We continue to publish our detailed view of the not-yet-released video games, with whom we became acquainted at the exhibition “IgroMir 2017”. And today we will talk about new projects to virtual reality helmet for PlayStation VR. The stand of Sony at the exhibition stood out against all others with their reasonableness and scope. Approximately one-third was devoted to VR. Including such games as the Gran Turismo Sport, Skyrim VR, The Inpatient and Transference.
The Inpatient
British Studio Supermassive Games is well known to owners of the PlayStation 4 thanks to the wonderful Thriller Until Dawn. In his story a group of teenagers gathered in a country mansion, was opposed by the diabolical maniac who stalked and killed them one by one. After the game was released a small spin-off Rush of Blood, carrying the player inside the mind of the maniac and offers a look at the world through his eyes thanks to the VR helmet. But the developers decided not to leave the world they created and offer players to come back to him.
Game events Inpatient (“Patient” in Russian translation) takes place 60 years before the start of the game Until Dawn. The player is in the role of a patient of a mental hospital Blackwood (one of the locations of the original game), where he can communicate with medical staff, travel the dark corridors and solving puzzles. The game remains true to the genre and offers a lot of as hell scary moments, makes you wince or even chill. The atmosphere reminded me of a recent wonderful movie the “Medicine of health”.
During the move inside virtual reality you can see your body, and to control the right hand to take and examine objects from all sides. The main character suffers from amnesia, so cannot remember how he ended up in the hospital. But from time to time he gets flashbacks and he sees himself in the form of a doctor that would hint at the double bottom of the plot. The developers claim that the player will be able to communicate with other characters with a built-in headset microphone, but presented at “IgroMir” demo nothing like us was proposed. The game should go on sale November 22, 2017 exclusively for the PS4 and the PlayStation VR.
Gran Turismo Sport
The day’s coming when the owners of consoles PS4 will be able to touch the new creation of a brilliant game designer Kazunori Yamauchi’s Studio, Polyphony Digital. A series of driving simulators, Gran Turismo has long been a role model for many other developers of games of this genre, and prominent racers hone in this game your skills before the real Championships. At the last “IgroMir” we tested the game in the usual format, and this year Sony brought demostand VR-future version of the simulator.
The feel of the VR version of the game is pleasant enough. The player sees the cabin of the car from the first person, from the inside of the cab. We see their hands, the dashboard, the gear lever. Can freely look around in all directions. The only thing that is still somewhat frustrating is the lowest resolution available for each eye. This problem can be tackled only by the production of new, more perfect PlayStation VR headset, which will require significantly more processing power from the console. Count on it right now would be foolish. Rather, a qualitative leap will happen after the release of the PS5 console.
I intend to ride on the track simulator and enjoyed its VR component. The owners of the virtual reality helmet should definitely try this experience for yourself. This is something completely new in terms of sensation. The game comes out October 18 this year, which means very soon you will be able to join a new word in the genre and grow into the role of a racing driver. Albeit only in a virtual reality. We will publish a detailed review of this game as soon as in our hands a copy of it.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR
What will they do in order to earn a little money on the game, released six years ago. Publisher Bethesda ported it on even hybrid Nintendo console Switch. But totally unexpected was the announcement of a VR version of the game. Very curious that the press was forbidden to photograph the screens of display stand, as the game was still not ready. Why it was ever brought to the exhibition in this raw state – for me personally remains a mystery. But pass by and try what we have prepared for the developers, we just could not. What happened in the end?
The game just looks disgusting. It’s a small catastrophe in terms of game design, having nothing in common with the original game. Detailing significantly decreased in the VR-version, and the animation of characters and monsters has taken us 10 years ago. But the worst thing in the game not how it looks. The most terrible is disgusting management. We played with two PlayStation Move controllers, each of which was responsible for one of the hand. In the right hand we have the sword, and the left, you can incinerate enemies with fire magic. Yes, but the work is still just disgusting. So bad that even remember these moments for us is excruciatingly painful.
The movement in the game is realized by specifying a specific location near the main character and teleport to that point. It is hoped that the final version of the game will be offered alternative means of travel, as it’s just terribly inconvenient. The rotation axis was carried out by two tiny buttons on one Move, making this operation terribly inconvenient. Enemies and then appeared behind me and turn to face them I frantically searched for the tiny buttons that are not seen by eyes. About intuitiveness is out of the question from the word “all”. Given that the release of the game will take place in November this year, I have serious doubts about the fact that the game will result in a playable state in such a short period of time.
Transference
Another interactive VR-Thriller. This time from the Studio SpectreVision, owned by Hollywood actor Elijah Wood. Elijah had long wanted to work in the gaming industry, so I decided that virtual reality is a good option to try a new endeavor. He and his colleagues wrote a script for a new game, odieuses to many horror films and obeying cinematographic rules. In this case the player must dive into this picture and feel yourself in the place of the protagonist, which is quite difficult to implement traditional cinematic ways. To assist in the implementation of the project, Elijah Wood has caused French publisher Ubisoft.
In the beginning, we show a small greeting from a doctor, which brings us up to speed. He says that with the help of a special device we will be able to get inside the mind of a man which was recorded on special media. We can worry later that he had to go. To be in several periods of his life and see the world through his eyes. Well, about the time the doctor is not exactly lying. The player can switch between past and present, based on what some puzzle games. For example, to open the door to the basement in the present, you need to go back and find hanging on the wall of the key.
The game is not very scary, but the creepy atmospheric than, of course, captivating. The demo is quite short and ends very suddenly, hinting at what will be offered to players in the final version of this unusual adventure. Release date the project is still very vague and is scheduled for summer 2018. We will follow its development and be sure to share with you any news about this game.
Suggest you also read the first issue of our opinions on new games from the exhibition “IgroMir 2017”.
#. | Our impressions of new video games (part two)
Sergey Grey