Chris Harding's Reviews
A disappointment. That's how I'd sum up PlayStation VR Worlds in a single word. It's a collection of great ideas that could truly throw you into the magic of PlayStation VR, were it not for the feeling that they're half-arsed attempts at what should have been full standalone games.
Pixel Gear is cheap and cheerful fun that won't break your digital wallet. The controls work well and the gameplay is top-notch, if only for the relatively short running time. A bit more content and a little more variety would have pushed this one to greater heights, but as it stands it's still a decent game.
EVE: Gunjack may be a little on the short side, but for the cheapy cheap price, you can't really complain. It's a fun shooter that's got a lot of replay value, not to mention some of the finest head-tracking on the PSVR. Best played in small bursts, and definitely not with a sore neck.
For me, Tethered is the first true full single player game for PlayStation VR. It's not just that it offers great value in terms of playtime, but it's a great game, too. There's more than meets the eye with this cute little strategy game, and it's far too easy to get lost within its colourful worlds.
While my experience with Windlands may have been a short-lived romance that ended as all such things do: lots of puke, lying down... A few tears... It's still an excellent game that really shows what can be done outside of the done-to-death first-person shooters that VR and motion controls tend to attract. It's a lovely world to get lost in and I'm hoping that I'll be able to revisit this old flame one day in the future.
Carnival Games VR is pretty good the first time, but after you've given each of the 12 mini-games a whirl there's not much else to do. There's leaderboards, trophies and prizes to collect, but aside from that, there's not much going for this compilation.
Weeping Doll has the potential to be a thrilling little haunted house mystery game, but it ultimately falls at every major hurdle. The opening few minutes are interesting enough and seem to promise a proper little fright fest, but after playing through the game's meager 1-hour running time, there's just nothing there.
Robinson: The Journey is sure to divide opinion with its slower gameplay and short running time in contrast with its high retail price. Those aside, the game's a marvel to look at and the audio work is sublime. An action-packed adventure, this is not, but for those who relish exploration and have a keen mind for problem solving, Robinson: The Journey will provide in buckets.
Eagle Flight is a genuinely awesome game, and not just an "experience." A decent story mode with the usual collectibles (oh, Ubisoft, never change, darling) and a multiplayer portion that's proper intense makes this a viable purchase. It might seem a little light on content, but in comparison with similarly priced PSVR games, I can't really complain. With a few updates to add in a bit more content, this one could be flapping its wings for a long time.
Nasty bugs aside, Watch Dogs 2 is a superb game. A true improvement over the franchise's first outing in just about every sense. A wicked cast of characters backed up by some sharp and witting writing. A visual treat for the eyes and a good mental workout with those mind-bending puzzles. A bloody good game, basically. If you've a gap where Assassin's Creed would normally be at this time of year, Watch Dogs 2 will fill the gap, make another gap, and fill that one too.
The story is quite meaty and definitely worth playing through more than once, even if it's just for the cheap thrills. It's a truly terrifying experience, and now after having been inside a horror game, I don't think I'm ever going to be wimpering at anything on a regular 2D screen. That's VR, baby.
Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection is the best possible way to play three of the finest games from the series. It's three great games - well, Revelations was good... - for a fair price in my book. Newcomers will have a ball exploring and learning the lore, while old-hats like myself will sit seething in silence at Ubisoft for distancing itself from what made the early games truly wonderful.
Time Machine VR sounds like a great idea on paper but its execution is somewhat off. It's neat to be able to mooch around and explore while dinosaurs wander around you, but the thrills only last so long. A short running time and a high price-point make this journey through a time an "are we there yet?" slog.
Holoball made me sweat, and for that I hate it. But it also gave me hours of fun, and for that I love it. It's the most simple concept in gaming that's older than myself: Hit a ball back-and-forth and try to score a point. A premise so simple, yet so elegantly executed. Toss in the fact it's releasing at a fair price and you've got yourself a genuine bargain.
Super Dungeon Bros is a simple yet brutal game. If you tackle this beast head-on without a friend of two, you're probably going to get a wee bit annoyed. However, a few mates really does help pull the fun from within the depths of Super Dungeon Bros and it's really the only way worth playing.
How We Soar is a super chilled-out game, no questions asked. Flying around on top of the magnificent phoenix is incomparable to any other game - yes, even Eagle Flight, they're different! - and it really does need to be seen to be believed. There's a decent story tucked away within the scattered pages, but there's not much reason to go back in once you've seen it through to the end.
Dexed is a nifty little game that'll get you moving your arms about like a bit of a div, but it'll also fire up a few brain cells as you try not to bugger it up. It's not the mindless shooter you were expecting, but trust me when I say that it's worth a punt at a penny under a tenner.
VR Ping Pong is just not a good game. Maybe it works well on other platforms, but for the PSVR it's a poor match. The tracking works in that your movements are translated accurately, but the game's physics are the real hinderance to the gameplay. Ping Pong is a game of finesse. A game of well-placed volleys and calculated spin shots. VR Ping Pong is a game of luck, and just like the Las Vegas casinos that deal in such a commodity, the house will always win.
I Expect You To Die is a silly game that doesn't expect you to take it all that seriously, even if it does expect you to die in some pretty nasty ways. I drowned. I suffocated. I got shot. I had my head taken off by a laser beam. I had a bloody good time. It's just a shame that it's over within a few short hours and that the replay value isn't especially high. Dare I say that I would actually like some DLC for this game? Hell yes.
I've said all I needed to say in the body of the review. There's just not way to summarise my experience with the game other than to say it was total, utter, crap.