#vr review

[crazydiscostu]

Aubika Rechargeable Grip Covers For Quest 2

Finally!

We recently covered Aubika‘s fantastic Excellence Head Strap and Battery Pack combo and very impressed we were too! Aubika were kind enough to pass our review on to their design team in an effort to further develop their products with user-focus in mind. They even let us have a shot at their new rechargeable grip covers for Quest 2. Take a gander! Aubika rechargeable grip covers supplied for…

[hasellia]

Papers Please is meant to be played on a Wacom Cintiq.

Like no joke, crank up that air con, check how much money you have in your bank acount, tell your family you love them over the phone, buy yourself a $1000+ art tablet and live in the immersion. Experiance the neck strain as you manually flick through every document on your cluttered desk with your arms and hands as time runs out. It's a treat!

[ryanbeardy]

Music and games have been intertwined since the beginning. Sometimes that relationship can result in something more. In this video I'll explore the legacy of Rez, Synesthesia, and the talented minds behind this unique philosophy.

[professionallyunprofessional]

The 7th Guest VR

If you've been following me for any length of time, you know that The 7th Guest is one of my most favorite games ever. I have talked about pretty much every iteration of it on here, except for things like the mobile 'Infection' game and the T7G board game (which, sadly, I don't own). It is time for me to talk about it again. :D

This past year, a VR remake of The 7th Guest was created by Vertigo Games. It was teased both on its own Facebook page and on Trilobyte's pages as well. The game was released on October 19th, 2023. I would be lying if I said that I didn't want a VR headset just for that game. I got both a headset and the game for Christmas.

As always, spoilers below the cut. But the TL;DR version of this review is thus- This game is very good. 4/5 stars. From the moment I first started it up, it already had the gloriously spooky vibes of the original. For this review, I'm going to break it down into parts, wherein I'll be talking about both the good and bad of each.

The Gameplay

When I first heard that a VR remake of T7G was being made, I was excited. I had such fond memories of the original, and it was an absolute treat to revisit the Stauf Mansion. Experiencing it now is a whole new level of amazing. Not only are the graphics much sharper, of course, but you can see so much more of the house. Instead of a still frame backdrop like the original, you’re able to freely wander around the rooms and interact with objects. A few rooms were scrapped (the art gallery and laboratory were removed entirely, and the maze/catacombs were reworked into a storage room and basement), but I feel like it doesn’t take anything away from the game. If anything, the removal/revamping of certain areas streamlined things.

A new mechanic added to the remake is the lantern your character walks around with. With the lantern, you can spawn in items, see hidden messages on the walls, and get hints for some of the puzzles. It took some getting used to, but I thought it was fun. The original game was point-and-click, so it was cool to see something new added to it.

Slightly less successful, at least for me, were some of the spooky effects in the remake. The original game had the occasional cutscene that wasn’t necessarily plot relevant, but they were still fun. Hands coming out of a picture, floating table settings, a clown ghost appearing in the game room, the Woman in White beckoning you to follow her, etc. The remake's spooky effects come in two ways- One is blink-and-you'll-miss-it moments of shadowy figures appearing in rooms and hallways. Another is paintings that change when you shine your lantern on them.

The Story

Both the original 7th Guest and the VR remake tell the story of one fateful, bloody night at the mansion of the disgraced toymaker Henry Stauf. Six guests were purposely invited, and a seventh was very much in the wrong place at the wrong time. The original game had an opening blurb about the events leading up to the story of the game, but the VR remake takes it a step further. Not only does the story of Stauf’s childhood slowly unfold throughout the game, but each guest’s room has bits of information about them and their backstories that gives insight as to why they accepted the invitation to come to the house. Frankly, I love this. Especially because the expansion of Stauf’s lore gives clarity as to why he chose those six people specifically.

The Characters

The six guests from the original game make their glorious return in the VR remake. In the weeks leading up to the game’s release, Vertigo Games put out various teaser images and video from the game. At first, I was skeptical (a few of the characters seemed not quite right for their parts), but I think most of the actors did a fantastic job. In particular, I adored both Temple and Elinor. I wasn’t particularly wowed by their choice for Henry Stauf, though. To me, Carl Wharton didn’t have quite the same oomph that Robert Hirschboeck brought to the role.

The Music

The soundtrack for 7th Guest VR was composed by Jonathan van den Wijngaarden, and I think he did a fantastic job. His score has the same delightfully spooky, but still strangely beautiful quality to it, especially with several of the tracks including familiar tunes from the original. George ‘The Fat Man’ Sanger himself even contributed to the piece of music that plays when you enter the chapel. I honestly have no complaints about the music. It was my favorite thing in the original and it might be one of my favorite things about the remake.

The Puzzles

I was very curious as to what the puzzles would be like in the remake. I have to say, I’m impressed. They have been reworked entirely, with each puzzle now being distinctly themed to whatever room it’s in. Temple’s puzzles all have to do with stage magic tricks, Julia’s puzzles are about either drinking or her fear of getting old, the kitchen puzzles involve things like finding ingredients for soup, etc. The only one that hasn’t changed is the puzzle with the 8 queens in the game room. If I had to nitpick something, it would be that it’s not always easy to spot the puzzles. Unlike the original game, there is no pulsing brain icon to show you what’s a puzzle and what isn’t.

The Easter Eggs

The 7th Guest VR is full of delightful nods to the original 7th Guest. The achievements you can unlock are all named for bits of dialogue from the original game, the dining room has a few glorious nods to the original dining room scene, and there was one particularly delightful music-based Easter egg I stumbled upon purely by accident (pro-tip: Explore every wardrobe, cabinet, and closet).

All in all, this game is fantastic. Not quite perfect, but almost.

[theanimeg]

Shangri-la Frontier Episode 13 (Review) The Final Preparations! Learning...

[ronelgomes]

Apple Vision Pro: Features, Uses, Advantages & Disadvantages.

Apple vision pro is Apple’s first virtual reality headset. The Vision Pro has a completely three-dimensional interface that can be operated with your hands, voice, and eyes. It includes Apple’s first three-dimensional camera. And allowing users to record, relive, and fully immerse themselves in 3D spatial images and films. The headgear includes LiDAR + TrueDepth depth sensors, two high-resolution, one four-megapixel color camera, eye and facial tracking, and other capabilities. The gaming, media consumption, and communication-enabled visionOS software powers the gadget. The headset offers a 96Hz mode for specific usage cases and can refresh up to 90 Hz. Accessibility features for the gadget additionally include eye and hand motion control.

[mamun247]

Sonitum Headset with Microphone - Noise Canceling Computer Headset for Office

[simptasticjoe]

No Man's Sky: A Redemption Story with Limitations

Before its release, “No Man’s Sky” promised an unparalleled gaming experience. The journey from a disappointing debut to its rise in popularity has been well-documented by The Internet Historian, and it’s indeed an inspiring story of dedication and persistence. However, having delved into the vast universe of the game, I find it boring. Yes, “No Man’s Sky” is visually stunning. The sheer variety…

[aviyinglet]

Maddy’s VR Game Recs #4: The Broad Concept of Social VR

I've heard three apps are good: VRChat, ChilloutVR, and Neos. I've only used VRChat, and despite its problems (Easy Anti-Cheat and bad CPU utilization), even when it's bad it's good; I've been dealing with video card troubles over the past two weeks and I've still been happy to show up for this.

With custom avatars you have total control over your appearance (proportional to how much effort you want to put in); you can converse locally and face-to-face with friends without pandemic risk/from the comfort of your home, and in a queer furry context, it approximates the fantasy of getting to visit a world filled with animal people and make friends by having natural conversations with them. There are some people I only know as their fursona, and they only know me as the 5000-triangle tortoise with fursuit eyes doing a Chowder Man dance in the corner -- but that's also the identity I fought to put together for myself, so it's basically ideal.

The worlds are remarkable as well, many of them are places where people express their personal vision of reality as a place to hang out in (CooperTom's worlds are a pretty good starting point for this), others are art installations or places where Unity-engine features are used to demonstrate awe-inspiring effects. I've visited worlds from works of fiction just to stand inside them and get a sense of their scale; I've seen the Argentum trade guild from Xenoblade 2 in person, as well as the Phantasy Star Online lobby and a 3D recreation of Snowdin Town; they just let you do that here, and it rules!

A disclaimer: I do not visit public worlds, I only create private instances of worlds I want to visit and either explore on my own, invite people I know, or go to meetups organized by others. So for the social aspects I think you'd need existing VR friends or an 'in' to a community, lest you otherwise end up in a world filled with edgelords and spoiled children. Bear that in mind and you'll probably have a good time.

[turtlethon]

Turtlethon Extra Slices: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures" #1

Above: Cover "A" for TMNT: SMA #1, by Tim Lattie.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures is a new ongoing comic series by IDW Publishing that presents original stories set in the continuity of the 1987 TMNT cartoon. The first issue’s story, “VR in Deep Trouble”, is written by Erik Burnham, with art by Tim Lattie, colours by Sarah Myer and lettering by Shawn Lee. 

NOTE: Mild spoilers to follow, but unlike regular Turtlethon entries this won’t be an exhaustive frame-by-frame analysis of the comic, just a general overview and my thoughts. There are plenty of surprises throughout for seasoned viewers of the show, and I don’t want to ruin it for you! 

Above: The Turtles hooked up to Donatello's new simulator.

April reports on the relentless rain that has been a burden upon New York as of late. With a supercell storm about to make the situation even worse, the Turtles find themselves stuck in the Lair. Donatello sees this as an opportunity to road test his new battle simulator, which he declares is like virtual reality “but more advanced”. The other Turtles and Splinter are divided as to whether this is a good idea, but eventually agree to give it a try. 

Above: Leonardo battles Baxter Stockman in a fighting game setup paying homage to the Super Nintendo version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters.

Once the Turtles are inside the program, Donatello reveals that the setup is a game of capture the flag, but with a twist – if they fail to do so, the flag disappears, and the team will need to engage in one of a series of mini-games before they can have another try. While the quartet take on a simulated version of Shredder – and discover that they can feel pain while playing – a lightning strike back in the real world causes the system to malfunction. Now the Turtles are unable to leave, and each of our heroes finds themselves doing combat with a variety of their old foes in different genres of video game as they search for a way out. 

“VR in Deep Trouble” is a light-hearted and engaging debut issue for this series, that generally feels faithful to the spirit of the 1987 cartoon, specifically the long stretch during the show’s heyday where it wasn’t afraid to be irreverent and silly. The depictions of the characters are almost spot on, their dialogue and interactions perhaps not an exact match to what we saw on TV, but I think it’s okay to bring a little bit of a modern sensibility to the proceedings. New writers working in this sandbox thirty years after the event will inevitably have a different approach than the creators of the old cartoon. 

Above: Donatello from the pages of Saturday Morning Adventures #1 versus his appearance in the season three episode "Turtles at the Earth's Core".

Similarly, the artwork captures the spirit of the 1987 series while incorporating a modern polish; the saucer-eyed Turtles evoke memories of season two and three episodes like “Return of the Technodrome” and “Turtles at the Earth’s Core”, and while those weren’t the flashiest outings in the original series, seeing that vibe in the pages of Saturday Morning Adventures makes me happy.  

Above: Rocksteady is one of more than thirty old enemies that the Turtles battle while trapped in the simulation, retaining his helmet from season one.

The big draw for veteran Turtles fans will be the bonkers levels of easter eggs and cameos incorporated into this story; once Donatello’s game malfunctions a plethora of familiar villains appear, many from episodes I've written about for Turtlethon, as well as a few from the toyline and later years of the show that I've still to cover. Almost none of them get to say or do a whole lot, but they’re fun to see. This does lead me to worry that perhaps the series is doing too much too fast, and that by shoehorning in practically every notable villain in the first issue – albeit in simulated form – Saturday Morning Adventures might have peaked too early. Hopefully the remaining issues will be compelling enough in their own right to overcome this. 

Issue #1 of Saturday Morning Adventures gets a big thumbs up from me, a nostalgic romp that manages to incorporate the conventions of modern comic storytelling to great effect. You can purchase it now from your local comic store, digitally through Kindle/Comixology, or directly from IDW’s website. 

[hardcoregamer]

Review: PlayStation VR2

We’re glad Sony didn’t give up, as even with its issues, the PlayStation VR2 is one of the best VR headsets available from a pure value proposition aspect. This is an incredible piece of hardware with high resolution lens, a comfortable, form-fitting design and fantastic controllers. 

Read more!

[hardcore-gaming-101]

Kingdom Hearts (Miscellaneous)

In addition to the main Kingdom Hearts game series, a number of smaller games exist that tie into the series. This section will attempt to gloss these titles.

Read more...

[athrox-h]

Just watched "We met in virtual reality"

I gotta say, this was an interesting experience. Many critics noted that this feels less like a cohesive documentary and more like an anthology of sorts and I certainly see where they come from.

To sum it up, the Doc. shows the lives of various people in VR Chat during the COVID-Pandemic. I gotta say, I was blown away by the opportunities you have within the software, I really wasn't expecting body-tracking to be so advanced that you can do sign-language in-game. There is the point that most of it feels dystopian, a way to escape reality, but I don't really see it that way. For one, all the people interviewed seem to have a healthy connection with reality and were just looking for a way to remain social in the midst of all the lockdowns and isolation. Plus for some them this is a way to enhacne their reality, to incrase their opportunities and to come together and that feels really wholesome.

But what does that mean for the overall quality? Since all of it is shot within the game the style and animation is a lot to get used to and the uncanniness never really leaves. It also requires you to already know most of the things about vrchat since it doesn't get explained within the doc. But yeah, none of it could really deter my enjoyment. I find it interesting, fascinating and I'm in awe at how humans managed to transfrom this space into something meaningful and find happiness or even love in it. Who knows, maybe one day I'll explore this world too...

6,5/10

[mythos05reviews]

3/5 stars

I'm not sure if this is for the manga or the light novel. I am up to date with the manga but am currently reading the light novel. I did notice some differences so far, but they're not that big I believe so far. I do believe that I like the manga better than the light novel because I can actually see the character's actions in comparison to the light novel. I'm not sure I can continue the light novel unless I can find a better translation because it's getting hard to understand in some chapters. This makes me miss a lot of context or events that are going on. It's also taking way too long to catch up.

Right off the bat, I will tell you that the MC is really dumb and can make stupid decisions throughout the journey. It's the typical OP MC but in this case, he is heavily relying on the weapons that he makes. I am more interested in how blacksmithing works, but so far there has been little information given. I'm also trying to figure out the goal of the story because I believe that'll get repetitive at some point if the author has no clear goal.

[b3crew]

REVIEW | "Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual" | B3 - Boston Bastard Brigade 

Ever dream of working side-by-side with one of your favorite fictional characters? We all do that as kids, but sometimes even adults have fantasies of going on adventures with their favorite heroes and action stars. One of my faves growing up was Sam & Max, with their LucasArts adventure game and Fox Kids TV show still being staples of my childhood. And as a kid, I would imagine the wacky capers I’d go on with the police dog and rabbit thingy.

Flash forward decades later, myself now a grown adult that now does the things adults have to do. Surprisingly, Sam & Max are still around, thanks in part to their fantastic Telltale seasons that stay true to both their comics and TV series. And now with the power of virtual reality, I could finally go on that adventure my younger self wished he could experience. Sam & Max: This Time It’s Virtual lets fans experience an adventure with the wacky cops, albeit with some things slightly askewed.

Players begin at the tail end of a wild Sam & Max adventure, as you aid in dealing with a massive worm monster. Impressed with your skills, Sam offers you the chance to work alongside them on the team. Dubbed “Lumpy” by Max, you are tasked to go through all sorts of police training, while at the same time handle small disturbances that happen around town. Knowing Sam & Max, the training isn’t exactly by-the-book.

Using an abandoned amusement park, Sam & Max put through through various training involving shooting, obstacle courses, and the occasional escape room. These levels will help train your skills for the big time, as demons, time travelers, and Aquabears cause chaos for you and the lovably chaotic police duo. All of it is captured in immersive virtual reality, with many of the levels giving a solid feel of actually being there. Of course, it’s not without some issues.

Click here to read the rest of the review!

[gmgnexus]

VR Chronicles: Unleashing the Future

Introduction Virtual reality has come a long way from its clunky beginnings. Today, it’s not just about strapping on a headset and escaping reality—it’s about creating new ones. From gaming to education, healthcare to architecture, VR is reshaping our experiences. So, grab your controllers and let’s teleport into the latest VR news! 1. Meta’s Horizon Worlds: The Metaverse Beckons Meta…