PlayStation VR: What You Need To Know
In case you missed the memo, virtual reality has taken over the video game industry, and with PlayStation VR having just launched in Australia, now might just be the perfect opportunity to jump on board.
While competitors like the Oculus Rift can set you back a pretty penny, PlayStation VR is a little more affordable at $549.95. It’s worth noting, however, that in order to operate the device, you will also require the PlayStation 4 Camera (about $89.95).
More important is that, pending your levels of luck, it may be difficult to actually get your hands on one right away. Most retailers have already sold out of their launch stock, but are taking pre-orders for future shipments.
If you are lucky enough to grab one, there’s an abundance of games to test out. Battlezone VR, Until Dawn: Rush To The Blood and RIGS Mechanized Combat League will all give you a taste of what’s possible, while larger titles like Star Trek: Bridge Crew are on their way.
Time will tell if VR proves itself to become more than a gimmick, but if you’re after a whole new way to experience gaming, PlayStation VR might be the answer.
PREVIEW:
Dishonored 2(PS4, XBO, PC)
The original Dishonored was a surprise hit for Arkane Studios, telling the brutal tale of one man’s bloody revenge in a fascinating steampunk world. Four years later we’ve finally been gifted a sequel in the form of Dishonored 2, and if our recent hands-on time is anything to go by, bigger is most definitely better.
The demo dropped us about four hours into the main game with an enticing skill set as we approached the Clockwork Mansion, home to Kirin Jindosh and fitted with an abundance of shifting walls (which can be altered through various switches) that will strain your brain. Our mission is twofold: find and rescue Anton Sokolov (a returning character from the first game) and eliminate Jindosh.
This time, however, you have the choice to play as either returning hero Corvo Attano or new playable character Emily Kaldwin. Where Dishonored 2 shines is through the flexibility each character presents. Corvo, for example, will once again allow you to Blink to nearby destinations or slow down time, while Emily can employ new powers like Domino, linking the fates of multiple enemies at the same time. Similarly, you even have control of Jindosh’s ultimate fate. In one playthrough we drove a blade through his body almost instantly, while in another we destroyed his intellect by essentially lobotomising him instead.
After experiencing both protagonists, Emily is definitely the recommended option for your first playthrough – especially if you’ve already had extensive time with Corvo in the original game. Not only is she a fresh face, but her abilities are a definite change of pace for the series.
Still, with two unique characters, excellent level design and a spectacular amount of freedom to experiment with, Arkane’s latest looks like it will be receiving much more than an honourable mention when it hits store shelves on Thursday November 10.
REVIEW:
Forza Horizon 3(XBO, PC)
Unless the Opera House is being blown to tiny pieces for the umpteenth time, Australia rarely receives much loving from the video game world. Thankfully, however, Playground Games has changed all that with Forza Horizon 3, presenting us with a racer firmly planted on our shores that we should all be flamin’ proud of.
Considering modern games so frequently focus on realism and authenticity – especially racers – it’s refreshing to see a developer loosen its grip on the wheel, leaving a speed-heavy thrill ride that genuinely keeps you coming back for more fun in the sun. Whether you’re blasting through the dunes of the outback in a buggy or taking in the skyscraper-centric views of Surfers Paradise, you’ll rarely be at a loss for what to do, where to go or which car to drive – all of which are wonderfully unique to handle as you come to terms with each track’s various surfaces and degrees of acceleration. The Forza series has always been exceptional at presenting players with a wildly different car selection, and Forza Horizon 3 is no different.
It’s an attention to detail that is carried across to almost every facet of the game. The move to an Australian setting isn’t a superficial one; it smacks you in the face at every turn. Small touches like multicoloured bin lids and road signs are all definitively our own, let alone the much larger, more obvious recreations like the Twelve Apostles.
Even the choice to defy almost every racing game on the market by placing the action on the left side of the road is an incredibly thoughtful touch that will genuinely mess with your head and undoubtedly cause countless collisions. Throw in various co-op and competitive opportunities, like extensive road trips with friends or hilariously brutal games of tag with foes, and you’ll waste hours without even realising.
It would be easy to recommend Forza Horizon 3 solely off the back of its local setting, but to do so would actually be a severe disservice to the game. That’s because the team at Playground Games has not just crafted an exceptional open-world racer. It’s developed one of the best in its genre – an essential for any Xbox One or PC owner. Just remember to stick to the left.
★★★★☆
