The GDC demo will introduce:

• Two-player co-op gameplay, supported by AI teammates
• Procedurally generated missions, ensuring different layouts and enemy placements each session
• Unreal Engine 5 visuals, featuring real-time lighting and physics-based interactions

Players can choose between different roles, including a flanker, suppressor, or technician, each with unique abilities affecting battlefield strategy. The game emphasizes strategic movement, suppressive fire mechanics, and environmental interactions.

Alongside Exoshock, VRAL Games will present other VR titles at GDC, including:

• VRIDER SBK – A motorcycle racing simulator for PSVR2 and SteamVR
• Squingle – A physics-based puzzle game for Apple Vision Pro
• Toxic Therapy – A sandbox destruction game focused on chaotic interactions

GDC attendees can book an Exoshock demo session, with limited media passes available for journalists and influencers. The game is currently in development with a planned release on VR platforms.

Gameplay and Features
In Mythic Realms, players embark on procedurally generated expeditions, gathering resources, fighting enemies, and expanding their kingdom after each run. The game offers:

• Room-Scale Mixed Reality Combat – Enemies can move around furniture and emerge from walls, while boss fights take over the player’s space, including battles against a fire-breathing dragon.
• Kingdom Building – Players return from expeditions with resources to improve their kingdom and develop new gear.
• Multiple Playstyles – Three classes—Knight, Ranger, and Mage—each wield a variety of weapons, including swords, bows, staves, and shuriken.
• Dynamic Expeditions – Players choose how to approach each adventure, whether through combat, exploration, or gathering.

Mythic Realms is available for pre-order now on the Meta Store for $17.99 with a 10% discount.

About the Developer
Petricore, an independent studio founded in 2015, specializes in immersive experiences across VR and AR platforms. The team has worked on projects for Meta, Apple Vision Pro, and Pico, in addition to creating original IPs.

From enhancing comfort and convenience to improving audio quality or adding a touch of realism to your favorite games, this list is packed with accessories that will help you or your loved one get the most out of the Meta Quest 3/3S. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or hunting for the perfect gift, there’s something here for every type of VR enthusiast.

Let’s dive into the best Meta Quest 3 accessories we recommend you add to your VR setup!

1. BOBOVR S3 Pro Battery Strap

A premium head strap for the Meta Quest 3, designed for comfort and extended playtime.

This strap is a must-have for gamers who want to extend their play sessions without worrying about battery life. With its ergonomic design and built-in cooling system, it’s perfect for long VR sessions and ensures maximum comfort for casual and hardcore users alike.

Key Features:

• 10,000mAh hot-swappable battery.
• Integrated cooling system for extended sessions.
• Ergonomic design to reduce facial pressure.
• Adjustable auxiliary bracket.

Preview	Product	Price
	BOBOVR S3 Pro Battery Strap Accessories,Head Air Cooling System and 10000mah Hot-swappable Battery…	$89.99	Buy on Amazon

2. AMVR Controller Grips with Easy Battery Access

Enhanced controller grips for Meta Quest 3 controllers, offering comfort and quick battery replacement.

These grips are ideal for VR users who value convenience and security during play. The easy battery access makes them a practical choice for anyone who frequently swaps batteries, while the soft grip ensures hours of comfortable gaming.

Key Features:

• Easy battery compartment access.
• Soft silicone for secure grip.
• Adjustable knuckle straps for a snug fit.
• Protective design against scratches.

Preview	Product	Price
	AMVR Upgraded Controller Grips Cover Compatible with Meta/Oculus Quest 3S/Quest 3 Accessories, with…	$24.99	Buy on Amazon

3. VR Optician Prescription Lenses

Custom lens inserts tailored to your prescription for a better VR experience.

This accessory is a game-changer for anyone who wears glasses. Say goodbye to the discomfort of wearing frames under your headset and enjoy clear, sharp visuals tailored to your eyesight.

Key Features:

• Personalized prescription lenses.
• Anti-reflection and optional blue light filtering.
• Easy installation and secure fit.

Price: $69.00 (base price)
Buy on VR Optician

4. BOBOVR B100 Battery Pack

A hot-swappable 10,000mAh battery for the BOBOVR S3 Pro Battery Strap.

Perfect for anyone using the BOBOVR S3 Pro Strap, this battery pack ensures uninterrupted gameplay. Its hot-swappable design makes it easy to replace on the go, making it an essential for serious VR gamers.

Key Features:

• High-capacity battery for extended play.
• Magnetic connectors for easy use.
• Efficient battery management system.

Preview	Product	Price
	BOBOVR B100 Battery Pack for S3 Pro Replacement 10000mAh Hot-Swap Battery Accessories, Magnetic…	$39.99	Buy on Amazon

5. BOBOVR BD3 Charging Dock

A dedicated charging dock for BOBOVR B100 batteries.

This charging dock is perfect for organized VR setups, allowing you to keep multiple batteries ready for action. Great for VR enthusiasts with long gaming sessions or shared headsets.

Key Features:

• Simultaneous charging for up to three batteries.
• Digital display for real-time charging status.
• Compact and organized design.

Preview	Product	Price
	BOBOVR BD3 Charging Dock, Providing Fast Charging for 3*B100, 30W Power, 0-80% in Just 1 Hour	$39.99	Buy on Amazon

6. Cases for BOBOVR S3 Pro and Meta Quest 3

Protect your Meta Quest 3 and accessories with a range of durable cases.

Whether you’re traveling or just storing your gear, a sturdy case is essential. These options are tailored for Meta Quest 3 users who want convenience, organization, and peace of mind.

Options:

• BOBOVR C3 Carrying Case: $39.99
  Buy on Amazon
• Nargos Carrying Case: $35.99
  Buy on Amazon
• DEVASO Large Case: $42.99
  Buy on Amazon
• LXFEIFANTECH Case: $49.99
  Buy on Amazon

Preview	Product	Price
	BOBOVR C3 Carrying Case,Three Versatile Modes, Desktop Stand for Tidy Workspace, Compatible with…	$59.99	Buy on Amazon

7. AMVR Table Tennis Paddle Grip Handle

An accessory for a realistic table tennis experience in VR.

This grip handle is a fantastic choice for fans of table tennis games like Eleven Table Tennis. Its realistic design adds a tactile layer of immersion, making it feel like you’re playing the real sport.

Key Features:

• Realistic paddle design.
• Ambidextrous use.
• Secure fit and non-slip handle.

Preview	Product	Price
	AMVR Upgraded Controller Grips Cover and Table Tennis Paddle Compatible with Meta/Oculus Quest 3…		Buy on Amazon

8. YEZRO Golf Club Attachment

A weighted golf club accessory for Meta Quest 3.

If you’re a fan of VR golf games like Golf+, this attachment is a must-have. It offers the weight and feel of a real golf club, making every swing feel authentic.

Key Features:

• Adjustable weight for realistic feel.
• 90-degree adapter for better tracking.
• Genuine golf club grip.

Preview	Product	Price
	YEZRO Golf Club Attachment for Meta Quest 3S/3 – Adjustable Weighted Aluminum VR Golf Club Handle…	$59.99	Buy on Amazon

9. Soundcore VR P10 Wireless Gaming Earbuds

High-quality wireless earbuds with low latency for VR.

For those who want crystal-clear audio and ultra-low latency, these earbuds are a perfect fit. They’re great for immersive gaming and long sessions with pass-through charging.

Key Features:

• Ultra-low latency (under 30ms).
• Dual connection (dongle + Bluetooth).
• Pass-through charging.

Preview	Product	Price
	Soundcore VR P10 Gaming Earbuds-Low Latency, Meta Officially Co-branded, Dual Connection, 2.4GHz…	$79.99	Buy on Amazon

10. CYBVR Weighted Gun Stock Controller Grips

Enhance your VR shooting experience with weighted controller grips.

Ideal for fans of VR shooters like Onward or Pistol Whip, these grips add weight and realism to every shot, helping you aim better and immerse deeper.

Key Features:

• Realistic weight with customizable blocks.
• Durable ABS plastic build.
• Textured grips for steady aim.

Preview	Product	Price
	CYBVR Weighted Gun Stock Controller Grips for The Meta Quest 3 – VR Gun Accessories for The Meta…		Buy on Amazon

11. Razer Hammerhead HyperSpeed Earbuds

Premium earbuds with ultra-low latency audio for VR.

These earbuds are perfect for competitive gamers who need high-quality audio and no delays. With ANC and dual connectivity, they’re also great for multitasking between VR and other devices.

Key Features:

• 2.4GHz dongle for low-latency connection.
• Active noise cancellation.
• Up to 30 hours of battery life.

Preview	Product	Price
	Razer Hammerhead HyperSpeed Wireless Gaming Earbuds for VR: Meta Quest 2 & 3 Authorized – 2.4Ghz…	$134.20	Buy on Amazon

The Meta Quest 3 and 3S are incredible devices that opens the door to countless immersive experiences, but the right accessories can elevate your VR adventures even further. Whether you’re enhancing comfort, boosting performance, or adding a touch of realism to your favorite games, these accessories are designed to help you get the most out of your headset.

Whether you’re shopping for yourself or looking for the perfect gift for a VR enthusiast in your life, these additions offer something for everyone—from casual users to dedicated gamers. Take the time to consider what you or your loved one needs most, and make the Meta Quest 3 experience truly unforgettable.

Now, it’s time to gear up and dive into the world of virtual reality like never before!

Lights, Camera… Action!

Action Hero casts you as an actor/stuntman playing the lead on various movie sets, a clever premise that should breathe new life into Superhot’s time-manipulation mechanics. The game unfolds across five distinct “movies,” each broken into four acts. Each Act consists of five or six action-packed vignettes. Your director then encourages or chides you through sequences ranging from high-speed battles atop a moving train to Matrix-inspired showdowns.

The Hollywood setting proves genuinely inspired, offering a natural justification for the game’s segmented structure and repeated attempts at perfection. Each “movie” pays homage to different action genres—you’ll find yourself channeling Indiana Jones one moment and Neo the next. The aptly named “The Code” sequence, with its cyberpunk aesthetic and reality-bending set pieces stands out as a particular highlight.

While the concept and setting work well, there is definitely room for improvement. You can choose between two directors at the beginning of the game, but this choice seems to be entirely limited to the voice-over that pushes you through the game, which is a real missed opportunity.

Had the choice between the directors been integrated into the actual gameplay mechanics, the option between two distinct personalities could have been transformative rather than merely superficial. Had the stricter director imposed time limits, restricted the number of retakes before “firing” you, or demanded specific style points for a scene, the game would have been much improved. Similarly, the other director could have offered more generous conditions but lower score multipliers.

Implementing such mechanics would have perfectly aligned with the movie-making premise while adding meaningful replay value and, at the same time, offering the game at least one gameplay addition to set Action Hero apart from its inspiration. Instead, we’re left with little more than a voice pack selection.

A Time-Tested Formula

Let’s address the poignantly static elephant in the room: Action Hero‘s core gameplay is virtually identical to Superhot. Time moves only when you do, creating a strategic dance of bullet-dodging and precision shooting. This “bullet ballet” remains as engaging as ever, with each vignette playing out as a spatial puzzle where plotting your path through enemies requires both tactical thinking and physical prowess.

The game shines in its moment-to-moment gameplay. Consider a sequence atop a speeding train, where motorcycles leap through the air amid explosive chaos—time crawls to a stop as you map out your response, each movement a calculated risk. When scanning your surroundings, you learn to move with exaggerated slowness as any quick head turns accelerate the incoming threats. Players will use these temporal mechanics to master each scene, eventually blossoming from a cautious planner to an action hero who can handle real-time combat with practiced grace.

Individual scenes can be completed in seconds, but perfecting them becomes an addictive pursuit. The game includes a “normal speed” toggle that lets veteran players attempt runs without the time manipulation crutch, adding another challenge for leaderboard chasers. It’s the kind of game that can steal minutes or hours as “just one more try” becomes your evening’s mantra.

However, where Action Hero falters is in its reluctance to innovate. While Superhot’s mechanics were revolutionary, their direct reproduction here feels safe to a fault. The game could have explored new variations on the time-manipulation theme—perhaps scenes where time moves backward, where maintaining momentum is crucial, or where particular objects remain in real-time while others slow down. Instead, it settles for being an exceptionally well-produced clone of an exceptionally well-made original.

Blockbuster Flair

The most significant departure from Superhot comes in the visual design. Gone is the stark white-and-red minimalism, replaced with vibrant, colorful environments that pop in VR. The movie set themes allow for varied locations and spectacular set pieces—exploding barrels, mid-air motorcycle jumps, and Matrix-style environmental effects create memorable moments.

However, this shift comes with tradeoffs. While Superhot’s minimalist aesthetic achieved a timeless elegance, Action Hero‘s more conventional approach, though polished, feels less distinct. The blockbuster styling is well-executed but lacks the iconic visual identity of its inspiration. It’s a reminder that sometimes less truly is more. That said, this will come down to personal preference as there will doubtless be many who prefer the bombacity of the blockbuster aesthetic. I prefer the context and flair given by the action movie set motif, but I know that others (Ed.) will not agree.

Setting the Scene

The sound design effectively serves both form and function. Slow-motion explosions and gunfire sound satisfying and provide crucial spatial awareness cues. A barrel exploding in slow motion to your right naturally draws your attention. The audio mixing cleverly balances the needs of both slow-motion and real-time gameplay, ensuring important sound cues remain clear regardless of your temporal state.

The sound design also pulls double duty, simultaneously selling both the action movie experience and the “behind-the-scenes” setting of a movie set. The addition of director voice-overs adds personality, though as mentioned earlier, the two-director system feels like a missed opportunity for more profound gameplay variation. The overall soundscape successfully reinforces both the action movie premise and the core gameplay mechanics.

Cut! Reset! Let’s go again!

Action Hero presents a challenging dilemma for reviewers. Viewed in isolation, it’s an exceptionally well-crafted VR action game that delivers satisfying gameplay in digestible chunks. The movie set premise is clever, the execution is polished, and the core mechanics—borrowed as they may be—remain compelling.

Yet it’s impossible to ignore the game’s derivative nature. This isn’t merely inspired by Superhot; it’s essentially Superhot with a fresh coat of paint. While the original broke new ground, Action Hero seems content to merely redecorate it. The additions it does make—the movie set premise, colorful visuals, and director system—feel more like surface-level changes than meaningful evolution.

For players who have never experienced Superhot, Action Hero offers an excellent entry point into this style of VR action. Those craving more of Superhot’s unique gameplay will find a pseudo-sequel on offer and will likely relish it for its familiarity. However, veterans of the original may find themselves wishing for more innovation beneath the Hollywood glamour.

Concept: 4
Gameplay: 8
Graphics: 8
Sound: 7.5
Longevity: 8
Overall: 7.5

Color by numbers Superhot

Action Hero

TLDR : Summary

Action Hero combines Superhot VR’s mechanics with a Hollywood flair. It’s fun, polished, and visually dynamic, but lacks meaningful innovation. Great for new players; veterans may crave more.

Concept

4

Gameplay

8

Graphics

8

Audio

7.5

Longevity

8

User Rating0 Votes

0

Pros

Engaging time-manipulation

Fun Hollywood premise

Polished, colorful visuals

Strong replay value

Immersive spatial audio

Cons

Lacks innovation

Shallow director system

Feels derivative

Less iconic design

Limited gameplay variety

7.5

Derivative

Get it on the Meta Store

Action Hero

A Tale of Two Games

Behemoth casts you as Ren, a lonely warrior travelling cursed lands to battle giant monsters and save his people. The narrative, while predictable, is well-delivered through an engaging mix of environmental storytelling and voice-overs. Unlike many other narrative-driven VR titles, the game respects player agency during exposition, allowing you to move and interact while absorbing the story rather than trapping you in static dialogue sequences.

The game’s lore is cleverly distributed through interactable items throughout the world. This optional approach to narrative depth works surprisingly well – you can engage with as much or as little of the background story as you wish, with voice-overs playing seamlessly as you continue your adventure. It’s a thoughtful solution to the common VR storytelling challenge of maintaining immersion while delivering plot.

Let’s Fight!

The majority of Behemoth plays as a medieval combat adventure with satisfying physics-based melee combat at its heart. The game offers a reasonable selection of weapons, from swords and daggers to axes and bows, as well as 3 special weapons that stay with the character and are upgraded throughout the campaign. Each of the weapons feels appropriately weighty thanks to a solid physics system reminiscent of Saints & Sinners. This physics system, along with great sound effects and crisp animations, delivers satisfyingly impactful combat that drives the action sequences throughout the campaign.

In addition to the standard array of melee weapons, Behemoth also provides a grappling hook, which is a lot of fun to use. While initially finicky, it quickly becomes an invaluable tool for both vertical traversal and combat. Grappling an enemy’s leg and yanking the rope will pull them off balance, opening new opportunities to attack. The grapple can also quickly reposition the player during fights, pull enemies off ledges, or pull distant health pickups to you during intense battles. This versatility adds a welcome layer of depth to the combat system.

Combat in Behemoth employs a stamina system that, while not overly restrictive, adds a tactical element to combat. When depleted, your arms become notably weaker, the weight of your weapons becoming far more tangible as you can barely lift them to defend yourself. The system feels well-balanced and fair, giving you enough stamina for aggressive play while preventing endless flailing and encouraging a tactical dynamic that serves the game well.

All that said, the combat definitely struggles to find balance in other areas. The “strength” ability feels massively overpowered from the start. Once you get used to relying on this power, most combat encounters become trivial. This is compounded as you upgrade your weapons to the point that late-game human boss fights that should be climactic challenges can be defeated in under a minute.

The power in and of itself isn’t bad, but its implementation highlights a real misstep in progression. While the skill can be upgraded over time, all of the enhancements feel superficial when compared to the abilities base power. Had this been a skill that grew from more humble beginnings throughout the campaign, then waltzing through late-stage combat would have felt empowering and hard-earned. Instead, Behemoth effectively provides a built-in cheat code that makes every encounter almost game-breakingly easy from the outset.

Behemoth also undercuts the tension it otherwise creates by providing generous health pickups throughout combat areas. This abundance means you’ll rarely feel pressured in combat by the game’s latter half, knowing that healing items are always readily available.

The game includes an arena mode in beta, offering additional combat challenges for those seeking more action after the main campaign. While it provides a pure test of the combat mechanics, including encounters with the game’s human bosses at higher waves, its repetitive nature and inability to use upgraded weapons from the campaign may limit its long-term appeal.

Hardly a Head-Scratcher

Behemoth’s puzzle elements represent one of its weaker aspects. Most puzzles boil down to simple box-moving exercises that feel more like busy work than genuine challenges. While there are occasional clever moments – such as using the grappling hook to create swing points for objects – even these more innovative puzzles lack complexity and can typically be solved in just two or three moves. Compared to contemporaries like Asgard’s Wrath 2, the puzzle design feels particularly underdeveloped.

In fact, overall, there seems to be a noticeable decline in polish and performance as the game progresses. The first two-thirds of the game provides a high-quality and broadly stable experience, but the final third feels rushed, with technical issues occurring more frequently. Combat becomes less reliable, visual glitches become more common and things generally begin to feel a bit repetitive.

This sliding scale of quality is particularly noticeable in the later Behemoth encounters, where the combination of ambitious scale and technical instability creates frustrating experiences that fall short of the game’s early promise.

The Bigger They Are, The Harder They Oof

The titular Behemoth battles, which should be the game’s crown jewels, deliver mixed results. Of the four major encounters, only one or two truly capture the epic scale these battles promise. The second Behemoth battle, featuring a massive flying creature, stands out for its ambition. The concept is thrilling – fighting atop a giant bat-like creature as it soars through clouds, requiring careful climbing and tactical thinking. However, even this highlight suffers from scripted sequences that limit player agency and technical issues that break immersion (if you let it). Our team had mixed responses to this sequence, but I found it one of the coolest things I’ve ever done in VR.

Other Behemoth encounters prove less successful. The third battle, for instance, reduces what should be an epic confrontation to a relatively simple platform/climbing exercise. Where you should feel the tension of scaling a massive, dangerous creature, you instead find yourself comfortably hopping between static platforms or dealing with short, easily manageable climbing sections that never test the stamina system and so never actually feel like a threat. Couple this with excessively forgiving waypoints, which make dying almost meaningless, and you end up with an encounter that feels more pedestrian than the desperate battle against a colossal beast it should have been.

These sections also suffer from various and occasionally severe technical problems, including screen jittering, glitching grab points, and accidental holster triggers. These issues are particularly problematic during climbing sequences, where precision is crucial.

The disappointment is made so much worse by the fact that the Behemoths actually look amazing. At several points before battling each of them, you will see them ponderously moving through the world, and they are a sight to behold. Spotting a massive Behemoth in the distance while completing other objectives creates thrilling moments of anticipation – anticipation that isn’t seldom satisfied when you finally face them.

Pretty With a Side of Jank

Graphically, Behemoth is impressive on the Quest, particularly when compared to other Quest fantasy titles. The environments are varied, from snow-covered landscapes to lush castles and the striking Red Forest. Character models and animations are well-executed, though the lighting can sometimes feel murky, especially in underground areas.

The sound design stands as one of the game’s strongest elements. The score knows when to swell for dramatic moments and when to remain understated. Combat sounds are particularly well-implemented, with weapon impacts carrying satisfying weight through audio cues. Environmental audio adds depth to the experience, with footsteps and echoes changing appropriately based on your surroundings.

However, there are technical issues with the sound implementation, particularly in music transitions. Tracks can cut off abruptly between areas, breaking immersion with jarring silence before new music begins.

A Tale of Diminishing Returns

Behemoth presents a challenging case for reviewers. The first two-thirds of the game offers solid entertainment with satisfying combat mechanics, a well-told narrative and well-crafted environments. The combat system complete with grappling hook provides a nuanced take on melee combat (when not overshadowed by the overpowered strength ability

However, the game’s quality noticeably degrades in its final third, with a less polished level of design and an increasing array of technical glitches. Most disappointingly, the Behemoth battles, which should have been the game’s crowning achievement, on the whole fall well below their colossal potential.

Note: If you’re a fan of Shadow of the Colossus coming to this specifically for massive creature battles, you might want to adjust expectations closer to 7/10.

Skydance's BEHEMOTH

TLDR : Summary

Solid medieval combat adventure with great physics and an awesome grappling hook, but the promised epic monster battles are few and technically troubled. Strong first two-thirds give way to a rushed final act.

Concept

7.5

Gameplay

7.5

Graphics

8

Audio

8.5

Longevity

7.5

User Rating0 Votes

0

Pros

Satisfying physics-based combat with great weapon variety

Versatile grappling hook mechanic adds depth to combat/traversal

Well-implemented environmental storytelling

Strong first two-thirds with polished visuals and sound design

Cons

Overpowered strength ability breaks combat balance

Technical issues increase significantly in final third

Behemoth battles mostly underwhelming and buggy

Puzzles feel underdeveloped and too simple

7.5

Uneven

Get it on the Meta Store

Skydance's BEHEMOTH

Instead of manipulating traditional flippers, players wield large circular paddles to bounce balls through these dynamic spaces. It’s an ingenious reimagining that manages to both honor pinball’s timeless appeal while revolutionizing how we interact with it. The game presents four distinct environments—a Western town, haunted mansion, space station, and pirate ship—each functioning as its own unique playfield while maintaining the core principles that make pinball engaging.

Paddle to the Metal

Bounce Arcade wastes no time getting players into the action, with an efficient tutorial that demonstrates the fundamentals without overstaying its welcome. Each environment serves as a living pinball table, complete with objectives highlighted in yellow (turning green when activated) to guide players through the experience.

Where the game truly shines is in its creative integration of VR-specific interactions. Rather than simply hitting targets, players engage in environment-specific mini-games that break up the traditional pinball flow. The Western town erupts into shooting galleries where players must carefully target bandits while avoiding civilians. The space station challenges players to mine asteroidal resources while dodging hostile defensive systems. These moments aren’t mere distractions but rather clever expansions of pinball’s bonus round concept into full VR experiences.

The fundamental mechanics work flawlessly, with responsive controls that feel natural and intuitive from the first minute of play. Multi-ball sequences, target hits, and special events all trigger smoothly, creating a polished experience that successfully translates pinball’s core appeal into VR. Traditional pinball elements like bonus multipliers and target sequences are present but reimagined through the lens of each environment’s theme.

However, the game’s pacing often works against its creative ambitions. Ball physics feel notably sluggish, with gravity seemingly set too low, resulting in balls that float lazily toward the player rather than maintaining pinball’s characteristic frenetic energy. This leads to unusually long rounds—sometimes lasting 20 to 30 minutes—that feel more like endurance tests than tests of skill. The inability to adjust difficulty settings for individual tables further compounds this issue, with inconsistent difficulty ratings that don’t always match the actual challenge level.

Bounce and Shine

The game adopts a stylized visual approach that prioritizes clarity and character over photorealism. Each environment boasts its own distinct personality, from the warm tones of the Western frontier to the ethereal glow of the haunted mansion. While the graphics may not push the Quest’s hardware to its limits, the cohesive art direction, smooth particle effects, and fluid animations create an inviting and readable playing field that serves the gameplay well.

The visual design emphasizes readability without sacrificing atmosphere, ensuring players can track balls and objectives while remaining immersed in each environment’s unique theme. Special effects during multi-ball sequences and bonus rounds add satisfying visual feedback without overwhelming the player’s view.

Sounds of the Silver Ball

The fundamental pinball sound effects hit all the right notes, with satisfying impacts, chimes, and mechanical feedback that ground the experience in arcade authenticity. Each environment brings its own themed audio flourishes, from creaking floorboards in the haunted mansion to the metallic echoes of the space station. The sound design successfully reinforces the feeling of being inside a living pinball machine while maintaining clarity during hectic sequences.

The musical accompaniment provides distinct themes for each environment that, while competent, tend to fade into the background rather than enhance the experience. The tracks serve their purpose without being memorable, offering appropriate atmospheric support without drawing attention to themselves.

Rolling Returns

The game’s staying power largely depends on your appetite for high-score chasing and leaderboard competition. While the variety of mini-games and VR interactions provide initial entertainment, the game’s limited selection of just four tables and absence of progression systems or customization options constrain its long-term appeal. Without announced DLC plans, dedicated players may find themselves wanting more content after mastering the existing environments.

The game’s relatively low difficulty curve affects its longevity as well. During pre-release testing, it was possible to top global leaderboards without exceptional skill, suggesting that serious pinball enthusiasts might find the challenge lacking. The emphasis seems to be on extended play sessions rather than the quick, intense rounds traditional pinball fans might expect.

Bumper to Bumper

Technical performance remains consistently smooth, with responsive controls and stable framerates even during chaotic multi-ball sequences. However, the game’s core design choices present more significant hurdles. The slow ball physics and generous difficulty drain the urgency from the experience, while the inability to customize difficulty settings for individual tables limits player agency.

The difficulty ratings for each environment often feel arbitrary, with some “easy” tables presenting more challenge than those marked as difficult. This inconsistency, combined with the generally forgiving gameplay, means that success often comes down to patience rather than skill or quick reactions. These issues, combined with the modest content offering, hold Bounce Arcade back from achieving its full potential.

Final Tilt

Bounce Arcade represents an imaginative leap forward for VR pinball, successfully translating the genre’s fundamental appeal into an immersive new format. Its creative mini-games and polished mechanics demonstrate the unique possibilities of virtual reality gaming. The initial impression is genuinely impressive, with many players likely to be wowed by their first few sessions.

However, pacing issues, limited content, and restricted customization options prevent it from becoming a true classic. While it offers an entertaining diversion for casual players and VR enthusiasts, its longevity suffers without more substantial content or progression systems. The lack of challenge may particularly disappoint hardcore pinball fans looking for that classic arcade difficulty.

For now, Bounce Arcade serves as a phenomenal proof of concept that doesn’t quite stick the landing. With additional content, mechanical fine-tuning, and better difficulty balancing, it could evolve into something truly special. As it stands, it’s worth a look for its innovative approach to VR pinball, even if it may not hold your attention for extended play sessions.

Bounce Arcade

TLDR : Summary

Bounce Arcade reimagines pinball in VR by placing you inside the table, offering creative environments and mini-games with smooth controls. While the concept and execution are impressive, slow pacing and limited content hold it back. A fun innovation for casual players, but might leave pinball enthusiasts wanting more.

Concept

8.5

Gameplay

7.5

Graphics

7.5

Audio

7

Longevity

5

User Rating0 Votes

0

Pros

Creative reimagining of pinball in VR

Engaging mini-games and environmental interactions

Smooth, responsive controls

Distinct, themed environments

Cons

Slow pacing and ball physics

Limited content with only four tables

No difficulty customization

Repetitive music

7

Bouncy

Get it on the Meta Store

Bounce Arcade

You step into the shoes of Serdar, a doctor whose personal quest to help his ailing wife leads him through the dangerous underground world of the Metro. Without spoiling anything, I can say the narrative is one of the game’s strongest elements, featuring several compelling twists and turns as you uncover various truths along your journey. The writing really shines throughout, delivering both emotional depth and narrative complexity across the game’s 12 chapters. The story manages to feel both personal and consequential, maintaining the series’ trademark blend of human drama and post-apocalyptic survival.

Bullets, Beasts & No Workbenches

At its core, this is quintessentially Metro, though with some notable streamlining of mechanics. The gameplay loop alternates between narrative sequences, atmospheric exploration, and intense combat against various mutants. You’ll encounter everything from dog-sized creatures to more imposing threats, each demanding different tactical approaches. Your arsenal starts with a pistol and gradually expands to include a semi-automatic rifle and other weapons. While the selection isn’t extensive, the gunplay is exceptional, ranking among the best I’ve experienced on Quest alongside titles like The Light Brigade and Arizona Sunshine.

Unlike Metro Exodus, for example, there’s no crafting in Metro Awakening. You won’t be crafting grenades or Molotov cocktails, and weapon modification is extremely limited – the only weapons mod I found was a silencer for the pistol, which was automatically added once found. In that sense, Metro Awakening keeps it simple: no workbenches, no crafting systems. While some might miss these features from the mainline series, this streamlined approach works well in VR, keeping the focus on immediate action and survival rather than resource management.

Don’t Blink: The Art of Metro Terror

The game masterfully straddles the line between action-adventure and survival horror, and this is where it really shines. While it comes with an explicit arachnophobia warning, it never ventures too deep into pure horror territory – something I appreciate as someone who typically “nopes out” of VR horror games. Instead, it excels at building a persistent sense of tension and anxiety. You’ll experience moments of frantic panic in dark corridors, managing limited ammo while mutants scurry about, creating intense situations that feel challenging but manageable. The game keeps you perpetually uncomfortable without crossing into overwhelming territory, striking an impressive balance between tension and playability.

Tunnel Vision Never Looked So Good

Metro Awakening is visually impressive, with strong art direction and effective real-time lighting that contributes significantly to the atmosphere. The game consistently maintains its foreboding atmosphere through excellent environmental design. While much of the game takes place underground, each area feels distinct and purposeful, avoiding the potential monotony that could come with a subway-based setting. Some locations are intentionally revisited as part of the narrative – this isn’t lazy asset reuse but a deliberate story choice that adds to the overall experience.

The attention to detail is remarkable, especially in the interactive elements. You can physically check your remaining ammo by looking at your weapon’s chamber, and small touches like functional fans add to the world’s believability. While it’s not an immersive sim where you can interact with everything like in Half-Life: Alyx, the interactive elements that are present feel purposeful and well-implemented. Character animations are notably smooth with minimal jank – even while recording, which is particularly impressive for a Quest title. The environmental storytelling is subtle but effective, with each area telling its own story through careful visual design.

The Sound of Survival

The audio design stands as the game’s crowning achievement, creating a deeply immersive experience that elevates every other aspect of the game. The soundtrack expertly emphasizes emotional beats throughout the story, from moments of creeping dread to brief instances of hope and optimism. While it pays homage to classic Metro themes, it establishes its own unique identity that fits perfectly with the VR experience.

The sound design is exceptional, leveraging every trick in the horror game playbook to maintain tension. You’ll hear unsettling radio murmurs that you can’t quite make out, precise directional audio that keeps you on edge, and the nerve-wracking sounds of mutants moving through nearby tunnels. These audio elements work together to create a constant sense of unease that enhances every aspect of the gameplay. The voice acting is consistently strong throughout, adding authenticity to the experience and helping sell the emotional moments in the story. The way sound echoes through the tunnels, the mechanical clinking of your weapons, and the environmental ambiance all contribute to making the Metro feel like a living, breathing place.

Mind The Gap: Performance & Playtime

I encountered very few technical issues during my playthrough. There are some minor control quirks, like occasional overlap between mask and reload detection zones, and a few moments where gameplay systems don’t quite sync with narrative elements (like conversations continuing normally while running out of oxygen). However, I experienced no crashes or significant bugs throughout my entire playthrough, which is impressive for a VR title of this scope.

I completed the game in about six and a half hours on normal difficulty. While some players report longer playtimes of 10-14 hours, especially on hard difficulty or when pursuing a stealthy approach, my experience was focused and satisfying. There are collectible postcards to find, which unlock with a satisfying musical cue, but replayability is limited as you’d expect from a narrative-driven single-player game. While there’s no new game plus or challenge modes, Vertigo’s track record with post-launch support (as seen with Arizona Sunshine) suggests we might see additional content in the future.

Last Stop: Final Thoughts

Metro Awakening stands as a testament to how traditional gaming franchises can be thoughtfully adapted to virtual reality. While it doesn’t include all the systems and complexity of its non-VR counterparts, it succeeds by focusing on what works best in VR: immersive storytelling, tense combat, and atmospheric exploration. The combination of great gunplay, impressive visuals, outstanding audio design, and an engaging story kept me coming back for more – I found myself playing about an hour and a half each day until completion.

The game’s greatest achievement is perhaps how it maintains the series’ signature atmosphere while adapting it for a new medium. Every element, from the sound design to the visual presentation, works together to create a compelling and often unsettling journey through the Metro. While some might wish for more weapon variety or crafting options, the streamlined approach serves the VR format well.

It’s very easy to recommend Metro Awakening to all but those who might find themselves too unsettled by its tense atmosphere. It’s easily one of the best games I’ve yet played on Quest, and despite the somewhat brief run-time, it presents a dense and gripping experience from the first cinematic intro to the moment the final credits roll on screen.

Metro Awakening

TLDR : Summary

Metro's first VR outing delivers excellent gunplay, strong storytelling, and outstanding atmosphere, despite streamlined mechanics. A tight 6+ hour campaign that proves traditional franchises can shine in VR.

Concept

8.5

Gameplay

9

Graphics

8.5

Audio

9

Longevity

7.5

User Rating0 Votes

0

Pros

Outstanding atmospheric audio design

Excellent gunplay mechanics

Strong narrative with good voice acting

Well-balanced tension and horror elements

Impressive visuals for Quest hardware

Cons

Relatively short at 6.5 hours

Limited weapon variety and no crafting system

Few interactive environmental elements

Minimal replay value

Some minor control detection issues

9

Gripping

Get it on the Meta Store

Metro Awakening

THE LAST ACTION HERO

At its core, Vendetta Forever is simple in concept. The game presents you with 60 short levels, each a bite sized action vignette built around a single goal: kill your way to the end using weapons dropped by enemies. What sets this game apart is a unique core conceit that places action at the centre of the experience. In order to move you must dispatch an enemy and as they drop their weapon grappling towards it becomes your means of movement—grab it, and you’re instantly transported to their location. This creates a dynamic, rhythmic flow to the gameplay that feels intuitive and utterly replayable.

The levels are designed for quick bursts of action, ranging from blink-and-you-miss-it two-second shootouts to more elaborate sequences that play out like mini action movies. While the premise may sound straightforward, the game’s real magic lies in its variety. Far from be 60 Shades of Same, each level feels thoughtfully designed to give an experience different from the last. Although not every level will land with every player, there is enough clever variation and nuanced action to ensure that there no doubt be something for everyone.

From quick-draw shootouts to melee-only challenges, every level keeps you guessing. One minute you’re flinging knives with deadly accuracy in a tight corridor; the next, you’re using colonial muskets each with only a single shot while holding off waves of enemies on a hillside.

WHY IS EVERYTHING STICKY?

If there’s one word to describe Vendetta Forever, it’s “sticky.” nDreams have successfully made a game that has a knack for hooking you with its mechanics and holding on tight. Levels like Knives Out, a 15-second whirlwind of throwing weapons are so addictive that it’s easy to lose ridiculous amounts of time replaying it, chasing a coveted spot on the leaderboard.

The game also cleverly bends its gameplay to allow for players to focus on whichever element suits their mood. The leaderboard is split between score-based and speedrun categories, providing a competitive edge while catering to multiple playstyles. Whether you are playing for a high score or a fastest time the gameplay holds up which is a testament to the developers focus on balanced, exciting and well executed mechanics.

What Vendetta Forever also excels at is presenting challenges that are difficult but never feel insurmountable. Every failure teaches you something new, urging you to refine your approach and try again and it’s that perfect balance of frustration and fulfillment that keeps you coming back for more.

It’s worth noting that while Vendetta Forever excels at delivering short bursts of excitement, it won’t appeal to everyone. Fans of narrative-driven epics or games with complex mechanics might find its focus on arcade-style action too simplistic. The short levels and leaderboard-driven replayability are a double-edged sword, offering endless fun for score chasers but potentially feeling repetitive to players looking for deeper gameplay loops.

HAVEN’T I SEEN YOU BEFORE?

It’s impossible to talk about Vendetta Forever without acknowledging its influences. Stylistically, it borrows heavily from Superhot and Pistol Whip, with a minimalist neon-drenched aesthetic that emphasizes clarity over complexity. Its vibrant, high-contrast environments are a joy to look at, and its minimalist art style ensures smooth performance even during the most chaotic firefights. While it doesn’t push the limits of what VR can achieve graphically, it nails its aesthetic, evoking the clean, polished vibe of Superhot while adding a splash of arcade energy.

The game also leans into subtle pop culture references, with levels themed after action movie tropes. Knives Out has the outrageous intensity of a Kill Bill fight scene while other levels channel the gritty energy of an old-school spaghetti Western. These thematic nods add a layer of charm that makes each level feel familiar and exciting.

The audio is equally well-crafted. Every weapon feels satisfying to use, thanks to punchy sound effects that make each kill gratifying. The soundtrack keeps the adrenaline pumping, with driving beats that enhance the action without overshadowing the gameplay. That said, the soundtrack while good, could still be improved upon. It gets the job done but fails to deliver a level of energy that elevates the gameplay the way Pistol Whip does.

THE VERDICT

nDreams have delivered a VR shooter that is stylish, addictive, and unapologetically fun. With its intuitive mechanics, varied levels, and competitive edge, Vendetta Forever is one of the best arcade style short-session action games currently available on the Quest. It’s not for everyone, but for those who value instant gratification and love the thrill of leaderboard climbing, it’s an absolute must-play.

Vendetta Forever

TLDR : Summary

A sleek and sticky shooter that proves sometimes less is more. If you’re looking for a game that lets you feel like an action hero in under two minutes, Vendetta Forever is your next obsession.

Concept

8.5

Gameplay

8.5

Graphics

8

Audio

8

Longevity

9

User Rating0 Votes

0

Pros

Unique grappling-based movement tied to enemy kills

Diverse, short levels with engaging challenges

Competitive leaderboards for multiple playstyles

Polished visuals with smooth performance

Cons

Simplistic for fans of deeper narratives or mechanics

Short levels may feel repetitive over time

Soundtrack lacks energy to elevate gameplay

Heavy stylistic borrowing from similar titles

8.5

Sticky

Get it on the Meta Store

Vendetta Forever

This approach raises a crucial question: did Half-Life: Alyx boost Valve Index sales? Surprisingly, yes—it did. Following the announcement, Valve’s Index sales saw a significant jump, with 103,000 units sold in just over a month. A strong franchise can drive hardware adoption. So, is Batman: Arkham Shadow good? And can it sell Quest headsets?

Hopefully, this review will answer the first question. As for the second question? We’ll leave that up to you. Tell us what you think in the comments.

Thug-Life

Taking place early on in Batman’s career, Arkham Shadow is a sequel to a prequel. It takes place after Batman: Arkham Origins and fleshes out some of the early history of Bruce Wayne, featuring various characters known to fans of the lore, including Harvey Dent, Jim Gordon, Dr. Harleen Quinzel, Dr. Leslie Thompkins, and several others.

As the game begins, you assume the character of ‘Matches Malone,’ a small-time Gotham City gangster that first appeared in Batman #242 during a character-defining run that was written by Dennis O’Neil, illustrated by the incredible Neal Adams, and penciled by Dick Giordano. To many long-time Batman readers, myself included, this was truly an iconic era. You don’t need to have known any of this to enjoy the game or appreciate the progression of the narrative, but it does demonstrate the intimacy that the writing team led by Narrative Director Brendan Murphy and Lead Writer Alex O. Smith have with the original source material.

Anyway, I digress. As Batman / Matches Malone, you set fire to the Bat signal above the Gotham police station, promptly get arrested, and then sent to Blackgate Prison, where much of the game takes place.

As anybody familiar with movie tropes, you know already how this will play out; you’ll get a flashback showing why you decided to take on the Matches identity and why you wanted to end up inside Blackgate.

Wham! Thud! Thwack!

If you’re a rare bird who’s never played any of the previous Batman Arkham games, let’s just say the games were mostly fantastic, relying on excellent writing, superb voice acting, and drawing on the strengths of Batman’s character to alternate between stealthy sequences where you took enemies out one by one while remaining undetected and all-out fights where you fought various opponents together using a combat system famous for its free-flowing nature that allowed you to string together varied attacks and build up incredibly satisfying combos. It was wildly innovative back then and has, arguably, never been bested in third-person gaming since. The games also showed off Batman’s origins as a detective, with a detective mode that lets you scan clues and figure out your next lead.

The biggest question regarding Arkham Shadow‘s gameplay was always going to be how faithfully it manages to translate that gaming experience to VR, and this is where you have to acknowledge the sheer acumen that developers Camoflaj (who did a great job with Iron Man VR) have demonstrated with Shadow’s design choices.

The first choice made here was to limit the scope of the game world in a way that makes sense. You can create a whole Gotham City on later generation consoles, but it would have been impossible to do so on a Meta Quest standalone headset without massive concessions in graphics, so instead, the game relies mainly on the limited world of Blackgate prison, and outside of that only features a few selected locations around Gotham City, and it weaves a story that works well within those confines, preventing you from feeling that the spatial limitations are contrived.

The other choice made here was to alter the free-flowing nature of the combat, leading to a mixture of free decisions regarding who you’ll strike next and when, and short prompted almost-QTE sequences that occur during combat sequences. So you’ll pick your enemy, punch-dash towards them, then be prompted to deliver a jab, uppercut, or hook, and sometimes a beat down with both hands or a punch after you’ve grabbed an opponent’s leg, etc.

Initially, I was disappointed that the combat didn’t replicate the free-flowing nature of the console games, which was excellent for ‘flow-state’ combat. However, after a few hours, I adjusted, stopped comparing it to the originals, and appreciated that—despite sacrificing some of the original feel—it provided an intense workout. It’s easy to take on small fights with only 3 or 4 enemies, but when you go through a big battle with 10 enemies or more, you’ll work up a good sweat! I checked my Move stats, and on longer sessions of 90 minutes or so, I was burning up around 500 calories playing this game.

Predator sequences, on the other hand, have carried over perfectly to VR and feel just like they did in the flat games, except, well – much better. You’re Batman, perched over your enemies, picking them off one by one with stealth takedowns until the last one is down. When you get good at these sequences, it feels, for lack of a better word, perfect.

The game replaces the Riddler Trophies of the previous games with Rat King statues that are often in difficult-to-reach areas, requiring some puzzle-solving to reach; these are all optional and provide some head-scratching relief from the action of the combat sequences.

As you progress through the game, your arsenal also evolves, with skill or progression trees for your combat skills, suit, gadgets, and predator skills. The game already starts with many of those already unlocked, but as you gain experience points, you can unlock more, like letting you use sonic Batarangs, various combat combos, quicker and stealthier takedowns, and more. Some of these are only available once you’ve received new gadgets, like the Bat Claw, the Shock Gloves, and others, all delivered by Alfred via the Bat Wing. This helps you feel more and more powerful as the game progresses, and by the end, you really do feel like a perfectly capable Dark Knight, ready to take on whatever Gotham’s criminals and twisted villains throw your way.

The game also offers what had become a staple in the console versions: combat and predator challenges. Although there are only three of each for now, we expect more of those to come from Camoflaj.

Batman: Arkham Shadow does what it should; it successfully brings the gameplay of the Arkham series to VR and does it with confidence and flair.

My Beautiful Batworld

Arkham Shadow nails the visual language of Batman, blending Gothic and Neo-Gothic architecture with a mood of urban decay. Its dark, gritty criminal underbelly and subtle steampunk elements make it one of the best-looking games on Meta Quest. It could be argued that other games like Red Matter 2 look better, but games like Red Matter 2 don’t have to balance their looks with bone-crushing action sequences featuring a dozen characters on screen at a time.

The game does a marvelous job with all the characters, including the NPC, most of whom are visually distinct. You won’t see the same characters copied and pasted ad infinitum here, and the main characters are incredibly detailed and remarkably well-animated.

Aside from the beauty of the locations and art direction, the actors’ motion and expressive facial captures are superb, highlighting their beautiful performances and lending emotional heft to the already excellent writing.

The game also features real-time shadows, conveniently placing a backlight behind you regularly to highlight your shadow with your cowl and bat ears, subtly and silently reminding you that behind that headset you’re wearing, you ARE Batman.

The only complaint is that the game’s framerate occasionally drops, especially before and after gate-opening sequences, which are likely there to mask load times. It’s a little distracting when it happens, but it never occurred to me during combat sequences where it would have been the most jarring. These hiccups happen even when the dynamic resolution setting is turned on in the game, but Camoflaj have told us that the game is still being optimized, and the first patch might even be out by the time you read this review.

I Hear You, Bats.

If anything, the audio in Shadow is even better than the graphics since, by its very nature, it’s unencumbered by performance limitations. The sound effects are solid throughout, and the soundtrack by Kazuma Jinnouchi blends the familiar dark, orchestral tones of previous Arkham games with fresh compositions that drive home the game’s drama. Jinnouchi maintains continuity with the series while introducing new elements that match the game’s unique mood.

The voice acting is also superb, with standout performances by Roger Craig Smith as Batman / Bruce Wayne, Troy Baker as Harvey Dent, and Mara Junot as Leslie Thompkins. Junot’s portrayal, in particular, conveys deep empathy for Bruce, truly drawing you into the narrative and the emotional connections between the characters and creating a world in which Batman is not a lone solitary figure but a man loved by the people who understand his traumas, his struggles, and the choices he makes.

Bat-Snags

Despite being a smooth experience overall, I encountered a few issues playing Arkham Shadow. Early on in the game, there was a rope tying a door shut, and I was supposed to cut it with a Batarang; this failed spectacularly despite my repeatedly trying; luckily, I found an alternate path, so it wasn’t a game-breaker. A few bugs like this showed up during my playthrough; a vent I couldn’t enter, a doorway that wouldn’t let me in even after it opened, etc. Infrequent as they were, such issues were usually resolved by simply reloading the last checkpoint or quitting the game and starting again.

The game also seems to trigger some communications with Alfred not by chronological sequence but by location, so I found that if a particular voice message from Alfred was triggered at some place, if you returned to that place again, the same recording was played; this was immersion breaking. I’m hoping Camoflaj will fix it.

I’ve also heard of some players who experienced a game crash where the game would just exit. This only happened to me once when my Quest mysteriously declared that it didn’t have enough memory to run ‘Manta.’

Bat Hours

If you’re wondering about length, the game’s campaign lasts about 10 hours, more or less, depending on how well you play it, how much of it you choose to complete, and what difficulty level you select. I played it on Hard. The combat and predator challenges could add significantly to that time if you enjoy those modes.

Bat Thoughts

Batman: Arkham Shadow is a remarkable achievement in standalone VR, featuring a compelling story, strong character development, stunning graphics, immersive combat, and captivating performances. It showcases how well the character translates across different media and highlights and builds upon the impressive world and mechanics created by Rocksteady way back in 2009. It also reflects the dedication, love, and respect that Camoflaj and Director Ryan Payton have shown for both the character and the earlier Arkham games and, in the process, proves that Batman’s world can thrive in VR, making Arkham Shadow a must-play for both VR fans and Batman enthusiasts alike.

What’re you waiting for? Do you really need a score?

Batman Arkham Shadow

TLDR : Summary

Batman: Arkham Shadow adapts the Arkham series to VR with immersive combat, rich storytelling, and impressive visuals. It trades free-flowing combat for intense, physical encounters, making it a top choice for VR and Batman fans.

Concept

8.5

Gameplay

9

Graphics

9

Audio

9.5

Longevity

8

User Rating0 Votes

0

Pros

Immersive, physical VR combat

Strong, atmospheric visuals

Faithful to Batman lore and characters

Cons

Combat lacks console's free-flowing style

Some frame rate drops and minor bugs

Limited environment compared to previous games

9.5

Knightly

Get it on the Meta Store

Batman Arkham Shadow

FREDDY FOR THE BIG TIME

I revisit Arizona Sunshine every so often because it’s a great game; it can be enjoyed solo or co-op in ten-minute chunks or as a more satisfying long-form session, and the core conceit of gunning zombies down is still really satisfying. Honestly, there have been so many shooters released in VR since AS, and nearly none of them have nailed the satisfying and substantial feel offered by Arizona Sunshine, still. However, it was never a very good-looking or slick affair and was full of less and less forgivable jank. I was relieved when Arizona Sunshine 2 came along and smoothed out a lot of those rough edges, whilst largely doubling down on everything that made the first game so good to play.

A remake of the original using later tech is a rather great idea, and I’m largely happy to report that Arizona Sunshine Remake does what it promises to. It includes all the DLC for the original release, similarly remastered, and offers tremendous value for money – there’s even a nifty discount if you’ve got the original in your Quest library already. So, before I get into the specifics, just know that if you’ve played and love the original and are looking for a shiny new version to show off your Quest 3 or 3S, then go to it, I recommend it. You won’t be disappointed. But wait – hey – I haven’t fini… Ah sod you. In your impatience to go spend your money you’re missing out on some exemplary videogame criticism and penmanship. Your loss. The rest of you still with me? Ok, let’s get into it.

FRED DEAD REDEMPTION

Players both familiar and new to Arizona Sunshine will find a lot to love. The setting still feels fresh and original, despite the zombie theme having been done to death, resurrected and headshotted more times than can be counted in the past thirty years. Even Resident Evil, whose fault it all is, has been trying to move away from zombies for at least 15 years. However, zombies do provide a gloriously guilt-free way for us all to virtually live out our fantasies of taking our frustrations and loneliness out on the general public with gardening equipment and automatic weaponry.

Arizona Sunshine Remake casts the player as an unnamed, initially slightly dislikable dude who’s been surviving alone in the Arizona wilderness in the wake of a zombie apocalypse. He’s trying to find any living souls to team up with and has been alone for quite a while when the player quantum leaps into his head. He sounds a bit like a bassist, a roadie or a general stoner – in fact, it occurred to me as I played through the remake that my mental image of him is that he’s Neil Fak from The Bear dropped into a zombie survival scenario. This is a Good Thing. His journey in the course of the game is slight, but brilliant and engaging, and as I mentioned in my original review Sky Soleil’s fantastic performance is key to making the whole thing work. A majority of protagonist voiceovers in VR can be grating or off key, making it a chore to literally inhabit their heads as you progress, but here you are completely engrossed in getting the guy where he wants to go and keeping him alive. If you’ve only ever experienced him in Arizona Sunshine 2, then it’ll be an extra frisson to experience him getting to the point where he’s obsessed with keeping his dog alive when the sequel hits the fan. There’s no massive story here, so the narrative sells itself through empathy with its only character, and this has stood the test of time well.

DEAD MAN, FRED MAN

The game offers pretty cool options for customising the feel of the game – from movement and turning to switching between the simple reloading of the original, or the new VR standard of sliding in a clip and cocking the gun. Thankfully you can now hold pistols with two hands. You can calibrate where you’d like your holsters and ammo to sit on your body. All good, as is the improved Half-Life Alyx style wrist inventory and inclusion of tremendously fun bludgeoning melee weapons like crowbars, picks and hammers. These can be balanced on railings or the sides of tables or shelves while you reload or scavenge, and this feels really cool.

FREDDING THE NEEDLE

The level of challenge is pretty good – on the easier difficulties if you’re a reasonable, quick enough shot you’ll be ok. The game has two paces; scavenging for ammo and exploring, popping heads as you go, and then set piece horde rushes where you hope that you’ve stockpiled enough bullets and picked the right weapons to survive. Like the sequel, these horde rushes can be suffocatingly frustrating and stressful chokeholds on progress or exhilarating and rewarding tests of endurance which provide a tremendous rush of relief and accomplishment when you’re through. If this is your first rodeo, I’d advise playing through on lower difficulties first, so you know roughly what to expect, and then have another playthrough where you’ll have to be a lot more sparing with your ammo and inventive with the offered weapons at your disposal. You won’t have to worry about finding crafting ingredients like in the sequel, but supplies get pretty scarce even if you aren’t the sort of person who likes to spray and pray.

This all changes again when playing through in co-op with a friend, which is such a good feature of both the original game and its shiny new incarnation, Arizona Sunshine Remake. Sadly, the same limitations apply, and this is one thing I really hoped would be improved with the new gameplay. There are points where you’d think one player could be running around gung-ho with an automatic amongst the horde whilst the other takes overwatch, but this is often not so. When a player triggers the horde, the co-op partner will be teleported to their side if they’re in a place the game doesn’t want you to be. Sometimes invisible walls will prevent the player from taking a visible path, the game locking off areas of the map that should be accessible just because the designers wanted it that way. It’s pretty lazy and annoying, and it was weak eight years ago. It’s downright unforgivable for such a classy game to be so graceless in its execution, reiterating its mistakes verbatim after eight years of iteration.

LONG AND WASTED YEARS

Whilst we’re on the subject of things that really should have died and stayed dead with the original game, let’s talk about graphics. By and large the graphics in Arizona Sunshine Remake are a remarkable improvement on the original, as one might expect. The bacon wood textures of the original are long gone, thank goodness, but there are still some items of text that are unforgivably pixelated and horrible. The searchable trunks of the police cars, for example, just about say ‘HIGHWAY PATROL’ on them, but I’ve seen better image quality on those Captcha things online when they’re trying to ascertain I’m human. Most egregious of all is the sniper scope section, where distant zombies are rendered with such horrible quality that the graphics don’t match the original release. In fact, in this one instance they don’t even look as good as the original PlayStation. Vertigo Games have done so much to fly the flag for VR as a gaming medium, and all eyes are on this remake to show us all how it’s done. We let some things slide about the original because of the ambition and overall quality of the experience. Don’t let Ed Wood get hold of your Director’s Cut version, because we’re going to mark it down accordingly now.

The same goes for how fiddly things can be. Scavenging is better and drawers and doors have a far more physical interactivity to them, but sometimes picking up stuff can be unnecessarily finicky and sometimes even bugs out. If you’re carrying things when the game loads a new area, these can sometimes disappear.

This is all stuff that absolutely should have been sorted out. Some of it is patchable, some of it ain’t. Let’s see what the next couple of months may bring – but this is a remake of an eight-year-old game, and it should have been slicker. It only takes seven years to train as a doctor or an architect, so I think it’s reasonable to expect Fred to have got his shit together a bit better than this, dead or no.

SUNSHINE DESSERTS

Arizona Sunshine Remake does exactly what it promises to do, and provides great value, great fun and great challenge in one juicily headshottable package. It drips with atmosphere, from the setting and impressive voice acting to the perfectly judged musical score. It still provides the most satisfying gunplay on the Quest and sidesteps the time commitment problem of Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners by being playable in bitesize chunks, and in co-op too. You get the excellent DLC stories as part of the deal, and there’s also the endlessly replayable Horde mode to play with up to 4 friends. It supercedes the original game entirely and provides fans of the original and the sequel plenty of reasons to dive back in, whilst being a very enticing and recommended prospect for new players.

However, be warned that this is a remaster rather than a true remake, and the failings of the original game are often brought along wholesale for the ride.

Arizona Sunshine Remake

TLDR : Summary

Arizona Sunshine Remake does exactly what it promises to do, and provides great value, great fun and great challenge in one juicily headshottable package.

Concept

7

Gameplay

8

Graphics

8

Audio

9

Longevity

7

User Rating0 Votes

0

Pros

Guns are great

Acting, music and sound are top notch

It’s a great ride

Best zombie action scavenger on Quest

Cons

Interactions aren’t always great

Still too janky and glitchy

Invisible walls

Some graphics not quite as good as they should be

8

Fredshot

Get it on the Meta Store

Arizona Sunshine Remake