Been playing a lot of PSVR since Thursday launch. Very pleased with it all. Stuck at an airport so I will write out some impressions:
Some thoughts on the hardware:
I was surprised to realize that the crown is basically just an advanced headband and that the wheel just spools the rubber up further. It's great and it works. Out of all the headsets, including GearVR, I had the (initial) trickiest time figuring out how to get a clear image. After the first day of use however I now know the position by heart and place it straight on in five seconds. That being the crown almost touching my neck and forehead-cushion resting high-up. The built-in software IPD adjustment utilizing stereo camera images for pinpointing pupils was well done. Everyone should copy the PSVR crown design and similarly I think everyone should copy Oculus Rift in having built in headphones. Extra wires for audio suck and similarly I don't like the provided earplugs that goes into the ear-canals. Currently I'm using my iPhone earpods. Out of all the VR headsets the PSVR has the least (practically non-existant) SDE which is really nice.
It's also very nice to have all controllers be 3D compatible with no exceptions (*stares at Oculus*). Dualshock 4 opens up hybrid traditional + 3D gameplay as seen in the Playroom VR platformer demo which is not available on Rift/Vive. However the preciseness varies between titles as some smooth out the tracking information making them feel great (Tumbler, Playroom) while others (Batman) do not but hopefully devs will learn fast. Thankfully the headset itself does not suffer despite being based on the same tech (VR wouldn't work if it did) likely due to multiple reference lights.
As an owner of all the VR headsets I will say that the PSVR is the perfect starting point. All of them are messy with wires and specific issues and amazement and it's all very 1st generation. PSVR gives great bang for bucks, plug-and-play and the launch lineup is Really Good.
My favorite game:
Battlezone
Pros:
+ Immediacy: No loading, no downtime, logos etc. Raw gameplay is just a couple of clicks and seconds away. You're always in the tank, even in the main menu. This will keep you coming back between other VR experiences (for which should help justify its pricetag and why it's probably best to buy this digitally?).
+ Gameplay is simple, bright and fun. Impacts and action has weight and feels satisfying. Action-filled without giving you a heavy head.
+ There's heaps of customization with weapons, specials, tank-upgrades etc. You sell and you buy.
+ 4-player drop-in-out Co-op is fast and easy to use. The game is a rogue-like meaning that your randomly generated world-map and all-progress is completely lost if your team wipes which makes it really fun. Game is challenging even on Easy.
+ There's a cool meta-game in traversing the randomized hex world-map as the enemy A.I forces keep leveling up alongside you. Everytime their level-bar reaches its end they drop an elite-tank that will seek you out. You can weaken the final encounter by taking down strategic points, you can take longer routes to 'grind' but also knowing the enemy is getting stronger.
Cons:
- SP/Co-op battling the randomized campaign map is the only mode.
- Could need some stronger AA like a handful of other PSVR games.
Battlezone is a cool Tron-ified rogue-like and the closest thing to a dungeon-crawler currently on PSVR. It's immediate and it focuses on fun straight-forward action gameplay.
I took some photos of the upgrade aspects:
Quickly what I think of some other games I bought:
Batman Arkham VR: Must-get. Rocksteady has demonstrated that they really understand VR and its current strengths and weaknesses. The duration of this game was one of my most fun VR experiences.
Kitchen: This was the most intense horror experience of my life (in entertainment). When this was talked about in 2015 the word was that it was technically subpar but outside of lacking AA I thought this was (today) a very, very strong VR demo. No way in hell though I would play a full-game like this. My pulse was 220 for five minutes there.
REZ: Must-get. It's lovely to come from the Beautiful Dreamcast levels and then enter Area X (powered by Unreal Engine 4) which is totally next-gen with heaps of particle and (likely pre-calculated) fluid effects.
Thumper: Must-get. Too hard probably but it's SO well directed I'm happy enjoying the main menu and the first few levels.
RIGS: The most beautiful PSVR game and it's impressive how fast & vertical it is without making me feel nauseous though I have had a bit of a heavy head which has made me focus on other VR experiences. I was in love with the concept of this game prior but ultimately (past the honeymoon) it comes down to how much you enjoy arena-shooters in a way and it might not hook me that much. It's also not as immediate as it should be imo. But it's so very finely crafted, clearly with lots of love and a big budget, and the controls are great.
Tumble VR: Yeah. I just bought it on a whim. It totally delivers what you expect. The Move implementation is super-smooth (no jittering). Personally I should have just played the demo though as it's not really the type of game I'm into but that's my fault as the game delivers exactly what you suspect in good fashion.
Headmaster: Must-get. The humor is spot-on and practically Portal in nature. It's also really fun to play and pretty to look at with good AA and native 90 fps. Like Battlezone I believe this is a game you will come back to and solve a handful of narrated challenges in-between other VR experiences.
Playroom VR platformer: This was a really fun segment. Controls and visuals were great and it was full of character. Luckey's Tale (one of my favorite VR games) has much better camera however as the one in Playroom just zips-full speed straight forward (which might make some feel bad) while Luckey's camera follows the player smoothly in a cinematic way that also happens to be more back-tracking friendly. Something that was Really cool with Playroom VR was how it used the Dualshock 4's 3D capability to add an extra-layer ontop of traditional stick controls (i.e the DS4 being the end of line-dancing-rope while you are steering the robot on top with the analogue). Playroom VR is obviously a no-brainer seeing as it is free. Otherwise it would depend on if you are playing with friends or not (only one platform level as solo-player content). Very polished production.