One other trip

You actually have to provide it to Supermassive Video games for serving to to maintain the horror style alive. They’ve been cranking out spooky video games since 2015 with a level of regularity, and usually, they’re OK at worst, and are recognized to go above and past. I’m glad they’re nonetheless making video games, and that features spinoffs like Switchback VR.

The Darkish Footage: Switchback VR (PS5 [reviewed with PSVR 2])
Developer: Supermassive Video games
Writer: Supermassive Video games
Launched: March 16, 2023
MSRP: $39.99

For those who don’t mess with the Darkish Footage sequence in any respect and are questioning what the hell is occurring, we acquired you.

In 2015, developer Supermassive Video games launched the hit horror journey Till Daybreak, which hosted a seated first-person VR taking pictures gallery spinoff a yr later with Rush of Blood. Switchback VR is the equal for the Darkish Footage sequence: Supermassive’s loosely linked franchise that carries on the spirit of Till Daybreak. The identical precept applies to Switchback VR because it did years again with Rush of Blood: you don’t must play the correct sequence to essentially get pleasure from it (since each are arcade-style shooters at coronary heart), however there are references and locales that may add a little bit bit “additional” for folk who’re followers.

It goes with out saying, however the PSVR 2 Sense controllers are a large improve from the prior Transfer know-how carried out in Rush of Blood. Like, leagues higher. I felt like I used to be totally in management in Switchback, with the power to independently manipulate every hand (which controls a pistol by default, with room for locating non permanent in-level upgrades like SMGs), and reload by urgent a button on the Sense controllers or shaking every system (which will be helpful in a pinch, or immediately following a soar scare, which Switchback has a lot of). It’s simply elegant sufficient to really feel like the sport is profiting from the brand new tech with out overcomplicating issues for what’s ostensibly an arcade blueprint.

Minor performance is carried out in a couple of different methods, like bobbing your head back and forth (or ducking) to keep away from beams and hazards; usually whereas your cart is racing alongside the observe at prime velocity. Then there’s the eye-blinking tech (which a number of PSVR 2 launch window video games have utilized) to create extra chaos, as enemies can be extra relentless in the event you blink in sure areas (it’s not all through your entire sport).

Gunplay is responsive due to the Sense controllers, and Supermassive isn’t stingy with the default journal dimension (18), coupled with fast reloading. You’ll be able to usually simply unload on enemies with each pistols as they stroll/run/teleport as much as your automotive and try and kill you (there’s three problem settings in all), and there’s a satisfying click on when operating out of ammo, coupled with some good haptic bodily suggestions on the well-designed Sense tech. It’s very simple to intention and see targets that rely for “additional factors” too, since they’re clearly marked with a glowing seal. Once more, Supermassive struck an excellent steadiness right here, and didn’t make issues too overwhelming.

After finishing the short-ish tutorial to study a lot of the above ideas, you’ll embark on “rides” by haunting areas, just like the shipwreck (and the encompassing space) from Man of Medan. Little Hope, Home of Ashes, and The Satan In Me (all a part of “season 1” of Darkish Footage) additionally make an look. As a result of that is an “all-star tour” of types, the environments have much more selection to them in comparison with Rush of Blood. Taking part in by them in pretty fast succession, I used to be reminded of all the wacky ’90s arcade shooters in one of the simplest ways, the place you go to a harbor in French Polynesia in a single second, and a Mesopotamian tomb within the subsequent. There’s additionally a obscure story thread woven in (very similar to the sequence correct likes to do) that’s form of attention-grabbing, but additionally so obscure that it’s arduous to essentially hook up with it till you’re pressured to in a while within the sport.

Switchback was delayed a bit from its authentic launch date; and from a visible standpoint, I can see why. There’s nonetheless some pop-in current amid some much less impressed bits of every observe (largely the huge open outside areas), which lead to a literal rollercoaster of excessive and low factors all through the sport. The excellent news is, as I’ve espoused a number of occasions all through this overview, it’s an arcade sport in spirit. So one small pitstop goes to be simply that, a brief cease, and it’s time to maneuver to the subsequent factor.

After you’ve ridden by every stage there’s a score-attack ingredient baked in (with leaderboards), a level-select possibility (providing you with the prospect to take a look at the additional paths in every stage), and some trophies to probably mess with on a replay (like in the event you tousled key moments when you may have the chance to save lots of different folks); in addition to a number of secrets and techniques coping with the credit. I do want there was a bit extra replayability right here, particularly if you issue within the alternative to iterate extra with this VR-generation-leaping sequel. However I did get pleasure from blasting away creatures on a world tour rollercoaster trip, and I did get freaked out a couple of occasions by some soar scares: so mission largely completed.

At $20 greater than Rush of Blood was at launch, Switchback VR is an even bigger capsule to swallow, however does lots to sate anybody who’s searching for AAA VR horror, and makes use of the PSVR 2’s technological enhancements. I anticipate Switchback VR to be equally polarizing as a result of it caters to a really particular area of interest, however in the event you loved Rush of Blood, you’ll seemingly have an excellent time right here as properly.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}