Continue to tell our readers about the most interesting games for VR headsets. Despite the current high cost of equipment and slow the spread of technology in the gaming industry, with every month comes new projects for VR in a variety of genres. Some of them deserve especially close attention. Take, for Sparc a new game from the Studio CCP Games, is embodied in the eyepieces of the PlayStation VR headset the sport from a sci-Fi movie “Tron.”
Play: Sparc
Platform: PlayStation VR
Genre: Sports
Release date: 29 Aug 2017
Developer: CCP Games
Publisher: CCP Games
If you haven’t seen the movies “Tron” (1982) and “Tron: Legacy” (2010), we strongly recommend to read them. The main characters of these films, once inside cyberslang were forced to participate in a virtual gladiatorial combat, the essence of which consisted in throwing each other, glowing disks. Fighters can Dodge enemy discs, and also to reflect their own using the weapon as a shield. Simple, but incredibly attractive idea relished developers of video games, so after the premiere of the original film years was released a few arcade video games based on “disc wars”.
Attempts to implement something similar to virtual reality, of course, also undertaken. From the recent can recall mini-game “Danger Ball” from the collection of the PlayStation VR Worlds. There the player had the head movements to control a kind of racket, beating the sphere launched at his opponents, and score goals at the improvised gate of the enemy. Each enemy was endowed with unique abilities. For example, someone could start from two areas instead of one, and someone was blocking his racket almost all of the gates fully. It would seem that only a simple mini-game to demonstrate the capabilities of the PlayStation VR helmet and I’m stuck in it for three days.
Icelandic Studio CCP Games is far not the beginner in the field of virtual reality. Last year she released a version of the space shooter Eve: Valkyrie for VR helmets. Previously, developers released for the Samsung Gear VR headset shooter Gunjack, which later got a sequel, but for Google’s Daydream. In other words, the authors of the popular MMORPG EVE Online are not afraid to experiment with virtual reality and to try myself in new genres. Your new game Sparc developers have positioned as a real vSport, or “eSports virtual reality”. While the project released exclusively for Sony’s PlayStation VR headset, but before the end of the year we are promised a release for the HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift.
The game has only one control scheme – using two PlayStation Move controllers, one for each hand. In the beginning the player will be offered to fine tune the virtual reality system. You will be asked to stretch your hands with the controllers forward, sideways, and adjust the height of the virtual floor, which is your character that you feel as comfortable as possible. Familiarity with the game the correct way is to start with training. Mode Tutorial consistently and in an accessible form explains the basic game mechanics. The player will learn to throw the energy ball in a straight line and ricochet off the walls and bypass obstacles, Dodge enemy attacks, as well as to reflect the ball enemy with a shield. Indeed, these uncomplicated steps and is game.
But not so simple as it might seem at first glance. To get hand to accurately send the ball to the goal, is not a matter of one hour or even a day. Experience and skill come with time. Sparc – game based on motion. To move a lot to Dodge, leaping backward and leaning to the side, waving his arms, sending the ball into the opponent try to catch it after the bounce as quickly as possible to put before a panel, trying to hit the ball the opponent. Throw the ball in different ways, at different speeds and even with the tightening, like in baseball. After a couple hours of play you begin to understand why the developers call it a “sport” — the game makes you a good osmocote.
Futuristic tennis with two energy balls and narrow closed tunnel instead of a court, or an unusual variation of the game “Bouncer” – that’s what it’s like Sparc. Matches happen quickly enough. The one who managed to get his ball in the opponent receives a point. It should not be forgotten that, if your ball is currently in one of the hands, it can transform into a shield. However, after reflection in this shield the enemy ball, it takes some time to recharge, so it’s best to immediately launch the ball at an opponent. If the enemy dodged your attack, the ball reflects off the wall behind him is back on your court. In this case, you will need to have time to grab it again to use the sphere as a shield or weapon.
Visually Sparc is a very austere game. Stars in the sky it is not enough. Everything is very minimalistic and stylish, no frills and all sorts of “thingies”. Around the scenery of metal and glass with splashes of animated surfaces. Suits players glow brightly once again and send us to know what kind of movie. At the beginning of the game you are, by the way, will be prompted to create your game avatar. You can choose the gender, the head visor, hair, clothes, the form of gloves and other elements of character that will see your opponents. Your body’s movement again, the virtual avatar is very realistic, despite the fact that it depicts your body only to the waist. In the character editor you can freely wriggle in front of a mirror, so you will see what I mean.
Multiplayer the game offers three main modes. In the Basic Brawl mode match lasts 3 minutes, in addition to the shield you can deflect enemy balls his fists (quite interesting additional mechanics), and the game is actively trying to help you in aiming. The winner is the one who in the allotted time will score more points. In case of a tie the overtime is played. In Brawl mode, Advanced players will battle in a series of three rounds, the winner of each of which will be the first player to score four points. No time limit, to beat the balls of his fists forbidden, and the game hardly helps you in aiming. The third mode is called Experimental rules and uses Basic Brawl, with the only difference that arena have unusual geometry and additional obstacles.
While waiting in the lobby when the game find you a worthy opponent, you will be able to watch someone else’s game mode to Spectator Mode. It looks as if in front of you is the tiny copy of the game court, inside which are fighting two players. The players see your giant avatar through the translucent walls. You can cheer for them, applaud, waving they hands. A rather unusual sensation when it occurs. Do not be surprised if in the future someone decides to open a sports VR-bar, where visitors to the virtual reality headsets will be watching someone else play in Sparc or a similar sports entertainment.
To improve your playing skills, I recommend to test mode “Test”. In contrast to the “learning Mode”, it represents a set of specific tasks that must be performed on time. Your results after the end of the level entered in the online high score table along with the achievements of other players. Tasks vary in complexity. And if in the beginning you will be asked to hit a few targets, then over time you will begin to fly parallel to the enemy’s balls, and obstacles in front of targets will become more difficult and tricky, making the game begin to resemble Billiards speed.
I was very upset that the game focuses solely on online. Understand that this is eSports. But it’s not forbidden to dream that such wonderful mechanics it would be possible to tie an interesting story. Sad also a small amount of game content. Three game modes, spectator mode, a number of hairstyles and costumes for your avatar – and that’s it. I would like more variety, because the makings of the game is just great. There is no possibility of practicing against bots running artificial intelligence. Also a serious drawback. Another disadvantage is the need you have two controllers, PlayStation Move. Unfortunately, they are not every owner of a PlayStation VR headset, and it should be a set of about 5000 rubles.
Pros:
- Simple yet effective and incredibly addictive game mechanics.
- Several multiplayer modes including observer mode.
- The project could become a sports cyberdisplay for VR.
- Pleased with the presence of simple and clear learning process of players.
- There is an opportunity to hone their skills in challenge mode.
- No motion sickness and other unpleasant side effects VR.
- Very interesting implemented the supervision of someone else’s game.
Cons:
- The game is not even a hint of single-player campaign.
- There is no opportunity to practice on AI opponents.
- The game is impossible without having two Move controllers.
- At this point in the game with too little content.
Sparc is a fun game for those who always dreamed of a real eSports for virtual reality. Fans of the movie “Tron” will also be satisfied, because they will appear in scenes from cult fiction Walt Disney. Simple at first glance, the mechanics are gradually revealed to the player, then comes the realization that in this game there is a place tactics, planning, and, of course, the skill to develop which is not so easy. Defeat the enemy by pressing a couple of buttons, you will not leave. For victory will have to work hard in the real sense of the word. I want to believe that the developers will not abandon their offspring in the near future will add new modes and content. And while I put a Sparc on 7 points out of 10.
Game overview Sparc: virtual sport of the future
Sergey Grey