I’ve spent the last 6 days putting the PSVR2 through its paces along with the rest of my family. I played as many games as I could and I figured I’d break down my thoughts on the hardware and tell you about the games I really liked.
For starters I will say that I have a bit of experience with VR via the Quest 2. In general I don’t play with it much simply because I always get nauseous within about ten minutes of even the most simple VR game. I had heard from a few people including Jerry that more powerful VR headsets deliver a smoother experience and this might help with my motion sickness. This was my hope when diving into the PSVR2 and I am happy to say it has made a huge difference.
First of all the PSVR2 is very comfortable but finding the sweet spot took a bit of work. I recommend wearing the back strap down very low on the back of your head if you can. This will allow the headset to sit on your forehead more comfortably. If you feel a lot of pressure on your forehead you have it wrong. I wear glasses and you should know that the screen does not have to be especially close to your face to get a nice sharp picture. There’s plenty of room to comfortably wear your glasses while playing. It comes with earbuds that plug into the headset but I prefer my over the ear headphones which you can still easily wear while you have the headset on. The rest of my family didn’t even use headphones; they just played with the sound coming from the TV soundbar.
The fact that the PSVR2 also plays the video and audio through your TV is one of the best features of the device. In my experience VR has been a very isolating experience. It is something you do alone because only you can see it. This past week we have all been in the living room watching each other play VR games. We can sit around and laugh and share in the experience because it’s right there on the TV for everyone to see.
I’m going to run through all the games I played and just give you quick impressions since there are quite a few. I’ll start with my favorites:
Horizon Call of the Mountain
I’ve played a few hours of this and it’s what you might call the “killer app”. It really shows off how good a game can look on the PSVR2. It’s absolutely stunning and I found myself saying “wow” over and over again each time the game showed me some incredible new vista. It also sports some of the best physics I’ve seen in a VR game. There are musical instruments and other various objects scattered all around the world for you to interact with. I found the bow mechanic incredibly satisfying and it has a very smart system for building and selecting new ammunition. This is what a AAA VR experience looks like and it’s a lot of fun. If you didn’t get it as a pack in with your headset, you should grab it for sure.
I love Gran Turismo in VR so much! Thank God for @dramamine! pic.twitter.com/Rf39BpEyVA
— Gabe (@cwgabriel) February 25, 2023
Gran Turisom 7
This is another game that dazzles with ridiculous graphics and smooth gameplay. It’s worth noting that the vast majority of the game is still in 2D though. You will not be put into VR until the very second your race starts. You can also view your cars in VR but you will be navigating the menu, cafe, store and everything else in 2D. Once you are placed behind the wheel the feeling is magical, especially if you are using a racing wheel and pedals to help reinforce the illusion. In my racing rig, with the Logitech Pro setup and the headset on, I am telling you it feels just like being in a real car. It’s a small thing but there is something about the way a car behind you will illuminate your car with its headlights at night that this game captures so perfectly that it 100% tricked my brain. Even with just a controller you will feel transported while racing in VR and I can’t recommend GT7 enough if you have a PSVR2.
Pistol Whip
I had played a bit of this on Quest but it’s like a new game on PSVR2. This is a music/rhythm game that has you rushing forward through psychedelic environments trying to blast enemies to the beat. No other game will make you feel like John Wick as much as Pistol Whip. It has become a daily routine for me since getting the device. As someone who does not exercise literally AT ALL, this has actually gotten me up and moving for 45 minutes or so every day. By the end of a session I’m sweating and my arms and legs are shaking but holy hell is it fun!
Demeo
This is another game that felt choppy and made me sick in my Quest 2 . In fact when we have done Demeo streams in the past I have played on the PC while everyone else was in VR. On PSVR2 it is bright, crisp and smooth. I get no queasiness and It’s like being at the basement gaming table with friends. I feel like I am finally seeing what Jerry was seeing on his PC setup. If we get the opportunity to do another Demeo stream I fully intend to play in VR now. This is already an incredible game that we have known about for a while now and I’m just excited to finally experience it like I think it’s meant to be experienced. If you have never played Demeo I envy you because you are in for a treat. No other video game does as good a job at capturing the feeling of friends rolling dice at a table and there are a ton of FREE adventure modules to play now. Don’t skip this one!
Here’s a look at REZ using eye tracking, it’s wild! pic.twitter.com/MfXVzCjiCX
— Gabe (@cwgabriel) February 27, 2023
REZ
REZ is a game I have loved for years and played on many different consoles including the first Playstation VR. In VR it was already a cool experience but the PSVR2 adds eye tracking to this new version. Playing REZ with just a finger on the X button and using your eyes to target enemies is a spiritual fucking journey. Playing this way felt like it unlocked new regions of my brain. It also made the game accessible for Kara who had never been able to play it. To me eye tracking is going to be a real game changer. I know that sounds corny but I really mean it will change the way games are designed and played. My first thought after using it in REZ was, “I would love to have that in Call od Duty.”
i would die for this mouse pic.twitter.com/NeYrB4q304
— Gabe (@cwgabriel) February 24, 2023
Moss1 and 2
These are beautiful adventure/puzzle games that will make you instantly fall in love with a tiny mouse. You play the part of the “Reader” in these games sitting above the action and watching from a distance. You control Quil the mouse with the analog stick and buttons like a traditional platform game but you can also reach into the world with your hands and manipulate parts of the environment! The star of this game is Quil though who is so beautifully and thoughtfully animated that you will immediately forget she isn’t a real mouse. She might request a fist bump, use actual ASL to communicate with you about a puzzle, or even try a staring contest with you! There are two games in the series now and I recommend getting the bundle with both.
Here are some of the other games we played that are fun but not must plays in the same way.
Star Wars:Tales from Galaxy’s Edge.
I’ll be straight with you. I did not play this one but my son Noah beat the entire game and I watched a lot of it. He was very impressed with the game and watching him strut around in the Star Wars universe was a lot of fun. He could not help but strike heroic poses and act out little scenes with the various characters you can talk to. His only complaints came at the end once he had beaten it. The game is pretty short, only a few hours maybe and he claims there is not enough lightsaber play. This last note he was especially upset about as I think most kids going into VR want to swing a lightsaber.
Kayak VR Mirage
This is a Kayak simulator and it does a VERY good job of being exactly that. This is a game that we all liked and I think is a great game to show people who are new to VR. You can splash around and float peacefully while watching the scenery or you can really go hard and try the races. We preferred the prior and tended to just paddle around looking at the fish and admiring the amazing water effects. I don’t know how much “Game” there is here but it’s fun and very well made.
Ragna Rock
This is another music game but now you’re on a viking longship and you need to beat your drums to spur your crew on. Like most rhythm games notes will be flying towards you and you’ll need to bang the right drum at the right time to be successful. Kara and I both liked this game a lot and the best part is easily the music selection. I have no idea what you would call it, Viking rock maybe? Every track we’ve played has been a banger and I’m pretty sure I’ll need to find some of these tracks on Spotify.
Garden of the Sea
Kara wanted to try this game and I wasn’t sure I was going to get the VR back. It’s very much an Animal Crossing sort of game but in VR obviously. I watched her pet a penguin and then fill a watering can from a magic well before heading towards her seed patch and I knew I had lost her. I may not have played it myself but I am confident in recommending this one. If you want to feed cute creatures and decorate a cottage in VR this is your shit.
Synth Riders
This is another one that I have only watched. Kara loves it though and much like me with Pistol Whip has made this game her exercise regime. This is yet another music game but this time you have to move your hands to follow glowing rails in the VR space. She played for 45 minutes this morning without even realizing it just because she was having such a good time. This is another great option if you’re looking to use your PSVR2 for exercise as you will need to duck and dodge along with waving your arms around. It’s a workout for sure.
PAVLOV
I have played only a tiny bit of this as it’s an incredibly intense first person shooter experience. My son Noah though who is a Fortnite and CoD beast took to PAVLOV like a duck to water. This was by far his favorite game on the PSVR2 and I understand why. I only played a bit but I spent some time at the game's gun range and was blown away by the realism of it. I took some Dramamine and managed to play a few rounds of the multiplayer and it’s one hell of an experience. Readloding in CoD is just a button press but in this I have to pull out the empty clip and toss it before grabbing a new one and jamming it in. Then you have to actually work each gun’s unique mechanism to cock it. That tends to be when I get shot. Still it’s a thrill and if you take to VR like Noah does you’ll love it.
Overall I’m beyond impressed with the PSVR2. It blows away the other VR experiences I have had. My goal is to get Jerry over to my house for an afternoon of VR streaming. I’d especially like to get him in the rig and see his reaction to Gran Turismo. Keep an eye out for that later hopefully later this week!
-Gabe out
