When it comes to launch titles on new technologies it’s important to have something that works almost like a technical demo. Something you can get out to show your friends and family “this is what you do in VR”. The importance with this is to make things look good whilst also easy to experience. That is what PlayStation VR Worlds sets out to do and, for the most part, delivers.
There are five sections to PlayStation VR Worlds, each of them different to the last which means there’s plenty to show off. Ocean Descent is the easiest for any gamer to pick up, as all you have to do is look around. In it you sit, or stand, in a diving cage whilst you descend in to the ocean. Depending on the mode you play you may come face to face with a shark, or just the beauty of sea plants and creatures. It’s a tranquil experience and, as long as you don’t pick the mode with the shark in, a perfect way to unwind and clear your mind.
The London Heist is a bit more complicated but the perfect reason to dust off those PlayStation Move controllers you haven’t touched for years. Taking obvious influence from the work of Guy Ritchie you are thrown in to the world of a diamond heist, and the aftermath of it. Part of it will see you sitting down whilst actors talk at you. It’s fine for providing the story to the game but the story is far from the most interesting thing about the experience. Instead you’ll no doubt be playing about with the items you can find near you rather than listening to London Gangster Stereotype #1 or #2.
Considering the campaign lasts less than an hour it’s a shame that so much of it is spent with cookie cutter exposition. When the game provides you with action scenarios though it really shines. Picking up magazines and placing them in your gun feels great, as does dodging attacks from enemies. The shooting range that is provided outside of the main campaign is great fun even if it does lack the fear of getting hit the campaign provides. It adds depth to The London Heist section of PlayStation VR Worlds and gives you purpose to go back to it. Trying to beat a high score or honing your skills is great fun and as a whole the experience shows that light gun games could thrive on VR.
Where The London Heist fails at providing a story whilst keeping the gameplay engaging, Scavenger’s Odyssey succeeds. In it you play as an alien in a mech on the hunt for an artefact in space. That old chestnut. You’ll jump or run from point to point, keeping enemies at an arms length with your weapons and upgrades. Played on the DualShock 4 the whole thing feels rather natural as long as you know how the controller works. The campaign lasts under an hour yet again, but there’s far less sitting around and waiting for things to stop talking to you. The moments of panic that set in later in the game when the enemies charging at you increase is a great feeling too. Unfortunately there isn’t much to do outside of completing the campaign but it looks nice and is a fun ride whilst it lasts.
The final two experiences available in PlayStation VR Worlds are very much aching to the days of the arcade. The weakest of the two being VR Luge, which is a classic race against time from check point to check point experience. You hurtle down a hill on some kind of board dodging traffic and other obstacles trying to get to the bottom as quickly as possible. To move you tilt your head. The issue with this is that the tilting doesn’t work all the time and hitting obstacles instantly breaks your immersion. It’s intriguing for one or two courses but the charm quickly wears off. Considering it’s such a short experience that doesn’t bode well but for those that enjoy it there’s fun to be had trying to beat your best time.
Danger Ball though, a futuristic 3D take on Pong, is probably the best thing on offer in PlayStation VR Worlds. In it you yet again move your head about, this time to knock a ball back at the paddle on the other end of the screen. It’s simple but fiendishly addictive. Trying to smash or curve the ball pass the AI opponents created audible yelps of success or frustration from me. It’s such a basic idea but it’s done so well that it provides a great reason to go back to PlayStation VR Worlds even after you’ve played through every experience.
Some may be put off by the fact that PlayStation VR Worlds is a collection of experiences rather than one focused game but they really shouldn’t be. Out of the five experiences on offer four of them are great to play and all of them work as a showpiece to show off to others. Whether you find yourself going back to the game will depend on how much things click with you but there is replay value there. Overall PlayStation VR Worlds is a fun game, as well as being a really solid launch title for the PlayStation VR headset that’s worth the price of admission.