PlayStation VR 2 is coming.
The expected release date is February 22nd so yeah, it’s just under a week away. Someone pre-ordered it after the official announcement, someone was convinced after the previews, others are skeptical waiting for the reviews and extensive tests to understand if it’s worth adding Sony’s new virtual reality viewer to the most sought-after console in the world. last two years. Why yes, PS VR 2 is the headset for PlayStation 5, and only for PlayStation 5. A headset from 599,99 €.
Is it worth buying? Is it really revolutionary compared to its predecessor?
After days of testing, we are ready to answer your questions in this wait PS VR 2 review.
The PlayStation VR 2 review
PlayStation VR 2 it is one of the most beautiful technological objects that we have happened to review in the last period.
In these 6 years, the ones that separate it from the launch of the first PS VR, Sony has made great strides, raising the bar and creating a product that will leave you speechless, whether you are a veteran or new to this technology.
Not alone though: to fully enjoy the experience you need a title that shows all its potential, such as Horizon Call of The Mountain.
But let’s go in order.
PlayStation VR 2: la data d’uscita
As anticipated PlayStation VR 2 will come out February 22, 2023.
If it has already caught your attention, know that you can already pre-order it.
PlayStation VR 2: il prezzo
PS VR 2 is for sale at 599,99 €.
And yes, that’s more than the previous version, which hit the market at the end of 2016 for €399.99.
It also means that it costs more than PS5 but the price, we anticipate it immediately, is amply justified by the innovations introduced with this model.
As did?
First of all, in the package you will find everything you need: the viewer real, due controller – which finally replace the PlayStation Move -, le cuffie stereo in-ear interlocking and the USB-C cable to connect it to the console.
The headset fully incorporates the aesthetics of PS5, with black and white elements and modern and minimal lines. On the front we find 4 cameras that, like on competitors’ headsets, help scan the environment and track the space. We therefore no longer need the PlayStation Camera, everything is managed independently by the viewer, reducing hardware, cables and clutter.
Among the novelties we also find a key that activates a sort of “transparency” mode which allows you to see the environment around, perhaps to look for the controllers or see where in the room you are. In essence, a click is enough to switch from virtual to augmented reality.
At your disposal you also have a wheel to widen and tighten itwhich allows it to adapt to any type of head.
The comfort? At first you have to understand how to wear it because it might seem uncomfortable and weigh on your nose but if you wear it correctly, i.e. with the back quite low, you will find that the viewer stands on its own. In this way you can use it for a long time without feeling discomfort. And yes, it also applies to those who wear glasses.
But this is the part we see. Hidden from our eyes – at least until we put on PS VR 2 – they are 2 OLED displays with 4K resolution for each eye, four times the value of the first PlayStation VR. We also have l’HDR e i 120 fpsas well as the ability to change the distance between the lenses to adapt it to your needs.
It also makes an appearance eye tracking technology which will mainly be implemented in co-op games.
I controller they in turn take up the design of the viewer and console, resulting in a modern albeit not very original. They are easily gripped from the right side even without seeing them e they have a kind of protective circle around them, so even if you collide with some object in the room you don’t get hurt.
How does it work?
You don’t need to have any special skills to set up PlayStation VR 2.
Once connected to the console with the USB-C cable, you turn it on and go the setup wizard. If you do something wrong, don’t worry: by going to the accessories menu you can review the settings at your own pace, adapting them to your living room, sofa or mood of the day.
You can choose whether to play sitting or standing. When seated, the playing area is defined and very small. You will find yourself inside a cylinder from which you will not be able to get out. If you do, the game will warn you that you are out and prompt you to return to your starting position.
If, on the other hand, you decide to play standing up, you will witness a spell. First it will ask you to scan the environment with the cameras and then with the controllers you can increase or decrease the playing area as you like.
PlayStation VR 2: Games available at launch
“Eh but I’m not buying it now to just play Horizon.“
Right, but really more than 30 games are available at launch. Attention, not all of them boast the same level of optimization as Call of the Mountain, also because some are born as adaptations of titles already released on other platforms.
Here is the complete list:
- After the Fall (Vertigo Games)
- Altair Breaker (Thirdverse)
- Before Your Eyes (Skybound Interactive)
- Cities VR (Fast Travel Games)
- Cosmonious High (Owlchemy)
- Creed Rise to Glory: Undisputed Edition (Survios, launch window)
- The Dark Pictures: Switchback (Supermassive, finestra di lancio)
- Demeo (Resolution Games)
- Dyschronia: Chronos Alternate (MyDearest Inc., Perp Games)
- Fantavision 202X (Cosmo Machia, Inc.)
- Gran Turismo 7 (free update for PS5 version of GT7)
- Horizon Call of the Mountain (Firesprite, Guerrilla)
- Job Simulator (Owlchemy)
- Jurassic World Aftermath (Coatsink)
- Kayak VR: Mirage
- Kizuna AI – Touch the Beat! (Gemdrops, Inc.)
- The Last Clockwinder (Pontoco/Cyan Worlds)
- The Light Brigade (Funktronic Labs, purchase includes both PS VR and PS VR2 versions)
- Moss 1 e 2 Remaster (Polyarc)
- NFL Pro Era (StatusPro, Inc., free update on PS VR2)
- No Man’s Sky (Hello Games, launch window)
- Pavlov VR (Vankrupt)
- Pistol Whip (Cloudhead)
- Puzzling Places (Realities.io, free update)
- Resident Evil Village (Capcom, free update for PS5 version of RE Village)
- Rez Infinite (Enhance)
- Song in the Smoke (17 Bit)
- STAR WARS: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge (ILMxLab)
- Synth Riders (Kluge Interactive, free update)
- The Tale of Onogoro (Amata K.K)
- Tentacle (Return)
- Tetris Effect (Enhance)
- The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners: Ch. 2: Retribution (Skydance, finestra di lancio)
- Vacation Simulator (Owlchemy)
- What the Bat? (Triband)
- Zenith: The Last City (Ramen VR, aggiornamento gratuito)
PlayStation VR 2 review: the field test
The technical qualities of this PS VR2 are indisputable: the difference with the previous version is amazing. The picture is sharpthe perfect focus and, with the right gamethe feeling of immersion is total without ever being alienating.
Yes but what is the right game?
We tried it with 3 games: Horizon Call of the Mountain, Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – which was born for Oculus Quest – e Moss Book II.
Star Wars gave us motion sicknes – or motion sickness, if we want to be polished – after a few minutes of play, which forced us to abandon it. Difficult to understand the real reason but we can attribute part of the blame to the movement controls that are based on teleportation.
Moss Book II is a very relaxing game where you are both player and spectator. It doesn’t use the full potential of PS VR 2 but it’s perfect for those who want something that requires little effort and doesn’t cause unpleasant consequences.
The real flagship though is Horizon Call of the Mountain.
It is a side story of Horizon in which you will find yourself impersonating Stripes, a disgraced ex-Carja soldier and a skilled climber. The mission? Climb a lot and fight a lot of hostile machines. You will then meet Aloy as well as other familiar faces as well as new friends and enemies.
However, we do not want to spoil the story for you but rather tell you what the title is like.
As soon as you start the game, you will be overwhelmed by a feeling of amazement. The environment is real, vivid, in focus… it really feels like you’re there.
The controls are new but intuitive, based on gestures you would make in real life to make the same exceptions. The only exception is walking which is based solely on the movement of the arms, a brilliant intuition capable of deceiving our brain to minimize and often eliminate the infamous and dreaded motion sicknes.
Everything is then designed to be gradual, giving you the right time to get familiar with the controls.
To shoot an arrow, for example, just take it from the quiver behind your back and shoot as you would in real life while to climb you have to hold on and pull yourself up…
It’s physical, it’s engaging, and the more you play the game, the more confidence you get.
We therefore note how the developers have finally figured out how to create VR games without making players feel bad, making them enter a new world without making them feel lost.
Horizon call of the Mountain è a feast for the eyes, beautiful colorful, immersive and well integrated with movements that we would naturally perform in reality. We have not encountered any obvious bugs even though our version has not yet received – for obvious reasons – the day one patch.
In short…