Stephen: The Riddler challenges that you can try after finishing the story are neat. And I’m a sucker for good audio logs, and there are some fun ones tucked into the game. I also really like the few moments in the game where you can assemble things with our “hands.” Talk about potential for a full game... I’d love to play a virtual jigsaw/Lego puzzle game where I’m assembling more stuff like the Riddler’s cane or little fan-filled cube contraptions.

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Kirk: “I’m a sucker for good audio logs.” - Stephen Totilo, Kotaku.com.


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WAYWARD SKY

Kirk: An interesting idea, making a point-and-click adventure game work in VR by having you look down on the world the characters inhabit. I’m not very deep into this game, but I like the tone and the writing. The puzzles are elementary so far. It’s another one where the constant stuttering motion of my controllers really bums me out.

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Stephen: I got used to the little bit of shakiness I was experiencing. The puzzles are initially very rudimentary. Lots of turning of bridge segments to create clear pathways. Later, when you’re manipulating the movement of various robots, it’s more fun. It is one of those games that doesn’t seem to be getting much out of being in VR, but I do enjoy having some chill third-person VR experiences that let me be inside virtual worlds without being inside a character. They’re certainly more physically comfortable to play.

Kirk: Yeah. It’s that interesting secondary consideration for these launch games. Like launch games throughout history, they double as standalone video games and as games that in some way make a case for new hardware. Making that case for VR doesn’t always involve giving people the most mindblowing, immersive experience. Sometimes it’s more convincing to show that VR can be a chilled out but still interesting way to experience low-impact genres like adventure games.

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REZ INFINITE

Stephen: I figured Rez in VR would be a can’t-miss. Trippy visuals, good music, wrap it all around you in VR. Having played it, I’m underwhelmed, possibly because Rez always was so engrossing that maybe I already was sufficiently immersed in its visuals and soundscape. I’m not crazy enough about Rez to feel like, wow, I’ve got to play it through again in VR. I think a small sampling of it was enough for me.

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Kirk: I really liked it, even though it’s basically just “Rez Again.” Which is fine. Rez is a good game! I’ve only ever sampled it over the years, despite the fact that based on the kinds of games I like it should be one of my favorite games. VR feels like a neat if inessential format for it. It’s interesting that it launches on PSVR alongside Thumper, which is such a clear Rez descendant as well as an evolution of what Rez does. I’d rather just play Thumper, on balance. I’m also struck by the fact that my three favorite PSVR launch games are all arcade-y, colorful rhythm/puzzle games: Thumper, Rez, and Super Hypercube. Think there’s anything to that?

Stephen: I think you aspire to be on acid.


Kirk’s favorite PSVR games:

  1. Super Hypercube
  2. Thumper
  3. Rez Infinite

Stephen’s favorite PSVR games:

  1. Super Hypercube
  2. Arkham VR
  3. Battlezone