When I first heard about gamers getting motion sickness fromVR, I didn’t think much of the phenomenon. I assumed falling ill from a video game was for super sensitive people who get nauseous on cruise ships or throw up on roller coasters. Meanwhile, reading in the car was the only thing that ever gave me the rumbly tumblies. And that’s normal, right?
Related:Big Franchises That Should Have A VR Game
After owning a VR console for a few years, I can confirm that VR motion sickness isno joke. So, now, if a VR game includes so much as a sharp left turn, I’m out! The following stories chronicle some memorably irritating VR experiences, rated on a scale from one to five chunks blown. (Yes, you read that right.)
3Sprint Vector
🤢🙂🙂🙂🙂: 1 Out Of 5 Blown Chunks
Would I saySprint Vectoris an extra-queasy pastime? No. After all, the vilest part is making a sharp turn in your sci-fi rollerblades. But I had to give the game credit for the frustration it put me through. I didn’t leave the game with an upset stomach, but I had akiller headache.
Sprint Vector has an exciting concept. You glide around in high-speed vector blade races by vigorously moving your PS move controllers like a speed skater stuck in place. Trigger combinations perform climbing maneuvers. Meanwhile, detailed arm movements perform long jumps, wall runs, and other fancy tricks. In theory, this is the best VR game for a player who seeks more physical activity.
You can hype yourself up by obnoxiously yelling"PARKOUR!“after accomplishing vector blade skills.
Unfortunately, Sprint Vector is a complex game that works poorly in tight spaces. For example, I would move my arms just outside of the PS Camera’s view while trying to perform a long jump. Then the camera would misread my movement, sending my character into a pit of doom. Or I would hesitate to try and remember what movements performed specific actions. And don’t get me started on steering around obstacle courses. I felt like AiAi inside aSuper Monkey Ball.
My worst experience playing Sprint Vector was when I almost knocked over the lamp on my bedside table. I don’t remember how it happened, but I imagine I was flailing my arms too hard, like a millennial teen at a One Direction concert.
Still, should I blame Sprint Vector for this? Not entirely. It’s a critically acclaimed VR title with gorgeous visuals and detailed mechanics. Instead, I must hold myself accountable for attempting VR in my shoebox of a bedroom. Guess I’ll have to settle for sprinting in natural life settings, like on my neighborhood jog or at the gym.
2Epic Roller Coasters
🤢🤢🤢🙂🙂: 3 Out Of 5 Blown Chunks
I know three out of five chunks is intimidating, but I promise you that each chunky nugget is worth the hurl!Epic Roller Coastersis one of those simple free-to-play games that gives newbies the full VR experience! This digital theme park excursion takes you on colorful thrill rides alone or with a friend. It’s also a blast to watch other people play.
My sibling and I purchased theOculus (now Meta?) Questfor Christmas a couple of years ago, and this is one of the first games she downloaded. I remember she invited our aunt, who also received a Quest for Christmas, for a rollercoaster ride over the internet. Listening to them laugh, scream, and cuss was hilariously heartwarming. You would have thought they were crapping themselves at Disney World in real life rather than several states apart. New technology can do good! At least, sometimes.
Related:The Best VR Puzzle Games
Anyway, I rode this “epic” experience and had a roaringly good time (Literally, I was on a dinosaur roller coaster. ba dum tshh). The knock-off Jurassic Park experience was a novel joy. Plus, the coaster had several thrilling moments, like when a FREAKING PTERADACTYL PICKED UP MY CAR AND FLEW ME ACROSS A FREAKIN CANYON! Lastly, the game has plenty of replay value with three gameplay modes (Classic, Shooter, and Race).
Riding a rollercoaster while sitting in place is not easy. I would describe the task as an intermediate-difficulty VR activity. Taking on too many twists and turns too quickly can make your eyes spin and your mouth salivate. Fortunately, Epic Roller Coasters includes a filter that narrows your field of vision and provides a neutral target for your eyes. This HUD helps reduce motion sickness, making coasters more enjoyable.
1RIGS: Mechanized Combat League
🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢: 5 Out Of 5 Blown Chunks (AKA The Full Puke Bucket)
I really wanted to likeRIGS: Mechanized Combat League. This was one of PSVR’s flagship games. You could tell by its immersive graphics and top-notch controls. Still, this mech-combat sim taught me I could never pilot a Gundam, let alone play a high-action VR game.
Don’t get me wrong; RIGS is a fun game…for the first fifteen minutes. Jumping into the air in your giant robot suit, pouncing off obstacles, and pursuing enemies is an exhilarating experience. But, unfortunately, the motion sickness doesn’t take long to kick in.
The more I had to do, the sicker I got. Every turn was a dreadful mindfunker that sent my eyeballs swirling inside my soupy noggin. Seriously, I’m getting light-headed as I write this. Near the end of my first session, I felt like Angelica Pickles after she engorged herself on soapy cookies. Between moans and groans, I kept telling myself, “I’m having fun! I know I’m having fun. FOR THE MONEY I PAID ON THIS DAMN HEADSET, I MUST BE HAVING FUN!” But, as Morgan Freeman would tell you, “He was indeednothaving fun.”
I heard the PSVR2 has eye-tracking technology, which I hope alleviates these motion-related problems. But until I can cough up the money for that, I’ll stick to Beat Saber, Everybody’s Golf, and other single-plane games. Thank you very much!
Next:Things We Wish We Knew Before Starting Horizon: Call Of The Mountain
