over your shoulder. This is nice for the convenience factor, but as things get more intense and speed up, you’ll sometimes find yourself struggling to keep your weapon from changing in the middle of a battle. It’s a small issue that can probably be taken care of by simply watching where you place your hand during the fight, but this isn’t something that you think about a whole lot when things get heated. Altogether,REGENESIS Arcade DELUXE is a fun and fast-paced shooter. The game’s ability to make you think on your toes is a fun change, and it’s easy to work up a sweat and really get into the action. Meanwhile, the upgrade system is nice and leaves you with a ton of different options to change up the way you fight. I really like the quick ability to change weapons, though I wish it wasn’t so sensitive, as I often found myself changing weapons when I was simply trying to block enemy shots coming from behind. That said,REGENESIS Arcade DELUXE is a solid shooter with some great mechanics that will test your skill in VR. REGENESIS Arcade DELUXE is available on Viveport and as part of Viveport Subscription.

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.

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.

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.

Viveport Review: Unabomber: The Virtual Reality Experience Get a unique look at one of the most captivating criminal investigations in American history. By Desmond Madison, Greenlit Content April 3rd, 1996. On this day, a domestic terrorist known as the Unabomber (who had been at large, mailing explosive packages to universities and individuals all across the country since 1978) was finally captured by the FBI in a small wilderness cabin near Lincoln, Montana. The events that led to his arrest across three decades of investigation were some of the most well documented in history, as the world watched the story unfold in the media over the years. This is especially true once he re-emerged in 1993 after sending a lethal mail bomb that severely injured a University of California geneticist at his own house. More attacks followed, and a special UNABOM Task Force was finally launched for an intensive search to narrow down and find the Unabomber suspect once and for all. If this sounds like a critical lesson in history, it’s because it is. Unabomber: The Virtual Reality Experience is a brief educational narrative lesson produced by Immersion VR in partnership the Newseum in Washington D.C., which is dedicated to educating the world about free expression, as well as the five freedoms of the First Amendment. Journalism being a core part of their historical education, the Unabomber case has a special place in Newseum history, thanks to the infamous publishing of the famed ‘Manifesto’ that the suspect had sent to the New York Times. The Newseum also houses the actual Minnesota cabin that Ted Kaczynski was found in, and the VR experience was created to be displayed in the museum for patrons to experience the history of the case in incredible detail, as well as explore the ethical issues surrounding the New York Times decision to publish the Manifesto. Through player interaction and investigation, users will learn that it was the decision to publish the Manifesto that helped identify Kaczynski, with a lead tip-off coming from his own brother, who recognized his writing style. Students are then sent to the infamous Minnesota shack after the arrest to search for clues and evidence that proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the FBI had indeed found their man. Each object is rendered in explicit detail and arranged exactly as it was found, allowing users to learn all of the key details that went into the closing the case of the most infamous domestic terrorist in modern media history. If you’re interested at all in getting a brief but extensively detailed education on one of the most high-profile terrorist cases of all time, you really shouldn’t miss this experience. It’s custom made to bring a piece of an incredible museum right into your Vive and help you walk away with a lesson in forensics, ethics, and morality. It’s by no means a game, and it was never meant to be, but Unabomber: The Virtual Reality Experience deserves special attention and recognition for striving to go beyond games and prove once again that VR has the power educate in ways that no other medium can. Unabomber: The Virtual Reality Experience is available on Viveport.

Viveport Review: Stonehenge VR Sandbox An incredible field trip to Stonehenge already enjoyed by thousands of students and families, this learning experience finally leaves the museum and comes home to take you to the iconic monument. By Desmond Madison, Greenlit Content Initially debuting in 2016 as a museum installation by startup studio Voyager VR, the educational and historical application Stonehenge VR was once only available in limited locations around the world. One of the first room scale VR exhibits in museums like the Pacific Science Center in Seattle and the Museum at Prairiefire in Overland Park, Kansas, this groundbreaking tour of the prehistoric monument in Wilshire, England finally goes global with additional features in the all-new, fully updated, Stonehenge VR Sandbox. First time visitors to Stonehenge will want to load up the experience in Museum Mode. There, they’ll get a tutorial on how the controls work, as it’s also carefully been designed to accommodate users who have likely never used a Vive before, let alone virtual reality. Users will hear a calm and carefully narrated voice over as they are given a deeply detailed lesson in the history of this Neolithic monument, all being rendered in glorious detail using the Unreal 4 Engine. Both the Winter and Summer Solstices can be seen throughout different points across the ages, and users can watch the sun rise and fall beyond the gorgeous horizon. In the application’s latest home release for Viveport, Sandbox mode has been added to go beyond the educational museum experience. Sandbox mode allows users to build, paint, fly through, and design their own versions of the monument that can even be knocked down ‘Jenga’ style in virtual reality. If that’s not enough, you can also save and share your creations online over social media, even allowing for export of 3D videos straight to the web. It’s an impressive suite of additional features that take things out of the purely observational museum experience, and really allow the user to get their hands on all the tools they need to create works of art with a level of ease that Stonehenge’s Neolithic creators could never have imagined. You can even load up the music player to adjust the Stonehenge VR soundtrack, or listen to your own custom music files when poking around the monument. Stonehenge VR Sandbox offers such a richly detailed tour of the famed circle of stones that users familiar with the monument have even reported feeling as if they were really there again, while others with terminal sickness and limited mobility have been overjoyed to visit this historic site without having to travel all the way to England. There’s a lot to love about this experience, and whether you’re in Museum mode or Sandbox mode, this makes for a wonderful introduction to VR and Vive while providing an educational and creative platform that almost anyone can approach. People of all ages will appreciate what Stonehenge VR has to offer, and just as it continues to be used in museums across the world today, it will definitely inspire a sense of wonder even in those who never thought that VR would be for them. Don’t take our word for it, give Stonehenge VR Sandbox a try and be sure to bring the whole family! Stonehenge VR Sandbox is available on Viveport, and in Viveport Subscription.

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.

Viveport Review: MakeVR Effortlessly create beautiful 3D images in virtual reality and let your talent shine! By Desmond Madison, Greenlit Content From the youngest dreamers wanting to create their own toys and video games, to professionals creating high quality models on Hollywood projects – there’s something for everyone with the robust and powerful toolset available in MakeVR. As an experience in creating 3D content, MakeVR presents users with an incredibly intuitive and natural way of working that lets just about anyone bring their creations to life with the professional precision of CAD engines. The intuitive nature of using your hands in VR to create vs. using a mouse and keyboard to sculpt and mold objects challenges existing ways of creating in 3D in a way only VR can. MakeVR's creation process is quite simple, with you creating and manipulating objects in 3D space directly. All of the 3D manipulation tools you'd expect to find are here, but all are a little easier to use given the VR environment. That environment can also be manipulated, allowing you to scale objects (or, if you prefer, yourself) from tiny to massive. This allows you to, for example, create a simple block to serve as a building, then 'shrink' to add details like doors and windows. You could theoretically get down to the nail-and-hinge level. Frankly, the suite of CAD tools in MakeVR can really make a novice feel right at home even if they’ve never used a professional program. What’s most impressive here is that your creations aren’t just relegated to MakeVR itself. Objects can be transported into other programs like game engines or other CAD suites, allowing aspiring or professional game designers to use MakeVR for all of their in-game character modeling built entirely on Vive! On top of that, the 3D models themselves can be sent to a 3D printer, turning your creations into real physical objects like toys, cell phone cases, furniture, decorations… the sky truly is the limit! If you don’t have access to a 3D printer of your own, MakeVR makes it incredibly easy to integrate with the mail order Shapeways service to have your models sent directly to your doorstep. Sixense Entertainment really deserves praise for taking high-quality sculpting and creation tools into VR, allowing people of all skill levels to create with ease and see immediate results. It’s software like this that elevates the VR medium, highlighting the power of what’s possible when we’re able to manifest our imagination before our eyes. Whether you’re a seasoned design pro or looking to start turning your dreams into a reality, don’t pass up MakeVR for a chance make the impossible, possible. MakeVR is available on Viveport and in Viveport Subscription.

Viveport Review: VRobot: VR Giant Destruction Simulator Prepare for a smashing good time as a 100-foot-tall robot! Don’t fail. The human race is counting on you. By Desmond Madison, Greenlit Content Ready for a smashing good time? Break out your robo-fists and prepare to unleash chaos and destruction on the planet across 16 different cities, in your ultimate quest to save humanity from a world overrun by self-driving cars and service bots that have taken the place of people across the globe. That’s right, the premise behind this outrageous arcade action sandbox game is that you’re controlling a 100ft robot from high in the skies, smashing robo-society to make room once again for humans. How exactly will you be smashing your way back to global dominance? Simple. You’ll be thrust into the middle of an urban area with a short timer ticking away that challenges you to destroy everything in the time limit. You’ll smash into buildings, toss them across the skies, grab airplanes mid-flight, drown boats and lob cars across town in an effort to (ahem) level the playing field. The more you progress, the more you’ll unlock a host of outrageously over the top weapons in your arsenal of ultimate devastation. There’s a tractor beam that will latch onto buildings, pluck them out of the ground and pull them to you instantaneously; a 50 foot sword that will allow you to slice and chop away at skyscrapers like butter; a tornado shooting gun that hurls whirlwinds of chaos across the streets sending objects spinning out of control; and even a Thor-like hammer that brings the thunderous power of the gods to your fingertips as you crush buildings like tin cans in one fell swoop. The game is still being updated by the developers at Luden.io, and fans are encouraged to join the community and vote on expanding environments and weapons as more content is added to the experience. The overall light-hearted vibe and low polygon art direction of the game keep things simple and fun, and really makes for an experience that’s approachable for players of all ages. No blood, guts or gore, but plenty of robot-smashing action that promises to scratch that itch of anyone wanting to crumble buildings and just maybe get a little cathartic release along the way. Some levels even introduced boss battles against the SuperRobot 3000, and you’ll get a huge kick out of going toe to toe with robots your size. Overall, VRobot: VR Giant Destruction Simulator makes right on the promise of its own name. Its vibrant style and sense of humor will keep you laughing, and others laughing at you, while you stomp and slash around your room wreaking havoc on the unsuspecting robo-residents within each city. There isn’t much more of a plot or a story to keep things interesting beyond the action, but players will want to challenge each other for high scores in their total annihilation and should look forward to a smashing good time that keeps things fun and fast-paced. If games like Rampage and War of the Monsters have a fond place in your gaming memories of yesteryear, give VRobot a chance to let your live out their spirit in VR for a highly entertaining experience that you won’t want to miss. VRobot: VR Giant Robot Destruction Simulator is available on Viveport and in Viveport Subscription.

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.

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.

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.

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.