STACK #153 Jul 2017

GAMES FEATURE

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SONY

arrives this August. My VR experience on the Sony booth (after doing the Kitchen demo two years ago, there was no way I was going near horror again, so first-timer Alesha was given the honours) was with cover shooter Bravo Team , utilising the Aim gun-shaped motion controller. The demo kicked off with a squad member to the right of me copping a bullet to the head with such striking realism, it caused the ole ticker to skip a beat. Playing cooperatively with another player, we had to negotiate a path across a bridge littered with burning cars and balaclava-clad enemies.

In true cooperative fashion, we didn’t say a word to each other throughout the entire demo. Movement was dictated by ‘option icons’ positioned on the map – see a cover position and sprint towards it. At times I would get ahead of the enemy, resulting in a frantic shootout to clear them out. While the aiming took a little time to adjust to, and it will be totally dependent on level length, I could see myself playing through it; considering I have had to veto many VR experiences due to nausea, not for the first time at E3 I walked away feeling

Matterfall

behind-closed-doors session at the show, Spider-Man throws us into the mix with a Peter Parker who’s pretty familiar with his powers, and knows his way around a skyscraper or two. The team has crafted a new story, so don’t expect to see a rehashing of any of the old movies, but there will be characters and villains you recognise.  The combat was arguably the best part of the presentation. We’ve been

The Inpatient

describing it as a mix between Prototype and the Batman Arkham games, as it involves a lot of countering and use of the environment and objects around you. Spidey’s still got his off- handed wit and humour, and there are even a few QTE sequences thrown in, too. Keep an eye out for this one in the early half of next year.  The Inpatient is a PS VR experience that is, strangely enough, a prequel to Supermassive Games’ Until Dawn . You are a patient in a psychiatric ward, and the VR mechanics make great use of people in your environment getting all up in your grill. Similar to Until Dawn , it’s choice-based, so prepare to regret all your life decisions and dread the consequences of your actions. It’s terrifying, and we’d advise against playing with anyone nearby that you think might poke you for a bit of a laugh – not funny at all.  For me, one of E3 2017’s biggest surprises was a game I’d never heard of – Matterfall . Developed by Housemarque, it’s a 2D sidescroller, and it’s actually  really hard . There are a few control mechanics, and you’ve got to try and coordinate dodging, shooting, and collecting health and super charge all at the same time. Maybe I just found it hard because I’m bad at juggling.  When we had a crack at the Sony booth, the dev attendant threw us straight into the boss level, promising that learning the hard way was the best way to approach it. Sure enough, it took approximately four seconds for me to die. I persisted, but only managed to conquer the boss at a different station about 45 minutes later. I’m nothing if not persistent. Though challenging, Matterfall undoubtedly proved to be one of my favourite games of the show.

fine. A cooperative shooter like Bravo Team is a good fit for VR, built from the ground up with the format in mind. I also did a 'forgiving' circuit with Gran Turismo Sport in VR, too. Sat in a racing pod with a wheel in my hands and a headset clamped to my lugs, there probably isn't a better way to sell the VR concept to a non-user. It's immersive, engaging and looks incredible to boot. I want to play all my

...prepare to regret all your life choices and dread the consequences of your actions

racing games like

this going forward, despite being hopeless at them.

Alesha: There was only one word (two words?) on everyone’s lips as they left the Sony Press Briefing at this year’s E3 – Spider-Man.  Though it was originally announced last year, a lengthy new bit of Insomniac's Spider-Man

gameplay was revealed at Sony’s conference, and we’d be lying if we said it wasn’t shaping up to be huge. From what we were told at our

BravoTeam

One of the standouts of the West Hall was Sony's booth. Though at times difficult to navigate, the facade was impressive, no section moreso than the setup for Insomniac's Spider-Man . Peter Parker on a helicopter suspended above the city? We've suddenly found ourselves in distress... Booth Bits

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JULY 2017

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