Get the most out of the Playstation VR2 with these games

Domagoj Belancic

2.3.2023

Translation: machine translated

The Playstation VR2 hardware is pure high-tech. With these seven games, you can fully utilise the technical possibilities of Sony's new VR headset.

The Playstation VR2 is an impressive piece of hardware. Compared to the first PSVR headset, Sony has made a huge leap forward. The new VR glasses impress with better screens, more precise tracking and controllers specially developed for the PSVR2.

Unfortunately, the Playstation VR2 does not come with a demo to familiarise you with the benefits of the new hardware. At the launch of the first PSVR, you could still download "The Playroom VR" for free and "Playstation VR Worlds" for a fee from the Playstation Store. The entertaining mini-game collections served as showcases for the new hardware and were the perfect introduction to Sony's virtual reality.

There is no such introduction for the PSVR2. To make up for the missing demos, I have selected seven games from the launch line-up. These games make the best use of the functions of the new hardware and make it easier for you to get started in the VR world of the Playstation 5.

"Cosmonious High" is a relaxed way to get to know the VR2 Sense controllers

The tracking of the first PSVR worked rather poorly. The movements of the controllers and the headset were tracked with an external camera. In contrast, the PSVR2 system uses four cameras that are built directly into the headset.

With the cameras, the glasses not only determine their own position in three-dimensional space, but also the position and orientation of the new VR2-Sense controllers. As a result, both small and large movements are precisely measured and translated into virtual space without latency.

With "Cosmonious High", you can get a good feel for the controllers and the creative input options that this technology opens up.

In this colourful game, you attend an intergalactic high school as an alien. The controllers become your virtual hands in the game. And you can do a lot with them. You have crazy superpowers that allow you to spray water, freeze things or create small tornadoes with your hands. Over the course of the game, you will learn numerous new tricks.

When you're not causing chaos at school with your superpowers, you can chat to your classmates about the latest high school gossip or play entertaining mini-games in school lessons.

In chemistry class you mix dangerous substances, in art class you use your superpowers to create sculptures and in music class you play alien instruments. The tracking of the VR2-Sense controllers is always precise and reliable in all game situations.

"Cosmonious High" is a completely stress-free game that can also be played by inexperienced players. You can't die and there are no high scores. Using the VR2-Sense controllers is intuitive and provides many a wow moment. It's the perfect, relaxed introduction to VR on the Playstation 5.

In "Rez Infinite" you aim with your eyes

In "Rez Infinite", you take on the role of a hacker battling malicious AI systems and viruses in a virtual environment. The game leads you along predefined paths through abstract computer worlds reminiscent of "Tron". On these paths, you shoot down masses of enemy computer programmes.

Music, sound effects, enemies and gunfire merge with the increasing complexity of the levels to create an immersive gaming experience that puts you in a kind of trance.

The special thing about the PSVR2 version of the game: You can aim and shoot with your eyes. Yes, you read that right. This works thanks to the infrared camera built into the inside of the headset. This tracks your eyes during the game. In other words, the PSVR2 knows where you are looking.

I can't put into words how incredibly cool it is to be able to aim with my eyes. It feels futuristic, crazy and intuitive at the same time. It just works. I feel like Robocop. That alone makes the purchase of "Rez Infinite" worthwhile. Provided you can get to grips with the minimalist graphics and the special music shooter trance gameplay.

"Horizon: Call of the Mountain" is the most beautiful PSVR2 game

The graphical highlight in the launch line-up is definitely "Horizon: Call of the Mountain". The imposing dinosaur robots feel even more menacing in VR. The game characters look incredibly lifelike, even at close range. And the beautiful landscapes impress with a high level of detail, a great view and atmospheric lighting.

In short, the game utilises the graphical power of the PS5 and is one of the most beautiful VR games ever across all platforms. The fact that the gameplay is repetitive at times becomes a minor matter with this graphical splendour.

In order to achieve the beautiful graphics at an acceptable frame rate, "Horizon: Call of the Mountain" also utilises the integrated infrared camera inside the headset.

The game tracks where you are looking and renders the respective image area in greater detail and higher resolution than the rest of the image section. This is called "foveated rendering". As a user, you should not notice any of this due to the fast and precise eye tracking.

In addition to the impressive graphics, I was also pretty blown away by my virtual hands. The VR2-Sense controllers have touch sensors on all buttons and analogue sticks. The controllers can therefore sense whether your fingers are touching the controls. "Horizon: Call of the Mountain" utilises this technology and simulates your finger movements in virtual space. You can clench your hand into a fist, give a "thumbs up" or draw on walls with your index finger.

It's little details like these that make the already impressive world of the game even more immersive.

With "Pavlov" you can feel the weapons in your hand

The VR2-Sense controllers have the same vibration motors and adaptive triggers as the normal dual-sense controllers of the PS5. This creates precise haptic feedback that is not possible with other VR platforms.

I was most impressed by the use of this controller function in the team-based first-person shooter "Pavlov".

In "Pavlov" you play classic multiplayer modes such as "King of the Hill", "Team Deathmatch" or "Search and Destroy" against other VR players from all over the world.

In all modes, the choice of weapons is enormous. Each weapon feels unique thanks to the adaptive triggers of the VR2-Sense controller. Depending on the size of the weapon, the triggers offer more or less resistance when pulling the trigger. This makes it much easier to operate small handguns than large weapons such as sniper rifles.

The vibrations when operating the weapons also differ greatly. Shotguns really shake your hands. In comparison, the fully automatic mini-UZI feels like a purring cat.

You also get haptic feedback when reloading the weapons. The insertion of magazines is accompanied by a satisfying "click" vibration. When reloading sniper rifles, subtle vibrations tell you whether you are operating the repeating mechanism correctly. And when arming grenades, you can feel the safety pin being pulled out.

If you like multiplayer shooters and can handle fast movements with VR goggles, you should definitely give "Pavlov" a try.

"Pistol Whip" lets you feel headshots

Not only the controllers, but also the PSVR2 headset itself has its own vibration motor. In many launch games, however, the implementation of the haptic feedback has not yet convinced me. The vibrations usually feel unpleasant and don't give me any real added value. Even in Sony's flagship title "Horizon: Call of the Mountain", I was quickly annoyed by the irritating vibrations on my head. I was on the verge of switching the function off completely. And then came "Pistol Whip".

"Pistol Whip" is a high-score-based shooter that feels like a mixture of the VR classics "Superhot" and "Beat Saber". You are transported along predefined paths through colourful levels that are accompanied by damn good EDM beats. You can choose to arm yourself with one or two pistols.

In the levels, numerous enemies are waiting to be shot by you. If you eliminate the enemies to the beat of the music, you will receive additional points. But beware: the enemies also shoot back. Because the enemy shots are fired in slow motion, you have a chance to dodge them.

When a bullet narrowly misses your head, the PSVR2 headset vibrates on the corresponding side. These are subtle and precise vibrations. Combined with the excellent 3D sound, it really feels like a real physical object has grazed your head.

When a bullet hits you, the whole headset vibrates at maximum vibration level. With every headshot, I'm surprised anew at how much the vibration motor can shake me.

The haptic feedback in the headset not only provides more immersion, but also gives you additional information to help you find your way around the virtual space. You don't just see the bullets, you feel them

"Pistol Whip" is a unique experience and a must-have for every PSVR2 owner.

The OLED screens come into their own with "Tetris" and "Resident Evil"

In contrast to many other headsets, the PSVR2 has OLED screens instead of LCD screens. This means better black levels and higher contrasts. The new screens are shown to their best advantage in the classic VR game "Tetris Effect Connected".

The game is a mixture of classic "Tetris" gameplay and LSD trip. The well-known "Tetris" games are presented in visually stunning worlds that change dynamically during the game. The mostly dark backgrounds are accentuated by bright and colourful special effects that move to the beat of the electronic music.

I have already played "Tetris Effect Connected" on the PSVR1, but it looks even more impressive on the new OLED screens of the PSVR2. Black is really black and the numerous particles and effects are sometimes so bright that they dazzled me.

If "Tetris" is too boring for you and you need more thrills, I recommend "Resident Evil Village". You can play the horror game completely in VR with a free update.

The OLED screen really comes into its own in the darker sections of the game. Your heart rate will definitely skyrocket when you enter a pitch-black room and try to recognise something with your puny torch. Not for the faint-hearted!

Which games have you played so far? Are there any other games in the launch line-up that make really good use of the PSVR2 hardware?

Domagoj Belancic

Senior Editor

Domagoj.Belancic@digitecgalaxus.ch

My love of video games was unleashed at the tender age of five by the original Gameboy. Over the years, it's grown in leaps and bounds.

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