During my visit to Tripwire Interactive at E3; I get a chance to get some hands-on time with the brand-new VR game named Espire 1: VR Operative.
The game puts players in the role of a robotic operative who must infiltrate and survive an enemy base in order to accomplish various missions. The game has a bit of a learning curve as excess weaponry, repair items, ammunition, and such are stored and utilize the waist level which is difficult when the player is sitting making standing the preferred way of playing the game.
The game also includes wall climbing which took a little bit of work as not only must you scale the wall; but pull yourself up on to the floor in order to continue. Using weaponry from machine guns to dart pistols, players can navigate the map to dispatch enemies, knock them out and hide their bodies, and accomplish various tasks.
One of the interesting things about the game is that throughout the levels there are replacement droid bodies which can be used not only as a save point; but for gamers to abandon and damage body and continue on with their fresh shell.
When I watched the developers play after my session; I noted that there were multiple tracks that can be done in terms of taking on a mission which allows the game to have a wide degree of flexibility and replay value. Gamers can go in stealth, guns blazing, or use a Parkour style tactic to hang from ledges, drop-down on enemies, ascend for a quick escape, and other tactics which players will develop and discover the more they play the game.
The game is due out in August; but what I saw was intriguing and the developers have said that based on feedback from the gaming public after launch; it is possible that new play modes, content, and perhaps even multiplayer options will be added at a later date.
The VR the game was solid and no matter how fast I moved; offered me a smooth transition even in the heat of combat where I was attempting to shoot enemies, rapidly reload, heal, and escape a room.
This is definitely one of the more intriguing shooter concepts I’ve seen offered for VR and I’m very curious to see what the full game will like.
