But then we have shit like Fruit Ninja. Someone noticed that holding a sword in VR is fun and... stopped there. So you can stand on the spot and slash at fruits in front of you, rather than storming a castle in VR's Skyrim or Dark Souls. Noone would accept that on a base console, yet there are people in this very thread applauding it as "surprisingly fun!"
This is a tough argument because on paper, Fruit Ninja sounds like garbage no matter the platform. Because a game is simple, doesn't necessarily mean it's not good. Fruit Ninja works well on VR and captures the same joy and challenge for people that it did on mobile.
Conversely, your argument makes sense (for me) on something like Windlands. After the GAF hype, i tried to enjoy the game but found that after you get past the core mechanic of physics-based swinging, there wasn't enough of a game around it to keep me motivated. Unlike Fruit Ninja where the goal is to maintain composure and awareness to achieve a high score through escalating challenges, Windlands is the same experience in the first ten minutes as it is in the first ten hours. Without any traditional world platforming challenges like enemies or bosses or interesting environment mechanics, I was bored very quickly. Same thing with Eagle Flight.
Then again, there are genuine surprises like Crystal Rift. This is a game that looks like budget software utilizing mechanics that are at least 20 years old. There's no way that i'd have picked up this game even on sale in 2D. Just wasn't interested.
VR, however, not only brought the game to my attention, but revealed that it has some of the best immersion of any of the pre RE7 titles. The game is remarkably playable, addictive, and ends up being my go-to game when I just want to enjoy a solid (albiet archaic) dungeon crawl that is a satisfying proof of concept.
VR exposes games that are often overlooked by longtime gamers. It revitalizes genres that are usually ignored by the console crowd. I Expect You To Die is an escape room puzzle game that only shines in VR. It's also one of my favorite experiences on the platform.
RE7 holds a special place of being an exceptional game and a remarkable VR experience. I actually consider RE7 and RE7 VR two different experiences. As a game, I'd play it anyway and highly recommend it. It's well constructed, beautiful to look at, and stands as a great console release VR or not.
But as a VR experience? It's a game changer. It doesn't just enhance the game like a gimmick. It's essentially a different game with regards to immersion and how you approach it.
When people say that the VR is a gimmick, I chuckle.
