Review | Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakable (Meta Quest 2)
Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakable offers fans of the acclaimed series the chance to experience some of its most iconic moments through VR.
This World is Cruel, but it is Also Very Beautiful
Ever since I first put on a VR headset, I’ve imagined it as the perfect medium to bring the world of Attack on Titan to life. It has been a dream to experience Hajime Isayama’s acclaimed masterpiece beyond the manga’s pages, in a way neither anime nor traditional video games can achieve. So when UNIVRS, Inc. allowed the chance to take back what…
Ok so, my thoughts on the VR ending and VR overall as the 6th entry.
Also because most of my thoughts aren't...complimentary im editing the names so they dont appear in the general tag. This also got LONG so readmore.
The Good:
- A//i's character still managed to be the one thing that saves VR as a show for me. Even with all the weird...contradictory plot issues, A//i still manages to be a compelling character who brings up the question of the right to live. I actually do like how he made it so itd be an ultimatum that he loses in either way, even if the ending kinda ruins the weight behind the action (which I will get to in a bit).
The meh:
-the ending was left somewhat open to interpretation which for a show as...empty as this was works out but honestly it was so vague as to A//is fate is that it may as well not exist.
The Bad:
-The main conflict behind the entire show is...simulations. No joke. Every conflict in the show can be traced back to someone doing a simulation and deciding to lose it. Even if they gave the (rather stupid) explanation that AI experience simulations like actual life (which btw the first villain wasnt an AI so this reason doesnt work), the fact that Yu//sa//ku took a bullet for one of A//is robot bodies that he literally has millions of is...just stupid and there solely for the "uwu drama".
-They actually killed A//i off but wait hes actually alive, so like the final duel literally had no purpose aside from...drama??? The episode is called Compromise and yet A//i had to lose just to keep Yu//sa///kus win streak and theres no compromise whatsoever. Yu//sa//ku litetally destroys the CompromA.I.se card so its just, no comrpomise in any way.
-This....wasn't a happy ending??? I have no idea why both the show and the fanbase frame this as a happy ending bc think about it in context: A//i pretty much loses everything, so does Yu//sa//ku who just isolated himself from everyone else for 3 months in order to comb the network for whatever remnants of A//i exist.
- So many of the supporting characters are just...there. Like, there is no side/supporting character who actually has a character arc in this show. Lets go through the list: Ao//i is pretty much the same character as when she started and goes through 2 unnecessary costume changes for a character growth that isnt there because she has literally ONE victory against an opponent that was stated multiple times to be weak and faulty and have her lose and tortured multiple times for no reason whatsoever, G//o had this weird deterioration that may have lead to something but ultimately didn't, Ak//ira is pretty much the same, J//in has ALL HIS TRAUMA ERASED SO THERES THAT, literally the only side characters who have some sembalnce of an arc are Sho//ichi (the best one anyways) from his "betrayal" in S2, and E//ma with her reconciliation with her brother. Outside of that, nothing. Yu//sa//ku, Re//volv//er and Ho//mu//ra are pretty much the only characters with an arc and even then they're not too solid? Which brings me to-
- Yu//sa//ku has been so wildly ooc since the end of S1. Ive seen so many say that his enphasis on bonds and friendship are character growth but actually looking at the sequence of events he suddenly just like. changes completely around his first duel with Ea//rth. Plus, the message of "revenge is good" was always so weird? Like, he got his revenge so all his trauma is ok now and never brought up or explored again aside from within the first 20 episodes. Theres nothing about it after that and its never built upon. The whole point of a revenge arc is to show that its BAD and yet he starts preaching that revenge is wrong AFTER he successfully gets revenge??? And even then its not exactly a revenge as it is more lashing out since it was Ko//ga//mi who was behind it all. Yu//sa/ku was definitely at his strongest characterization in S1 where we see how badly the Lo//st Incid//ent hurt him but S1 had its own share of problems that led into S2 and so many random plot threads that never went anywhere (such as the Anot//her Incid//ents, the Cy//berse deck being irl despite that A//i didnt have a physical body before then, The Bl//ue Mai//den meetup that was repeated by Nao//ki like 10 times in S2 which seemed to be leading up to something but never did, and the fact that theres 4 recap episodes in S1 already spelled some early problems). So much of the supporting cast function to just say "he turned this whole situation around...with ONE card..." i kid you not watch back every Yu//sa//ku duel I GUARANTEE you'll see someone saying hes a great duelist and serve only that purpose. ALSO THE END OF THE SHOW IS JUST MORE DRAMA?? They make him suffer for no reason other than that they can??? What purpose does his suffering at the end serve aside from just "uwu...poor baby..."???
-Re//volv//er is not a good rival. At all. He's so incredibly bland because much like Yu//sa//ku he was at his strongest characterization in S1 where he actually had some solid motivation in continuing his fathers work and being unable to accept that his dad was evil, yet most of that just flies out the window with all the collateral he's willing to inflict with the K//O//H?? All his character amounts too post S1 is "yeah i told you robots are evil and YOU didnt believe me". The most we got of him growing out of this mindset was calling A//i by his name exactly one time and nothing ever again. Also the fact that in the end we see him and his crew working for S//O//L despite the fact that they were gonna turn themselves in for their crimes just. leaves a rotten taste in my mouth. hes not a good rival at all. All he proves to me is that a good design can get anyone to like a character.
- Ho//mu//ra is...there. I literally cant say anything about him because he absolutely has the strongest motivations of the three but then the show jumps through hoops to push him to the back of the other two. He also has a bunch of early victories I do feel are undeserved (ESPECIALLY the A//oi duel that one pissed me off so much). Also the fact that the show just made him Yu//sa//kus friend immediately whereas it took Sho//ichi several months to get Yu//sa//ku to warm up to him just had me :/.
-The speed duels were a cool concept but they just became these huge cheat fests? Seriously Play//Maker uses StAccess literally every speed duel to pull out a new monster from whatever plot holes the writers need to patch up. I am not kidding. You can go back to every single speed duel Yu//sa//ku was in and youll see this. Skills just werent a good mechanic because when a protag pulls a new card its supposed to be representative of some growth/characterization but he stays the same pretty much throughout the entire show up until S2 where he wildly just switches personality. Plus the fact that Que//en could literally use a skill whenever just shows that it was cheating???
- The villains were overall lackluster. Boh//man was the best because Re//volv//er is just flat whereas A//i struck me more as an anti hero. And again: simulations are the enemy. Light//ning ran one and decided to go ham. Kog//ami ran one and decided to go ham. A//i ran one and decided to go ham. The conflicts are all the same and it just makes things happen rather than following a consistent plot thread? I will say that Boh//mans characterization of a hive mind to become perfect does strike my tastes but thats more my personal preference in villains rather than any merit he has.
- This is a bit of a personal pet peeve but I've seen some of the praise to this show about being the "darkest Y//G//O to date so therefore its good" and im just...no? Edge does not make a good show and just because they lightly focused on the tragedy in Yu//sa//kus life (and it IS lightly because its barely touched upon after mid S1) most of the stuff that happens in this show is pretty tame in comparison? The most that happened here was an attempted global hack of everyones minds from S2 and destroying the internet in S1, with a few references to the torture that happened during the Lo//st incid//ent. To compare: the previous series had this huge interdimensional war that, even if they could reverse the carding of people (which makes Den//nis' attempted suicide even more tragic), ended with an entire dimensions full of brainwashed soldier children, a dimension with huge class inequality that was still being heavily worked upon since there were canonically slaves, and a dimension that was savaged by a genocide and total global destruction. Hell, the series before that had a huge war where the arc actually did focus on the tragedys the characters faced and held consequence (even if they pulled a dbz revive everyone at the end). And as far back into the very first series there were even more graphic depictions of war and death? Idk i feel like people are overplaying the edge here just to find a way to complement this show.
Overall:
I'm...genuinely dissappointed. VR really had so many strong starting points but it all just fell apart at execution. Really the only reason I even bothered to watch it as kong as I did was because Im a longtime fan of the series and wanted to give it a chance rather than jump on whatever love/hate train the show has. Its been rated poorly on the JP side and most of the approval is a vocal minority. Just to be clear: this isnt me bashing the show, my opinions are mine and you can agree or disagree to any capacity, and even if a show isnt well written you can still find a reason to enjoy it despite the flaws.
But if Im being perfectly honest? I do not like this show. It's rushed, choppy, has no consistent or clear plot threads, most of the genuinely interesting characters are wasted for the protagonist to look better and he never really does because he ALSO has an interesting idea behind him but it never goes anywhere. It started strong but ended so poorly. Id be angry but im more dissappointed because Ive watched this show from day 1 and wanted to see the good things it has rather than focus on the negatibes but. yeah. This show really had potential and yet it just fell flat.
I played on: PSVR
I paid: £19.99
Available on: PSVR, Vive
Notes: N/A
As the title would suggest DOOM VFR takes the brutal gameplay from 2016's DOOM and moves it into VR. I can only really describe the result with the praise; Metal as fuck!
In some regards, I do mean Metal in terms of the music genre that has had a massive impact on the series. The soundtrack is amazing and makes taking on the hoards of Hell even more impressive. Mick Gordon's music is one of the best parts of this game and with so much great stuff that's really high praise. Tracks take a lot of inspiration from the original Dos games but with much more punch. When you have your headphones on this soundtrack is the audio equivalent of being in the middle of a mosh pit. Which most of the time you are with the number of enemies you will be taking on at once.
True to the original 1993 Doom most your time will be spent taking on hoards of demonic creatures. The thing that VR does really well is scale and that alone can make a lot of these monsters rather imposing. I've been playing the Doom games on and off for my entire life. Even so when I first saw creatures like the Baron or the Hell Knight in VR I was shocked at their massive size. When they're standing next to you and you have to strain your neck to look up at them you gain a whole new level of respect for these beasts.
Most of these furious creatures are capable of easily killing you so it's vital you keep moving at all times. This is done one of two ways. You can move in one of the 4 basic directions with the directional pad or use L2 to teleport around the area. Those that suffer from motion sickness might want to avoid using the directional buttons. I personally never had an issue with this myself but VR affects everyone differently. Seeing as DOOM VFR was my first VR game I found the movement a little jarring at first but by the end of the game, it felt as natural as walking in real life. You can also use the motion controllers during gameplay. Both the motion controllers and the standard PS4 controller have their ups and downs. The freedom to be able to fire where you point your gun instead of where your looking makes shooting easier with the motion controllers. On the other hand, the movement is much more manageable with the PS4 controller. I found myself switching between both depending on my mood and the types of enemies I had to take on.
Even after you’ve got the hang of the controls this game is difficult. I found myself dying quite a few times during my playthrough. Never enough to put me off the game as at no point does it feel unfair or unbalanced. If you die then it's because you did something wrong. The most common mistake will be standing still. You always want to keep moving during this game. Stopping to line up a shoot or catch your breath is never a good idea. There is a wonderful balance between health and ammo pickups that ties in with the combat. If you kill an enemy via normal bullet-riddled means they will drop more ammo. If you stagger them and then teleport into them they will explode dropping more health items. This is known as Telefragging. Juggling your health bar and ammo via shooting and telefragging is the key to mastering this combat system. What DOOM VFR does is take rather simple systems and creates an intense act of carnage that it forces you to master. I very often found myself screaming with the crescendo of the music as the very last demon fell to my onslaught. Although hard when you manage to finish a level you will feel like the biggest badass in all of Hell.
Outside of the main campaign, you can play classic maps from the original games. Being able to explore these areas in virtual reality was a childhood dream come to life. I never imagined that I'd be able to explore the Moonbase from the original game like this. If childhood me could see this technology then I think my little head would explode. These classic maps are certainly more for fans of the old school games than they are fans of the modern ones. Still, if you've been playing this series as long as I have then you will really appreciate this bonus content.
All in all DOOM VFR blew my mind and rocked my socks. If you enjoyed id's revival of the series in 2016 and own a VR headset then you will love this masterpiece!
Version played for review: PSVR
Available on: PS4 (PSVR)
Price I paid: £24.99
Other Notes: N/A
Driveclub VR includes 3 modes for eager racers to take on. The main single player experience is known as tour mode and is made up of 3 types of events and smaller tournaments. These events are racing, drift challenges and time trials. Races are what you'd expect with you and other racers all trying to cross the finish line in the first position. These are often the most fun just due to their simplicity. Drift challenges have you trying to gain points which you earn by drifting. Drifting is when you use your handbrake to kick your car sideways as you take corners at full speed. The longer and faster your drift the more points you earn. These points unlock stars, of which there is usually 3 per drift event. Time trails also have 3 stars for you to earn per event but this time they are tied to lap times. Trying to get all 3 stars is a challenge but with enough practice, you will master a track and earn all 3 stars along the way. Then you have tournaments which are larger events made up of 2 or 3 races. During each race in a tournament, you will earn points based on your finishing position. Bonus stars can be earned during each race for meeting certain requirements throughout all the events. An example would be to finish the tournament with 40 or more points. Another example would be to finish ahead of a certain driver during a single race. These stars unlock future events in the tour mode so it's important to focus on them as they are your means to progression. The points you earn for drifting and completing optional challenges during events are known as Fame points. These go towards levelling up your driver which unlock future cars. Unlike stars Fame points are earned across all modes, not just the tour mode.
Outside of the tour mode, you have single events and multiplayer. Both of these are pretty self-explanatory. Single events let you set up your own custom event of any type on any map with any unlocked car with as many or as few drivers as you like. It's fun enough when you just want a short race but offers much less than the tour mode or the multiplayer. Speaking of multiplayer this is where you race other people online in custom events or pre-designed ones. Although I have trouble keeping up with skilled players it is still a blast to test yourself against other humans now and again.
If you have played the original Driveclub then you will know pretty much what to expect from the driving in this VR version. The handling feels like a mix between Burnout and Gran Turismo. I only mean this in the best possible way. Similar to Burnout and a few of the Need for Speed games you are able to drift around corners. If pulled off well you lose very little speed during corners which can mean the difference between a win and a loss. Driveclub also takes the realistic weight from Gran Turismo and other racing simulators. Every car in the game feels like it has weight to it with the distribution of this weight being different for each one. Some cars will have their engines in the back and as such will kick their rears out when taking a corner too fast. Others will do the opposite and some will even have their weight distributed evenly making turning easier but drifting harder. The balance between being able to pull off amazing driving tricks and the feeling of realism is near perfect in Driveclub VR. Pulling off a difficult race or challenge feels gratifying and it's this balance between the cartoonish and realistic that's to thank. The other thing that contributes to this feeling is the immersion of VR.
The immersion that Driveclub VR offers is honestly some of the best I have experienced. This is for a few reasons but the beautiful graphics and lighting effects are a big part of it. The other reason this works so well is that in both VR cars and real ones you're sitting still inside while all the movement happens outside. This tricks your brain into believing you're inside a real car and it's beyond impressive. Another advantage of this immersion is that you're able to use your mirrors and windows how they are intended to be used. It sounds like a small detail but having to turn your head to see out your side mirror or glance up to view your rear view one sells the immersion even more. On top of this, I found it much easier and enjoyable than pressing a button to see behind you. Driveclub VR makes me feel more aware of my surroundings than any other racing game before it. This means when a race goes well I feel like I'm in a Fast and Furious film. On the other hand when things go wrong and you spin-out or crash it's terrifying. Turning your head to look out of your side window only to see a wall coming at you at 100+ mph really does cause you to see your life flash before your eyes. The graphics do have their limits through with most dashboards inside the cars looking too pixelated to read. I find in a few of the more expensive high-end cars that have digital displays things are easier to read but it's still not perfect. The honest truth is that as impressive as the PSVR is it's still not powerful enough to offer a true 4K display on such small screens. Still, during a race, this is hard to notice and your brain tends to fall for the illusion most of the time.
While a few cars feel almost impossible to control due to their sheer power the driving in Driveclub still manages to easily be as enjoyable as Gran Turismo 4 or Burnout Paradise. Then you have the sheer joy that is playing this game in VR. Even despite the graphical power and movement range limitations of the PSVR this game still manages to top most games available on it in terms of immersion. This even outshines Sony's own Gran Turismo Sport's VR mode in terms of ease of use and effectiveness of the hardware. If you have the PSVR and want to feel like Vin Diesel for a few hours then this is the game for you!
All the VR gears have their own perks, but every game enthusiast has his or her own needs, preferences, and requirements. Some virtual reality fans will look for additional features, while some gamers will look for more power. On the other hand, many potential buyers will choose a VR headset based on practicality. When it comes to deciding on a headset based on this factor, Sony’s device comes out as the best choice.
PlayStation VR’s rival, the Oculus Rift, is obviously more popular than all the other VR headsets coming in the market. The VR headset comes with a good price tag of US$599. HTC Vive is expected to arrive at a more expensive price than Rift. But if the price is something you seriously want to consider when buying a VR headset, PlayStation VR is your best choice. According to reports, PlayStation 4 will be priced at around US$300 to US$400. It is expected to arrive with a lower price than Oculus Rift.
Those looking for a VR headset should also not forget the words of Sony’s PlayStation VR chief Dr. Richard Marks. He recently addressed people at the Vision Summit in Los Angeles saying PlayStation 4 owners are ready for virtual reality. It means that those who already own a PlayStation 4 will not need any other device or PC to run virtual reality-compatible games.
On the other hand, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive require a strong PC to run virtual reality software. It means that those who will invest US$599 for Oculus Rift and around US$1500 for HTC Vive will also have to invest in a PC unit. Furthermore, according to Bloomberg’s report, less than 1 percent of PCs in the world are capable of running VR software. This means, therefore, that those interested in Rift or Vive need to have a new PC that will be compatible with the devices.
Meanwhile, the consumer version of VR headsets, including Oculus Rift and HTC Vive that the companies showed of,f are light enough to hold, but no specific details about the devices have been revealed yet, including their weight. On the other hand, Sony PlayStation VR has a more sleek design, and its tech is inside a helmet-like area. This placement gives a competitive edge to PlayStation VR over its rivals because it distributes the headset weight, making it less heavy on the wearer.
Now we wait and see. Curious? We are!
Playstation VR the best deal in town. Or is it? It was originally published on adult4vr.com
