The PlayStation VR launched this past October with some really great games, and I recently had the opportunity to play quite arguably two of the most fun PlayStation VR games available. Eagle Flight and Werewolves Within are both published by Ubisoft, and take the PlayStation VR experience to the next level.
Eagle Flight is a fully immersive gaming experience that lets you soar the skies above Paris. Let’s first take a look at Eagle Flight, and the total feeling of freedom it provides.
Game Details
Platform: PlayStation VR (PS4)
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Simulation, racing
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10+)
Take flight as nature has reclaimed the land
Eagle Flight takes place 50 years after the extinction of the human race and is set in a post-apocalyptic version of Paris. Wildlife is thriving, as nature has reclaimed the land, and the beautiful city of Paris has become home to a wide variety of animals and plants. Animals are kings in a city otherwise deserted.
Paris is home to elephants, bears, bats, giraffes, and much more. All can be seen in a lively setting where everyone stands in their own space. It feels like you are soaring above a zoo, and they can be heard from afar, adding to the sound of waterfalls and wind.
Comfortable, intuitive, and accessible gameplay
Ubisoft Montreal worked hard to create natural playability with Eagle Flight, and it works. Your eagle moves forward continuously, and you control its direction by the movement of your head. Simply tilt your heard to the left and your eagle will turn left.
Additionally, you use the controller to slow down or speed up your eagle’s speed. I found that controlling my eagle with both the PSVR and the controller, resulted in precise movements, which resulted in absolutely no issues controlling my eagle.
Eagle Flight’s single-player mode consists of five different districts, which require you to complete certain tasks ranging from building nests on landmarks to exploring landmarks to passing through rings while evading attacks.
Multiplayer fun
Eagle Flight also offers a three-versus-three Capture the Flag style multiplayer mode. You must pick up a rabbit from the ground and bring it to your nest. You can attack your opponents by using sonic waves, and evade attacks by dodging them or activating a temporary shield.
The team that collects the most rabbits and returns them to their nest wins. Furthermore, there is a Free Flight mode, which allows you to explore Paris with five other people. I can honestly say that I spent countless hours online, and enjoyed every minute of it. The teamwork needed to succeed is challenging but the rewards are satisfying.
Final Thoughts – Eagle Flight
Eagle Flight looks great, controls perfectly, and is fun to play either by yourself or online with others. Ubisoft have successfully demonstrated through Eagle Flight, new gaming experiences are available with the PlayStation VR. If you own a PlayStation VR, Eagle Flight is a game that you should pick up.
+ Dazzling visuals
+ Sense of freedom and speed is exhilarating
+ Fun to play
– Single-player mode is a little too short
OVERALL
Gameplay: 4/5
Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 4/5
Lasting Appeal/Replayability: 4/5
Overall Rating 4/5 (80%)
Get Eagle Flight for PlayStation VR (PS4)
Game night comes to the PSVR in Werewolves Within
Now, lets take a look at Werewolves Within, a game filled with social drama and fun. Werewolves Within is a fun gaming experience that sets you around a virtual campfire with other players. You must use your powers of deduction and your randomly assigned skills to figure out who is a werewolf amongst the group.
Game Details
Platform: PlayStation VR (PS4)
Developer: Red Storm Entertainment
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Strategy
Modes: Online multiplayer (5 to 8 players)
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
A werewolf hunting we a go
Werewolves Within takes place in the medieval village of Gallowston. After several attacks on townspeople, the villagers have had enough. A committee is formed with the soul purpose of eradicating the werewolves. A werewolf is amongst the people of Gallowston pretending to be a villager, or are there two?
A tried and true formula with a twist
Werewolves Within is based of the social game called Werewolf, which has been around for a long time. Werewolves Within follows that same formula but adds additional roles. New roles include, Gossips, Deviants, Turncloaks, Houndsmen, Saints, Astrologers, Watchers, and Trackers. Once the accusations start flying, these new roles make it much harder to trust the people you are playing with.
For example, Gossips get two clues during a game, one true and the other false, which can reveal the identities of two players. On the other hand, a Turncloak wants the werewolves to win and knows who they are. However, the werewolves don’t have a clue as to who the Turncloak is.
An online multiplayer only experience
Werewolves Within is a game that is only played online with a minimum of five players. Initially I questioned the longevity of a game that solely relies on online play. However, Red Storm Entertainment has quieted many of those concerns by expanding the online pool of players to include cross-platform play with PC gamers using an HTC Vive or Oculus Rift.
I never had trouble getting five players, the minimum number needed, and often had a full house with 8 players. I had a lot of fun interacting with the other villagers, and after a few rounds it felt like I was playing with friends. The ambiance is amazing, and the PlayStation VR is a perfect choice for this game.
There was only one bug that I encountered when playing Werewolves Within that was more of a nuisance than anything. Occasionally, when a new player joined the game I could not hear them. The simple fix was to boot the player from the game and wait for a replacement. Luckily, this didn’t happen that often.
A virtual visual delight
Werewolves Within looks fantastic, and each character has their own distinctive look and animations. The onscreen character’s mouth moves when the respective player is speaking, and the environments that you play in are varied. They range from sitting around a campfire to the village centre, and outside a castle.
Final Thoughts – Werewolves Within
Werewolves Within is a perfect example of how VR can create social spaces around games, which bring people together that share the same interests. Cross-platform play with PC gamers ensures that there is always enough people online to play with. I loved the social interaction with other gamers, Red Storm Entertainment made the right choice by making this game an online only title. Werewolves Within is one of my favourite PlayStation VR games available.
+ Friendly online community
+ Cross-platform play
+ You’ll have so much fun playing that the hours will fly by
– Waiting to join a game can take a while
OVERALL
Gameplay: 5/5
Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 4/5
Lasting Appeal/Replayability: 5/5
