VR HIGHLIGHTS

Since I'm discussing my VR obsession, I might as well highlight some of the other experiences and games that have stood out for me thus far.


Robo Recall - The first game I tried after purchasing my Rift (it came free with the system.) This was a great experience and the intro alone is enough to suck you in (and scare you half to death.) This game involves 'dismantling' (by way of numerous weapons) swarms of robots who have gone rogue and deadly. Lots of fun, especially being able to grab a robot by the chest-plate and ripping his arms off then beating another robot with said arms.

AltspaceVR - This app is very similar to VRChat, but a lot safer and not as wild and crazy as VRChat tends to be. It features some user-content, but the avatars can only be created from a few presets. The social aspect and events are the shining star here, with Open Mic Nights, Movie Nights and Live Performances by semi-celebs (such as Reggie Watts (Comedy Bang Bang Heynongman!) and Drew Carrey.)

Bigscreen - There are a few good apps like this, but this one may be near the top of the list. Imagine throwing on your headset and then entering a virtual movie theater. You can access movies from your computer or wherever, and throw them on the big screen. Grab some friends to join and you have quite a fun time ahead of you.

Virtual Desktop - Along the lines of accessing things from your computer, the Virtual Desktop is one of the most useful apps that can be had in VR. This is pretty much what the title is, a Virtual Desktop that you can access. You can have multiple screens and place them wherever you want in a virtual space. It's very useful having a screen playing videos, another screen searching the internet and maybe a couple more screens with various other useful things on them. Or play a 2D game on a customizable size screen, or a dozen other things you can do.

Superhot - A fun, but short, shooter that has very intersting physics and dynamics. You jump into various scenarios where you are pretty much being attacked, but the twist is that the attackers (which are bright red polygon humanoid figures) only move when you move, it creates a bullet-time kind of effect and allows you to plan out your attacks (as long as you don't move) it's a lot of fun and I'm hopeful for a sequel soon.

Face Your Fears - More of an experience than a game, you are thrown into various scenarios that are meant to scare the sh*t out of you. Everything from a giant monster attacking a skyrise that you happen to be in to lying in bed as monsters move about your room, and a lot more.

Medium/Tilt Brush - These are two different apps, with similar functions (I should probably add Google Blocks in here as well.) All of these apps allow you to create 3D pictures. Medium is more a clay/sculpting simulator, Blocks is closer to Medium but you can create low rez, polygon (think minecraft) style creations and Tilt Brush is like painting with colors (and lights) in 3D. For the creative type, these are all a blast. As far as your Medium and Blocks creations, they can also be exported to be used in other 3D programs, or send them to a 3D printer if you have one.

Star Trek: Bridge Crew - This game puts you on the Bridge of the USS Enterprise (a few of them, actually) You can play as either Helmsmen, Weapons, Captain or engineering and it's sort of a social game, you play with other players in order to complete your objectives. Admittedly I haven't played this a lot because it's best to play with friends (which I don't have) and random match-ups can tend to be pretty wild. Regardless this game is extremely well polished and a lot of fun.

Skyrim VR - This (along with Fallout 4 VR) are the biggest games available in VR at the current time, and they are very well done. Of course they could be better if they were built from the ground-up for VR, but they are great games and translate fairly well to VR. Definitely give you a new way to experience a couple games you are probably already familiar with.

Angry Birds VR - The newest addition to my highlight reel, it is what you think it is... Angry Birds but in VR. You actually get to hold the slingshot in your hand, pull back and fire off various birds at those bastard Green Pigs and their fragile structures. There are a few welcome changes to the traditional Angry Bird formula, such as being able to change your location, move around, duck down, etc. It is another shorter game, but a lot of fun.


Well, that's about it, I have a bunch of games I still haven't had the time to try, and a bunch of games that I feel just aren't worthy for this list, but VR has happily taken over my gaming time. I haven't touched a PC "Pancake" game in a while thanks to my Rift, and at least for the foreseeable future, I don't see myself backtracking. I am already looking into expanding my VR obsession in the form of better equipment. (the new Oculus Quest is due out soon, which takes 6 DOF VR into the wireless realm... I plan on picking up a Quest as soon as I'm able, and I can't wait!)