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SUPERHOT VR (PSVR) – Review

It's the most innovative VR shooter we've played!

By Dustin Furman

The once Occulus exclusive, SUPERHOT VR, is now available on Playstation VR. This comes to the delight of not only fans of the original title, but also to PSVR owners who have been following the PC VR scene. SUPERHOT VR has been touted as one of the best VR titles to hit the platform for its unique take on the VR FPS genre.

On the surface, SUPERHOT VR is much like other VR shooters. Pick up weapons, shoot enemies and duck behind cover. SUPERHOT VR changes the formula though through the way it handles the progression of time. Time only moves when you move. This mechanic is what defines the game. Bullets delicately stream slowly through the air, allowing you duck, sidestep and even slice through them with a blade. With time being slowed down, it creates an interesting balance of slow and thoughtfully made decisions but also quick dodges and shots when you’re in a tight spot.
 
The combination of these mechanics creates an amazing and immersive VR experience. Each kill is satisfying, especially when you pull of a long range throw. Because of the slowed time, the game has the player feeling super human. Dodge a bullet while catching a gun in midair, directly after pulling of a head shot with a ninja star, all within a matter of seconds due to the increased precision of slowed time. All of these moments feel great in VR, and can be so engrossing you forget about reality. During our review process, a full glass of water was spilt while reaching down to pick up a weapon, as well as a near injury of a head meeting a coffee table ducking to dodge a bullet. Remember, safety first and clear your play area, and always be aware of your surroundings.
Despite being one of the best games for Playstation VR, the lower cost headset does bring in some unwanted issues. Tracking can still be an problem, with wobbly hands present, as well as going in and out of play space a common occurrence. Picking up weapons off the ground is especially troublesome, causing many deaths during our review from the precious time spent reaching down to grab one, only to be shot while trying to get the game to register picking it up.

Despite being an overall short experience, difficulty can be off-putting at times.  The core issue lies in the format of levels. In order to progress, the player must beat a sequence of around 5 or so scenarios.  If you die during the sequence, you must restart from the beginning of that sequence. The first few levels felt great, and progressed difficultly at a steady pace. The repetition even felt good at first, as you learn the best strategies to handle each scenario. Later levels could be extremely frustrating though, as the last scenario in a sequence could be much harder than the ones before it causing you to repeat the same scenarios over and over.

Recommendation: SUPERHOT VR, despite some of it’s tracking and difficulty issues, is an absolute must play. It’s the most innovative VR shooter we’ve played! Even if you don’t own a VR headset to play this game, find a friend who does and ask nicely if you can play it (and make sure they’re okay with you getting a little sweaty in their headset).  It’s not only about how fun the game is, but also about how  it makes you feel. And trust us, it makes you feel super cool.

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For coverage of SUPERHOT PS4, check out this review.

*Full Disclosure – We were given a copy of SUPERHOT PSVR by the PR company for the game. This did not influence the reviewer’s comments or opinions in any way.*

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