We were one of the first to try the new PlayStation VR2, here are our thoughts
Gaming fans have been bursting for the release of the Sony PlayStation VR2 – and after being one of the first in Australia to have a play, it's not hard to see why. The next generation of virtual reality gaming is available now, and players will no doubt be scrambling to get their hands on the brand new slice of technology.
I was lucky enough to delve into VR2 a little early, and run around in the majestic world of Horizon Call of the Mountain – PlayStation's flagship VR title. Here's what I thought while experiencing the PlayStation VR2 for the first time.
The graphics
The VR2 is the newest addition to the virtual reality gaming world, only compatible with the PlayStation 5. As someone who grew up on the PlayStation One, it's truly mind-blowing how far technology has come. That said, after playing a constant stream of Hogwarts Legacy I was somewhat skeptical that graphics on a VR title could ever live up to that, or at least get close.
I was wrong.
Seeing the Horizon Call of the Mountain gameplay was enough for me to let out a gasp at the sheer beauty and scale of the environment I was in. The game itself is a VR spin-off to the popular Horizon Zero Dawn franchise, and there's definitely a thrill in seeing all those familiar robotic animals storming around a completely immersive and 360° world.
Seeing it through the pair of super-sharp 4K (2000 x 2040 per-eye) HDR OLED displays the VR2 has was truly epic, and shows exactly what this piece of technology is capable of.
If you're familiar with the game, the world is set in a futuristic setting where machines have almost destroyed humanity. In the new VR title, you play as Ryas, an expert climber and former Shadow Carja Warrior who is searching for redemption. In homage to the original game, you even get to meet Aloy, the main protagonist of Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West – a lovely touch.
Using the VR2's Sense controllers, you can interact with a variety of different objects and weapons to continue your journey while defeating enemies along the way. From using your hands to splash in the river, to grabbing an apple and eating it to gain health, it all feels... almost real.
When you're introduced to characters, you can see every wrinkle and every pore on their face. You can smash random plates, paint on walls, and lift boxes just to toss them around the room. It really does give you a feeling of presence, and there are moments where you just need to stop what you're doing to gaze around at the environment you're in. If anything, it emphasises what the VR2 is able to do, and shines a light on what we can expect from titles in future.
The controls
When it comes to the VR2 Sense controllers, Sony have adopted the basic layout of the PS5 controllers with a trigger, grip, two face buttons, analog sticks and a menu button on each hand. What's great is that you can also press a button and see a black-and-white view of the real world, so you don't need to take your headset off to figure out what's going on in your living room and see where you're physically positioned – very handy.
With Horizon, you use the triggers to pull out your bow and to draw and arrow and shoot. You literally have to move your arm, pluck the arrow from behind you and aim it at enemies, and you can feel the tension and resistance it creates. It does take a little bit of getting used to – as I discovered when trying to take down a huge boss – but given time, it's a very simple and effective way of combat that is a whole lot of fun and very realistic.
Movement
While you don't technically need to move around should you wish to sit down and play, the VR2 will make things feel all the more realistic with the way you move your character. You can see your avatar's hands in front of you, and in Horizon, in particular, are tasked with running and climbing up walls – which is honestly a workout in itself. When you're swinging on a rope hundreds of feet above a river, the adrenalin is truly pumping and you don't just feel like you're sitting around playing a console all day – you're moving. I was honestly pretty exhausted after an hour.
You configure your play space by looking around, with the headset able to map out walls, floors and furniture in the vicinity and thus creating a virtual boundary to keep you from smashing into anything.
The design
The first PlayStation VR headset was released back in 2016, and it was quite a pain to connect in terms of the cables and breakout boxes. But this time, it's just a single USB-C cable for the front of your PS5. It's also very comfortable, with the halo band around the top of the headset and an easy-to-use tightener on the back allowing it to fit snugly around your head, without ever feeling too tight. You configure your play space by looking around, with the headset able to map out walls, floors and furniture in the vicinity and thus creating a virtual boundary to keep you from smashing into anything.
That being said, if you have a small space you can set it up as seated so you don't have to be moving around too much at all.
The eye-tracking technology gives you an on-screen guide of how well-positioned the lenses to your pupils, making it perfectly adjustable for every user. So even people who have never used a VR headset before will find it simple. It's easy to set up, and feels relatively light on the head – which is pretty ideal for a long gaming session.
Our final thoughts...
Overall, the PlayStation VR2 is an insight into what's to come in the world of gaming.
It's incredibly realistic, and given time there will most likely be a game to suit anyone. While some will always prefer the classic TV-playing function of a PS5 or the portableness of a Nintendo Switch, the VR2 is a truly evolved piece of technology that is perfect for those seeking something different.
It's a pretty pricey piece of tech, but it feels like the future of gaming at your fingertips and I can't wait to see how much it will evolve even further in years to come.
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